Primary boot device

SlickBlack · #1 6th August 2008, 08:21 PM

Im about to install WINXP. How do I check if my CD drive is the primary boot device. I know you told me to press Esc or an F button but I think its different for Fedora. When it boots I get a screen that says press any key to enter setup. Im sure thats it but I have no idea where to access the BIOS settings from there.

markkuk · #2 6th August 2008, 08:28 PM

When you see the "press any key" message from GRUB, it's too late to enter the BIOS setup. See your computer/motherboard documentation for the key to enter the BIOS setup, and hit it immediately after powering on.

SlickBlack · #3 6th August 2008, 08:29 PM

And if I have no documentation? Can I find it online, or is there a default button?

stoat · #4 6th August 2008, 11:02 PM

You can try guessing with some common key presses that enter many BIOS setup routines. When you boot the computer and first see some kind of splashscreen that may have the computer maker's logo or something similar, try some of these. You may get lucky...

F1
F2
ESC
DEL

Not all all machines will throw up a splashscreen when the monitor first comes up. It may be the first black screen with some mainboard and BIOS version information. Whatever it is, it will be very early in the boot process (first few seconds or so). That is when to press those keys. Very soon after that, the opportunity to enter the BIOS is passed.

If it's an older machine, it may require pressing multiple keys at the same time. So, if those common single keys above don't work, there are lots of articles on the Internet about this subject. A few examples...

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixthe...saccess_mb.htm
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000192.htm

SlickBlack · #5 7th August 2008, 04:43 AM

Thanks. Another thing though. I dont wish to keep Fedora or any apps once I install Windows. Is that part of the Windows setup or is there another step?

stoat · #6 7th August 2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlickBlack

I dont wish to keep Fedora or any apps once I install Windows. Is that part of the Windows setup or is there another step?

XP Setup has a kind of disk druid that can delete unwanted partitions; even Linux partitions which will appear as "Unknown" in the list of partitions. Start the XP CD (if it will boot with Fedora on the drive...another issue), then delete the Fedora partitions with XP Setup before creating a new partition for XP.

If you find that your XP CD will not boot normally, then you will have to remove the Linux partitions by other means first. See the HOWTO on this subject, but skip down to Note 1 since you are not interested in keeping Fedora. CAUTION: Some of the methods in Note 1 will completely wipe the drive clean destroying everything on the drive. If you don't want that, then use a partition manager or fdisk to remove only the Fedora partitions. Some partition managers may not perform any actions on LVM PVs. In that case, use fdisk. The running Fedora system will allow you to destroy itself with fdisk. If your Fedora system is busted now, you can use the Fedora installation disk in rescue mode to use fdisk to selectively delete the Linux partitions. Or, one of the various available LiveCDs can also be used for fdisk actions. Details omitted for now in case they are not needed.

SlickBlack · #7 7th August 2008, 06:15 PM

Awesome great. And one more if you dont mind. If someone installs a copy of Windows onto their PC and then sells it to somebody else, can that second person also use that version of Windows?

stoat · #8 7th August 2008, 06:48 PM

I certainly believe so. It's done on eBay all the time. eBay and MS used to be pretty tight pals. Anyway, I have read the MS licensing agreement at least once sometime or other. And I have sold computers with Windows installed. But I always included the original genuine MS installation disk, COA, and any other license paperwork that I had. I never kept an illegal copy of the disk. I also never registered any of my MS software with Microsoft.

I have also bought computers with Windows installed. Sometimes I got the disks; sometimes not. I always at least got the COA attached to the computers. I never got anything else.

I think you should include the disk.

SlickBlack · #9 7th August 2008, 06:50 PM

I mean sell the copy of Windows not the computer.

SlickBlack · #10 7th August 2008, 06:51 PM

I want to know if they uninstall Windows and sell it, will it work for the buyer?

SlickBlack · #11 10th August 2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stoat

XP Setup has a kind of disk druid that can delete unwanted partitions; even Linux partitions which will appear as "Unknown" in the list of partitions. Start the XP CD (if it will boot with Fedora on the drive...another issue), then delete the Fedora partitions with XP Setup before creating a new partition for XP.

If you find that your XP CD will not boot normally, then you will have to remove the Linux partitions by other means first. See the HOWTO on this subject, but skip down to Note 1 since you are not interested in keeping Fedora. CAUTION: Some of the methods in Note 1 will completely wipe the drive clean destroying everything on the drive. If you don't want that, then use a partition manager or fdisk to remove only the Fedora partitions. Some partition managers may not perform any actions on LVM PVs. In that case, use fdisk. The running Fedora system will allow you to destroy itself with fdisk. If your Fedora system is busted now, you can use the Fedora installation disk in rescue mode to use fdisk to selectively delete the Linux partitions. Or, one of the various available LiveCDs can also be used for fdisk actions. Details omitted for now in case they are not needed.

How can I delete the Fedora partitions without going through the Windows XP setup?

Chilly Willy · #12 11th August 2008, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlickBlack

How can I delete the Fedora partitions without going through the Windows XP setup?

Want to make SURE ALL partitions are blown away, download a program called DELPART. It WILL get it, if not you have something seriously wrong. It runs an EXE that runs under DOS, though. (floppy, CD, or flash boot will do) - please be aware that it IS possible to think you deleted all the partitions (with other stuff) & one or the other (linux or M$) is still there, hidden. The geometry is different as to where things lie on the drive (or at least it USED to be that way) - had this bite me, is how I know. I'd go back to reinstall one or the other & the partition would then show up is how I found out it was still there.

Be aware that there is an old version of this that is considered by virus scanners as a VIRUS as it has no menu & when executed will blow ways everything without warning. I don't think you can even get it any more but thought I'd make you aware of it anyway. The one you WILL get is menu driven so you are safe with it. It has been a while since I've used it but I THINK you have to tell it before it will commit anything to the drive.

As for the windows sell, I believe you have to include the disk, key, license & everything else M$ associated that came with it to be able to do so, plus remove any copies of it from the machine. Then when the other party goes to activate, they will have to notify M$ of what is going on. (especially if it is on a totally different computer setup as the setup will complain about it) But I'd contact THEM to be sure.

If these are RESTORE disks, forget it. They'll only work on that machine or one "exactly" like it.