Loading XP onto a Linux computer

Jolly_Roger

I need to load XP onto a computer that only has a Linux operating system (Suse). How do I do this? If I turn the computer on, it will only offer me Suse. I do have an XP master disk.
Is this an easy and relatively fast procedure?

GreenNotM

Are your partitions FAT32 or EXT3 ? If EXT3 XP will not be able to read them. So...

Under Linux
Create a free partition on your 80GB drive of 20GB - do not format it, as XP will install here, you may have to reduce your current Linux partition, if there is no free unpartitioned space on your disk - use LInus tools as XP install CD will not resize partitions - but only delete/create

You will lose your curent GRUB/LILO boot loader, as XP will not play nice with Linux - there will answers to restoring this somewhere ...

XP will need activating, so hopefully you have genuine numbers etc else you will have 30 days of use - but will not be able to get the updates.patches..HTH

After thought while creating the space for XP in Linux also create enough space for a shared FAT32 partition so you can share your data between XP & Linux - maybe 2GB

Jolly_Roger

Sorry, I don't understand anything you say!
This looks to be more complicated than I realised. Would it therefore be easier just to wipe Linux off the existing computer and start again? If so, how would I do this?
I am simply not sufficiently computer savy to understand much of what you were saying! Excuse my ignorance, but thanks for your contribution.

GreenNotM

Jolly_Roger wrote:

Sorry, I don't understand anything you say!
This looks to be more complicated than I realised. Would it therefore be easier just to wipe Linux off the existing computer and start again? YES

If so, how would I do this? (Save data if any to CD/USB Memory)
Put XP CD in the CD drive.
Turn PC off. Turn PC on,
Boot from CD when/if prompted ( If not prompted get back to here ) Follow prompts on screen to delete current "unrecognised" partitions
Create New partitions
Follow prompts...
.

If you have no data - docs/pics/etc that you want to keep then yes wipe the partition and install XP - let XP delete the current partitions and if you want to re-install SUSE Linux just create a 40GB Partition for XP when asked, do not use the whole disk.

theCapt

what he is saying is split your hard drive into different parts (partitions) like rooms.

Room 1 has linux installed on it and room 2 win xp. Can add other rooms (if you will) as required.

There is software available that can help you do this like partition magic.

If you are only wanting to use Win XP and not SuSe anymore then just clear (format) the hard drive and install Win XP.