Formatting Linux (please read)

toddl1

toddl1

New Member
I have recently installed Ubuntu Linux on my second hard drive. On my first I have windows. Because I chose to put linux on the second hard drive without partitioning Linux has claimed it for itself and i cannot put any thing else on it inside windows.
I guess my question is how can i format drive D:? (Secondry)

PS: Can you please walk me through it.
 
yea, i would usually do that, but as i said, linux claimed it as its own and windows will not see it now.
 
Linux has it's own version of "fdisk" sometimes found named "cfdisk" that will remove any Linux partitions. If you intend to split a drive for boith MS and Linux you first need to use a partition utility in order to limit the size of the first since that is the primary. With softwares like Partition Magic and others even the updated fdisk for WIN98SE you can actually limit the secondary or extended partition for adding a third or even fourth later.

For a similar dilemna review the thread at http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?t=25019
For a reference list of Linux commands for the Grub prompt go to http://www.onlamp.com/linux/cmd/ Just a simple click on any command opens a new page with the definition.
 
but i dont want to delete a partion. I will try to explain what happened more simply. I have windows mce installed on my c: drive and i installed ubuntu on my d: drive all i want to do is format my d: drive. but i cannot gain access to it through windows, because linux has claimed it.
Maybe i can format in dos through fdisk, i did this once but i cannot remember how.

When i start my computer it uses a menu of all of the OS on my computer, i have tryed booting it by floppy but it will not, even though i have set floppy a: to first priority.
 
To format a Linux partition you will need to use a Linux utility intende for Linux. Linux isn't based on a FAT or NTFS platform. Follow the directions to the letter at one of the following links and you should easily see this done.
http://www.comptechdoc.org/os/linux/manual1/formattingpartitions.html
http://en.tldp.org/HOWTO/Partition/
http://www.elearningdepot.com/elearning/course/lpi10183ry.htm
http://www.hezardastan.org/breezy_xp_dualboot/en/
(Gee I am thinking about using the last link myself when I get my spare drive back.)
 
all i need to do is format a hard drive running linux ubuntu, i am not too good at following instructions from 'pro' sites, can anyone step me through it here.

(sorry if i sound impatient)
 
I personally have not spent too much time with Linux as a whole let alone ubuntu. In order to run any OS you are still going to have learn something about it. Linux has it's own language to learn as far as basic commands, formatting drives, resizing partitions, removing partitions, installation, and the list goes on.
 
To get a shell in linux where you are able to format the harddrive. (You can't just boot it because you can not remove an active partition.)

If you were running Ubuntu Breezy (5.10) then put in the installation disk and boot from it. Run recovery mode. Choose to use shell from where Ubuntu is installed. This will bring up a root shell for your computer where you can do anything.

Search on the web for info about fdisk commands for removing partiton.

Hope that Helps, Rowan.
 
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