loop partition layout

[hosam]

When I try to install FC on my computer I got this message:

/dev/hda currently has a loop partition layout. To use this disk for the installation of Fedora Core, it must be re-initialized, causing the loss of ALL DATA on the drive.

and it ask me to choose between ignore this drive or format it

is there any way to processed it without formating my hard.

[hosam]

although I found the ansewr of my problem --thanks for google-- I hope this will be of some help to those who may run into similar installation problems.

this problem come from the boot loader I have installed on the primary drive's MBR, I use Smart Boot Manager to manage my Windows and Linux boots, and maybe Disk Druid just didn't recognize it. Although it should have, since that boot loader is somewhat popular and has been around for alot of time, not like it just came out yesterday.

I reboot the machine, and uninstall Smart Boot Manager from the system settings menu, and after rebooting, the system run with the previous MBR.

Now I reboot to Fedora Core installation CD, and go through the procedures that we know and get to the partitoning screen. And guess what.............no more complaints from Disk Druid.

Now let's come to the boot loader options. I don't want to install the grub boot loader to the MBR of the primary drive, which is the default location. I could do it if I wanted to, since grub can also recognize a Windows setup. However, I'm using Smart Boot Manager and see no reason to change. This is a personal preference and not a necessity.

So I need to make some minor adjustments to the grub configuration by placing a check mark next to the "Configure advanced boot loader options" at the bottom of the screen. The next screen then shows the advanced options I can change. At the top, I change the location where grub will be installed at by choosing the second option, /dev/hda5 First sector of boot partition. NOTE: /dev/hda5 is the location of my "/" partition, which is the first logical partition on my primary drive.

After the installation is complete, the install disc will be automatically ejected with a message saying it's time to reboot the machine.

At this point, the primary MBR is still holding the previous MBR, so now I need to reinstall Smart Boot Manager. I installed Smart Boot Manager to MBR. Now I also need it to rescan all the partititons and drives to find the Fedora record. (I normally delete drive and partition entries not needed.) Now I'm ready to boot to the new Fedora.