formatting/removing linux (no floppy drive)

[somethingwitty]

I'm likely buying a laptop from someone, and this system is currently running mandrake linux. Once I confirm that the system boots all right, I'm probably going to want to take linux off (I know, blasphemy ) and get a more crash-prone OS on there . Anyways, the system will not be coming with a floppy disk drive, and I don't have an external drive-neither do all my friends, neighbors, relatives, cousins, etc.

So, can anyone tell me, in advance of purchasing the system, how difficult it will be to remove linux and format the drive for win98. I dont know much (ok, anything) about linux-i assume the file systems are different? I do have a burner on my main system, so I can create a bootable CD if needed. Oh, I should add that, in the true linux spirit, I'm looking to do this for free-no purchasing of any utilities if possible.

Thanks for any help that can be provided.

 

[monckywrench]

Bootable CDs will take care of your problem nicely. You can download any number of boot floppy image files and burn "floppy emulation" CDs, then remove the Linux partitions. Download WInimage, and use uncompressed (.ima or .img) files as your bootable images.
If you know your hard disk maker you can go to their site and download free utilities for wiping and inspecting the drive as well.
Google for the variety of ways to do this.

Bootdisk.com

 

[Jeff7]

Also download ZAP and put it on the boot disc. That will make sure that the Linux boot menu will be gone too. ZAP effectively clears the drive - I say "effectively" because it just makes the drive look totally blank. If you want to make sure the data is totally gone, get a data/zero wiper from the hard drive maker.
That said, ZAP should do the trick. Just type
zap /?
when you boot from the bootable CD to get the commandline options. Most likely you'll just use this:
zap 0
Confirm Yes when it asks. Then Fdisk, format, install Windows, and of course don't forget to go to http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com to make the OS slightly better.