How to delete all partitions for a complete reinstall

[Tod Merley]

On 8/17/06, ZHAO Keliang Kevin <cs_zkx at stu.ust.hk> wrote:
> Hi, Tod,
>
> Thank you for your email. I spent quite a lot of hours in this matter.
>
> I have succeeded to try "fixmbr" and to play with mbr in livecd as
> well. Now i can fixmbr in windows and let xp manage mbr. I did some
> search and figure out that "fixmbr", or "restoration console" can be
> added to xp such that xp CD is still not needed.
>
> What is disappointing is after "fixmbr", recovery CDs still don't
> work. So far everything should be fine, except the recovery CDs, or
> perhaps the "power quest" used by the recovery CDs which _found_ some
> error in partitions and mess up the recovery procedure. Maybe it is
> the laptop manufacturer who use such software that needs to be blamed.
>
> So I guess if I return to my original goal -- erase the MBR, the CDs
> should work then since there should be no more error. But I am
> reluctant to.
>
> Another possible way is to invoke the "hidden partition for recovery"
> on my disk, which is a common trick for thinkpad and may not use
> powerquest. But as you told, I lost the original OEM MBR so I always
> fail to call it. On the other hand, I cannot see the parition in
> either xp or ubuntu, therefore i don't know how to boot load it by
> myself. Actually what i can see is i have 4-5 Gb missing. I am even
> not sure if the partition is intact.
>
> I am a bit off topic if I proceed. I guess the problem becomes how to
> fix the partition errors found by the "powerquest". I use
> partitionmagic under xp and it tells error 117, namely "Partition's
> drive letter cannot be identified", then refuse to initialize. Obvious
> such error is endurable as both xp and ubuntu works fine. But it will
> prevent the recovery every time.
>
> Oh well maybe i should eventually erase the MBR. But if I install two
> systems again next time. I am afraid that I have to erase everything
> again when i want to recovery in future.
>
> That's really a great way to seperate windows and linux. Installing
> either one should be OK.
>
> hah.. Thanks again. Your name is so interesting!
>
> Regards,
> Kevin
>
>
> On 8/17/06, Tod Merley <todbot88 at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Hi again Kevin,
> >
> > With what I know now my first step would be to make a copy of the MBR
> > (in links above).  And then another copy when whatever Linux/GRUB had
> > replaced it.  I think my first step whenever working with an MBR from
> > now on will tend to by to copy whatever is there.
> >
> > But my guess is that now our life will be a bit more interesting.
> >
> > What do I think I know:
> >
> > 1. There is a serial number and marker in the XP-MBR which your OEM
> > might just be looking for.  If so, you will need to talk with your
> > OEM.
> >
> > 2. If your old XP MBR is really forever lost I would be tempted to try
> > the Ultimate Boot CD's XP MBR repair ( http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/
> > ).  I have actually had a pretty good ride whenever I have used it but
> > I find it scary.  I doubt that serial numbers will match the original
> > but the parser may still be satisfied.  Remember to have a copy of
> > your old MBR, and the next 63 sectors at least as well, on hand.  I
> > mean 1. The 512 byte MBR - and - 2. The first 63 512 byte sectors
> > (separate files).
> >
> > 3. You could purchase a personal version of XP (talk with your OEM first!!).
> >
> > 4. More reading on the XP Linux dual boot may uncover something.
> >
> > I chose "todbot" because it is visually symmetrical "you can fold it
> > upon itself and it stays the same.  Originally I wanted "8todbot8" but
> > no one allows preceding numbers so I compromised with "todbot88"
> > (visually symmetrical within letters then numbers).
> >
> > Good hunting and please tell me how it all comes out.  I am putting
> > together a "Boot Camp" presentation and this is very much an important
> > set of boot issues.
> >
> > Thanks!!!
> >
> > Tod
> >
> > --
> > ubuntu-users mailing list
> > ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> > https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
> >
>
>
> --
> Kevin ZHAO Keliang
> Department of Computer Science and Engineering
> Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
>
> --
> ubuntu-users mailing list
> ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com
> https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
>

Hi again Kevin!

You have probably already found this information but these links
helped me to understand what you are trying to do:

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Rescue_and_Recovery

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/Predesktop_Area

I did not read all carefully.  There may be enough there to do what
you wish.  A couple of other possibilities:

http://freshmeat.net/projects/g4l/

http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/showthread.php?t=76940

How about a separate hard drive.  Here I can obtain a 60GB USB drive
for about $60-US.  I have also seen people using IDE-to-USB kits.  The
idea is to set the BIOS to prefer the USB booted disk and connect it
when you want to see Linux.

Eventually, I hope to have my usual Linux up (Presently Ubunut Dapper)
and have several other OSs (XP, SUSE, FC5, Solaris) available via hot
Virtual Machine.  Probably not this year.  VMware could do it now, Xen
has a ways to go.

Have fun!

Tod