2 questions, 1 on linux, one on winxp

[GremlinHater]

1. I installed RH on an old machine but now i'm trying to restore it back to a windows machine, and I can't figure out how to delete the linux partitions! I deleted the root, but the swap is stopping the machine from booting, fdisk sees it but i can't delete it. what to do?

2. On windows XP, if you have a customer who only has the one account on it with the welcome screen and it has it password protected and s/he doesn't know the password, how can you bypass it? If your not clear on what I'm talking about, point out which part and I'll try to expand on it.

thanks in advance

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: GremlinHater
1. I installed RH on an old machine but now i'm trying to restore it back to a windows machine, and I can't figure out how to delete the linux partitions! I deleted the root, but the swap is stopping the machine from booting, fdisk sees it but i can't delete it. what to do?

Does it give you a usable error? Have you tried a different fdisk?

 

[GremlinHater]

1 other question on windows xp, i always set the status bar in the folders to show, but every flippin time i reboot, it hides it again! it's driving me nuts! how can i fix this?

 

[GremlinHater]

just says "LI" and i'm pretty sure that's from the leftover linux partitions

never used any other fdisk programs, don't even know where i'd get them

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: GremlinHater
just says "LI" and i'm pretty sure that's from the leftover linux partitions

never used any other fdisk programs, don't even know where i'd get them

Thats not the swap partition, thats the MBR. I think.

 

[GremlinHater]

your prob right, i think it might be both though, too big for mbr, and just about the size for swap.

In either case, I haven't been able to overwrite it or wipe it.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: GremlinHater
your prob right, i think it might be both though, too big for mbr, and just about the size for swap.

In either case, I haven't been able to overwrite it or wipe it.

Boot from the linux cd, go through the installation until you get to the disk partitioning, delete all partitions, quit.

Then fix your MBR.

 

[oniq]

1. You can do fdisk /mbr off of a DOS bootdisk in the command prompt. This will clear the MBR. You can then boot off of the linux cd/bootdisk to get to the linux partitioning and make one or how ever many FAT/FAT32 partitions you may need. Then you just need to format the drives under DOS to make them FAT/FAT32.

2. Don't know about the answer to this. But I don't think XP sets a default password for you in XP. Unless you set it or a malicious user/program set it then there should be no prompt for a password. You might want to check the Microsoft Knowledge Base. That would be your best bet.

Good luck.

 

[jcmkk]

On the third questions, if you're talking about protected folders, then their should be a file in their called folder.htt (it will be hidden), just rename it or delete it. You'll never have to click on "show files" again.

 

[GremlinHater]

protected folders? i'm not sure were on the same page, what i was refering to is if you open explorer, by default, the status bar isn't there, i use it a lot, so I go to view > status bar, but after i reboot it disappears. Get it?

 

[krystalogik]

Originally posted by: GremlinHater
protected folders? i'm not sure were on the same page, what i was refering to is if you open explorer, by default, the status bar isn't there, i use it a lot, so I go to view > status bar, but after i reboot it disappears. Get it?

Set the stauts bar, then tell XP to set all folders like this one (i'm on win98 right now, otherwise i'd be more specific, i think it under Tools -> Folder Options.)

 

[Abzstrak]

on the linux question, boot form a win98 boot disk and do a "fdisk /mbr"

for windows, boot into safe mode and select administrator which probably has no password... then go in password management and replace her current password on her account.