[ubuntu-uk] lesson learned

[norman]

I have spent many hours over the last few days trying to install Windows
XP onto a hard drive which had Edubuntu installed on it. The object of
the exercise was to set up a dual boot system for my granddaughter. The
best option seemed to be to let Windows XP erase Edubuntu during the
formatting stage of the install. The problem came during the
installation process of XP in that after formatting and loading files
the system was to close down and then reboot. It closed down alright but
could not reboot.

Remove the MBR I was told by using FDISK from a DOS prompt. I did and
still no reboot. Eventually I came across :-

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda0 bs=512 count=1

After which I was able to install Windows XP and continue to install
Edubuntu successfully.

I would have saved myself a lot of trouble if I had taken the decision
right at the beginning to go for dual boot but I had some idea of
avoiding Windows if at all possible. I expect it would have been much
simpler to remove Windows at some future date if it were no longer
needed.

A very big thank you to all who tried to help me and for giving me the
encouragement to press on to a successful conclusion.

Norman