I'm stuck with a problem.

[abc]

 
Ok, I have a computer in my bedroom which had Windows XP on it, I formatted my HDD, and put Fedora Core on it, (for any of you that don't know what Fedora is it's a Linux distribution). Anyways, I decided I don't want Fedora on my computer anymore, due to internet issues and such, so I changed my BIOS to boot to CD-ROM and inserted my Windows XP CD, and I see "Press a key to boot from CD." So I do, then I see "Checking hardware configuration." and it goes to a blank screen, and stays there. I have no idea what I should do.... I know it's my hard drive because I have a smaller HDD like... > 8 GB I think, in which it gets passed the "Checking Hardware Configuration"...

I hope you guys understand this, and my problem.
~ Thanks!

[Sidoh]

You have to change your BIOS to boot to a CD ROM?  Shouldn't it do that naturally if there's a bootable CD in the drive or was it messed up?

In any case, have you tried deleting all of the partitions off of the hard drive before running XP setup (boot to a live disk and run cfdisk)?

[abc]

You have to change your BIOS to boot to a CD ROM?  Shouldn't it do that naturally if there's a bootable CD in the drive or was it messed up?

In any case, have you tried deleting all of the partitions off of the hard drive before running XP setup (boot to a live disk and run cfdisk)?

Nah, I had my BIOS setup to boot to HDD, and it boots to Fedora fine, but I don't want it anymore -.-

Um, I'm new to the Linux environment, could you explain deeply?

[rabbit]

Boot into a LiveCD of Linux, run cfdisk, and nuke the drives.

[Joe]

Low-level format.

[Sidoh]

Low-level format.

You should probably elaborate before you recommend something like that.

Important drive information (servo, sector layout, and defect management, etc.) is stored in the low-level format at the factory. This information is designed to last the life of the drive and therefore it is not possible to low level the drive outside the factory. Although some drive manufactures and BIOS provided so-called "low level format utilities", they actually perform a write-read verify of the drive’s user data sectors, and do not actually perform a low-level format. In the event of a corrupted master boot record or boot block virus, use FDISK /MBR command to restore the master boot record. If you need to low level format your hard drive then check the drive manufacturer and download such an utility from its website. Every drive manufacturer provides just such a utility. Below is a list of hard drive manufacturers with a links to low level format utilities.

Note: If normal (high level) hard disk formatting is required, you can use DOS FDISK command to first erase and create partitions and then use FORMAT. It is also a good idea when you hard disk becomes inaccessible to see if it is just the system files that are corrupted. Most of the time, it is the case. SYS will do the job of replacing system files. Therefore, low level format is always of LAST RESORT when you encounter HDD problems.

[Newby]

Low-level format.

You should probably elaborate before you recommend something like that.

Important drive information (servo, sector layout, and defect management, etc.) is stored in the low-level format at the factory. This information is designed to last the life of the drive and therefore it is not possible to low level the drive outside the factory. Although some drive manufactures and BIOS provided so-called "low level format utilities", they actually perform a write-read verify of the drive’s user data sectors, and do not actually perform a low-level format. In the event of a corrupted master boot record or boot block virus, use FDISK /MBR command to restore the master boot record. If you need to low level format your hard drive then check the drive manufacturer and download such an utility from its website. Every drive manufacturer provides just such a utility. Below is a list of hard drive manufacturers with a links to low level format utilities.

Note: If normal (high level) hard disk formatting is required, you can use DOS FDISK command to first erase and create partitions and then use FORMAT. It is also a good idea when you hard disk becomes inaccessible to see if it is just the system files that are corrupted. Most of the time, it is the case. SYS will do the job of replacing system files. Therefore, low level format is always of LAST RESORT when you encounter HDD problems.

lol. You can't even truly low level format your drive.

[abc]

Er, I still can't get it to work.

Boot into a LiveCD of Linux, run cfdisk, and nuke the drives.

Remember dude, I'm completely new to Linux and everything....

[Ergot]

Boot into a LiveCD of Linux, run cfdisk, and nuke the drives.

Remember dude, I'm completely new to Linux and everything....

Right... Boot a LiveCD of Linux. Type in cfdisk. Hit 'Delete' on all the partitions. Hit 'Write'. Hit 'Quit'. Reboot.

[abc]

Worked, Yay!  Now I need to get Windows 98 so I can upgrade to XP -.-

[Joe]

Low-level formatting would have done that with a large chance of fucking it all up! Boo..

[Sidoh]

Ugh...

Glad to hear it worked, dl.

[Killer360]

You have to change your BIOS to boot to a CD ROM?  Shouldn't it do that naturally if there's a bootable CD in the drive or was it messed up?

Wrong.

[Sidoh]

You have to change your BIOS to boot to a CD ROM?  Shouldn't it do that naturally if there's a bootable CD in the drive or was it messed up?

Wrong.

Why?  It's not a new feature?  Is your computer ancient or something?

There's normally a boot priority.  You can leave it in any order you want.  Mine is usually something like Floppy => CD ROM => Hard Drive...

[Killer360]

You have to change your BIOS to boot to a CD ROM?  Shouldn't it do that naturally if there's a bootable CD in the drive or was it messed up?

Wrong.

Why?  It's not a new feature?  Is your computer ancient or something?

There's normally a boot priority.  You can leave it in any order you want.  Mine is usually something like Floppy => CD ROM => Hard Drive...

No, usually it's Removable, Hard drive, then CD.

[rabbit]

Wrong.

[Killer360]

Wrong.

Right.

[deadly7]

Right.

Wrong.^2

[Sidoh]

No, usually it's Removable, Hard drive, then CD.

That doesn't make sense... at all.

the only time it's appropriate to boot to a CD when the drive contains a bootable CD.  If it doesn't contain one, it doesn't boot to it and moves on to hard drive.  In this way, you can boot to a CD by inserting a bootable CD and restarting instead of going through the ridiculous hassle of changing your boot order every time you need to boot to a CD...

[Ergot]

Waste of time to hear the floppy drive click then the CD drive spin up, and then it goes to the hard drives :|

[Sidoh]

Waste of time to hear the floppy drive click then the CD drive spin up, and then it goes to the hard drives :|

[Killer360]

Meh, when I got a my last mobo BIOS was set to the boot sequence I posted earlier. 

I thought that was the default.

[iago]

I've had both. There's no default. Who cares? The point is, change it if it's not what you want.

[Sidoh]

I've had both. There's no default. Who cares? The point is, change it if it's not what you want.

Of course there'd a default; that default may not be standard, but there's always a default. 

Almost invariably, the machines I worked with in high school had that order.

[iago]

Well, I just had a computer today whose boot order I had to change to that. So it's obviously not the standard.

And yeah, we got the words standard and default mixed up. Shut up

[Sidoh]

Well, I just had a computer today whose boot order I had to change to that. So it's obviously not the standard.

And yeah, we got the words standard and default mixed up. Shut up

Yeah, it's definitely not standard.  It is, however, more normal from my experience.