[SOLVED] Can't dual boot Windows

[morty35]

I set up a partition of 25 GiB of free space to use for a Windows XP dual boot (already have Ubuntu installed). When I try to load up windows using an XP install disk, it says:

Setup did not find any dard disk drives installed in your computer?

How do I get my computer to install XP on the free partition?

[eismcsquare]

As far I know, for dual boot, you hvae to install Windows first, and then Ubuntu. So much for playing 'nice' from Microsoft.

But do let me know if I am wrong.

[rsambuca]

Make sure that the empty partition is formatted as ntfs. Then Windows should be able to see it.

[morty35]

I tried that and it still doesn't work. I can't figure out what's wrong. The partition is the first partition in the drive (which took forever to do). It is 25 GiB and I tried formatting it as FAT32 and then NTFS. I can't see why the windows CD can't recognize the partition. What could be going wrong?

[rsambuca]

Sorry, I am out of any useful ideas here.

[sandysandy]

post output of

sudo fdisk -lu

[Shippou]

I have encountered the same problem as yours, though not exactly. My known solution is you backup all your files, reformat the hard drive (all of its partitions, setting up others on the way) then reinstall Ubuntu.

That problem took at least 5 reformats for me, in the course of 2 days. Done it this week. :)

[logos34]

Is the target partition a primary of logical? You can't put windows on a logical (unless there's a preexisting windows installation). You'll get a similar error message

Edit: now that you;ve posted fdisk I see that the partition is sda3, primary, so that can't be it

[morty35]

I ran the code sudo fdisk with the following output:

Disk /dev/sda: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders, total 234441648 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0006d0f5

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 51263415 224829674 86783130 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 224829675 234436544 4803435 5 Extended
/dev/sda3 63 51263414 25631676 b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda5 224829738 234436544 4803403+ 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Partition table entries are not in disk order

It is now presently in FAT32 format. By the way, I have realized that this post doesn't belong in this category, so I have reposted it in another thread. Here is the link: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=857855

I have searched online under windows forums and found what may be the problem. I think because my machine Hard disk drivers are not on my Windows XP cd. This is a Dell Inspiron 1420. I don't know how to install the drivers so that windows recognizes the hardware because this computer doesn't have a floppy drive. I am not sure what to do.

[morty35]

What is a primary of logical? How do I check if it is?

Edit:
nevermind, I just saw your updated post.

[Pentie]

you've got to make the first partion FAT or FAT32 so that XP could be loaded, as in my computer, i make a FAT /boot at the begining of my harddisk, and a logical partion at the last about 5G formatted as NTFS, and now both ubuntu and xp works well~

i install xp after ubuntu, but after that i've to boot with LiveCD to have grub installed in mbr~

[ramaswamyps]

windows can be installed in primary partition only.
if your ubuntu is in c: position move it to another partition and then you can install windows.

[Wraith021969]

Is is a XP2 version? If you have an SATA drive the older versions of the cd dont recognize the interface and give a drive not found issue. I had a older version and had it installed and updated to sp2, so when i needed to fix my MBR with the win cd it wouldnt let me cause it was apparently the wrong version on the cd suddenly. I then found a step by step on slipstreaming sp2 into a new cd with power iso and the new cd i made recognized the sata interface. Bottom line find a torrent with win Xp sp2 :P. Ya Ya I rambled.

[morty35]

I fixed it but now I have a different problem. The problem was that my Windows XP disk did not have a driver for a SATA HDD. I found a web page that explained the process:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Install-Windows-XP-On-SATA-Without-a-Floppy-F6-47807.shtml

I installed Windows XP, but and then I couldn't see Ubuntu. I expected that, because the forum posts I looked at said that would happen. Well, I think I ruined my GRUB bootloader. It said ERROR 15, File Not Found. I looked for /GRUB/boot/stage1 and it was not there, when it was there before. So I basically ruined GRUB. I then tried reinstalling Windows taking up the entire partition, and then installing Linux from scratch.

After installing Ubuntu, I restarted the computer and got:

Error Loading Operating System

I have no clue what to do at this point. I can load Ubuntu using the Live CD, but that is about it. I really don't want to have to reinstall Windows, because I took forever installing updates and drivers and getting the settings the way I wanted them to be. Sorry for the long post.

[morty35]

I figured out a way to do it. I decided to not partition it until during installation. So I deleted the Ubuntu partition, made it one long NTFS, and loaded Ubuntu. The grub was reinstalled and now I have a dual booted system. This has been quite the hassle.

SOLVED