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windows xp installation problems

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I have ubuntu installed using 3.3 of space and 25GB of unallocated space - but windows just comes up with an error code 1866 and message saying not enough free space- any ideas please
Typically confused and asking for advice
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  • m5rcc
    m5rcc Posts: 1,544 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Sorry this is a bit unclear....you are running Ubuntu but want to install XP too? XP wont install if there isnt a partition to install to. You'd need to split the Ubuntu partition, thus releasing part of the free 25GB and then install the XP on that...
  • closed
    closed Posts: 10,886 Forumite
    that's one of the more useful error messages from Microsoft, it means what it says.

    if you are replacing your existing os, format the drive first, but it will wipe all your data
    !!
    > . !!!! ----> .
  • Hammyman
    Hammyman Posts: 9,913 Forumite
    Windows XP cannot read the filesystem Ubuntu uses so as far as Windows is concerned that space doesn't exist. If you have 25GB of HDD space you've not partitioned in either OS, you can go to Disk Tools/GParted in Ubuntu and increase the size of the Windows partition to use some or all of that unallocated 25GB.
  • vixen1500
    vixen1500 Posts: 649 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hammyman wrote: »
    Windows XP cannot read the filesystem Ubuntu uses so as far as Windows is concerned that space doesn't exist. If you have 25GB of HDD space you've not partitioned in either OS, you can go to Disk Tools/GParted in Ubuntu and increase the size of the Windows partition to use some or all of that unallocated 25GB.

    I don't seem to have a windows partition. I shrank the partition used by Ubuntu and the other 25GB is just showing as unallocated - but how can I get windows to recognise that the space is available?
    Typically confused and asking for advice
  • Linbox
    Linbox Posts: 383 Forumite
    Make a fat32 partition in the unalocated space. youll then be able to install windows.

    You may have problems with grub, I dont think windows plays nice with linux. It'll wipe grub youll then need to reinstall grub via a livecd.

    The best way to dual boot is install windows first then install linux. Linux will then make grub available with both ubuntu/linux and windows as a choice at bootup.
  • vixen1500
    vixen1500 Posts: 649 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Linbox wrote: »
    Make a fat32 partition in the unalocated space. youll then be able to install windows.

    You may have problems with grub, I dont think windows plays nice with linux. It'll wipe grub youll then need to reinstall grub via a livecd.

    The best way to dual boot is install windows first then install linux. Linux will then make grub available with both ubuntu/linux and windows as a choice at bootup.

    Is there an easy way of doing this????

    cheers
    Typically confused and asking for advice
  • Hammyman
    Hammyman Posts: 9,913 Forumite
    vixen1500 wrote: »
    I don't seem to have a windows partition. I shrank the partition used by Ubuntu and the other 25GB is just showing as unallocated - but how can I get windows to recognise that the space is available?

    OK...

    First of all, do you actually have Windows installed? If so, then do what I told you to do in my first post.

    If not then follow Linbox's advice although don't format it as FAT32 but NTFS.

    There is no easy way of doing this if you've not got Windows XP installed.
  • vixen1500
    vixen1500 Posts: 649 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hammyman wrote: »
    OK...

    First of all, do you actually have Windows installed? If so, then do what I told you to do in my first post.

    If not then follow Linbox's advice although don't format it as FAT32 but NTFS.

    There is no easy way of doing this if you've not got Windows XP installed.

    No, my problem is that I can reinstall windows, just keep getting the not enough disk space message. Tried it with the unallocated space formatted to FAT32 - but still go the same old error message. Might try it as NTFS in the morning.

    Just need someway of clearing the disk space so that I can reinstall window XP
    Typically confused and asking for advice
  • Hammyman
    Hammyman Posts: 9,913 Forumite
    It sounds like you've created a physical partition of the full size of the hard drive but then created a logical volume of 3.3GB inside the physical partition.

    For you I think it'd be easier to back up the /home directory in Ubuntu, install XP by wiping all the partitions on the hard drive during the DOS based portion of install, install XP then put Ubuntu back on.
  • spud17
    spud17 Posts: 4,433 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Agree with Hammyman, it's a lot easier to install a Linux distro after Windows.

    http://apcmag.com/the_definitive_dualbooting_guide_linux_vista_and_xp_stepbystep.htm
    Move along, nothing to see.
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