How to Format a Linux Hard Drive to XP

Windows XP and Linux each run best on their own file systems.
Linux runs better on hard drives formatted in the ext3 file system, while Windows prefers the NTFS format.
Two easy methods exist to re-format a hard drive currently formatted for Linux so that you can install Windows XP operating system instead. Both require installation CDs for one or the other operating system.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Using the Windows XP installation CD

1. Reboot the computer from the CD, and wait while the installation program cycles through its start-up sequence. Press "Enter" at the first menu, and then "F8" to accept the license agreement.

2. Press "Esc" if the program detects an existing copy of Windows.

3. Select a partition to delete with the cursor, and press "D" and then "L" to delete it. The program will display Linux partitions as "Unknown." Repeat until you have deleted all unwanted partitions.

4. Click on the field marked as "Unpartitioned Space," and then press "Enter" to create a Windows XP partition.

5. Select NTFS formatting if only Windows XP will use the partition. Choose FAT32 formatting if Windows and Linux will both read from and write to the partiton.

6. Continue installing Windows, or else press "F3" to quit the installation program.

Using the Ubuntu installation CD

7. Boot the computer from the Ubuntu Linux CD, and launch Ubuntu live from the CD by selecting the "Try Ubuntu without any change to my computer" option.

8. Open the Partition Editor program, located under "System," then "Administration" on the top deskbar.

9. Select the Linux or non-Windows partition you no longer intend to use, and click "Delete." Repeat with any other unnecessary partitions.

10. Click "New" to create a partition for Windows XP. If the partition will be used only by Windows, choose the NTFS format. If Linux or Mac OS X will share the partition with Windows XP, select the FAT32 format.

11. Click "Apply" to finalize your changes and begin the reformatting process.

12. Install Windows XP on the NTFS or FAT32 partition you created.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan on installing more than one operating system on the same drive, create separate partitions for each OS. Create another partition in a relatively universal format like FAT32 for any data shared between operating systems.
• Formatting will delete the contents of your partition or hard drive. Back up all valuable data before formatting.