Member Avatar for Anpippin

Hey I currently have Ubuntu installed on one of my PC's, and it's the only operating system on the PC, and was wondering how do I take off Ubuntu and install Windows XP to it? Whenever I try to install Windows XP it gives me some error that it can't find the right volume drive on my hard drive or something, so I'm guessing since the hard drive is set up for Linux or whatever Windows can't recognize it. If anyone can help me on removing Ubuntu and installing Windows XP I'd appreciate it.

  • 8 Contributors
  • 12 Replies
  • 115 Views
  • 1 Day Discussion Span
  • Latest Post Latest Post by caperjack

Dani AI

Generated

Common causes and a practical path forward

Windows XP setup commonly fails to find a target when the disk layout, firmware mode or controller drivers are not what XP expects. In this thread correctly reminds that an Ubuntu-only system still uses partitions (including swap), and flagged that modern SATA controllers can be a blocker. Back up any data first — the following steps assume a full data wipe is acceptable.

A reliable, low-risk approach that avoids Windows-repair console commands is: boot a small live partitioning tool (for example, a GParted live USB), inspect the disk, create a new partition table of the legacy MBR type, then create a primary NTFS partition and apply changes. With a clear MBR/NTFS layout the older Windows installer is far more likely to proceed. If the installer still cannot see the drive, the motherboard/storage controller requires driver support; obtain the controller driver package from the board vendor and integrate those drivers into the XP install media with an integration tool so the installer can access the disk.

Additional notes and cautions drawn from the thread

  • If the machine uses UEFI/GPT or very new chipset features, native XP installs may be impractical; XP has limited support for modern firmware and storage stacks.
  • Installing an older Windows after a newer one typically disturbs the newer system bootloader; plan to restore the newer OS boot manager if dual-booting.
  • An easier, safer alternative on modern hardware is to keep Windows 7 (or later) and run XP in a virtual machine for any legacy apps, avoiding driver and bootloader issues entirely.

This complements the suggestions from , and others by focusing on a diagnosis-first workflow (inspect partition table and firmware mode), a non-destructive partitioning tool to prepare the drive, and practical alternatives when XP driver support is the root problem.

Recommended Answers

All 12 Replies

Member Avatar for husainaftab

remove your harddisk and connect another computer with usb and go on manage and format or delete partion then remove your harddisk from that computer and connect your own computer and format with window xp

Member Avatar for sknake

You can run fdisk /mbr from the XP installation CD and remove the partitions and master boot record as Asafe was mentioning. There is no need to pull your hard drive unless you want to.

Member Avatar for Anpippin

If I only have Ubuntu on my computer and nothing else does that mean I even have a partition? Because I've never resized the hard drive or partitioned the hard drive or anything like that on that computer.

Member Avatar for necrolin

If I only have Ubuntu on my computer and nothing else does that mean I even have a partition? Because I've never resized the hard drive or partitioned the hard drive or anything like that on that computer.

Of course you have a partition. You installed Ubuntu into one or more partitions... actually, probably more because Linux usually also creates a swap partition.

I love to mess with different operating systems and I happen to have an extra computer to mess around with. On this computer I've installed, reinstalled all kinds of systems over each other (dozens of times) including installing Windows XP over Linux and vice versa. I have never, ever, had to do anything like formatting the mbr or removing the hard drive. If you're getting an error then you are most likely doing something wrong.

1) Throw the Windows XP CD into the drive.
2) Delete all the partitions that Windows displays.
3) Create a new partition on for Windows, you can use the entire disk if you want.
4) Format with NTFS and let Windows install.

There's nothing more to it.

Member Avatar for luckystar09

I'm very interested! I would love to find out more.
SNIP

Member Avatar for Anpippin

Of course you have a partition. You installed Ubuntu into one or more partitions... actually, probably more because Linux usually also creates a swap partition.

I love to mess with different operating systems and I happen to have an extra computer to mess around with. On this computer I've installed, reinstalled all kinds of systems over each other (dozens of times) including installing Windows XP over Linux and vice versa. I have never, ever, had to do anything like formatting the mbr or removing the hard drive. If you're getting an error then you are most likely doing something wrong.

1) Throw the Windows XP CD into the drive.
2) Delete all the partitions that Windows displays.
3) Create a new partition on for Windows, you can use the entire disk if you want.
4) Format with NTFS and let Windows install.

There's nothing more to it.

It can't find any partitions or whatever, because it can't find the right volume mount drive or something when trying to install Windows XP. So when I try to install Windows XP it will set up the files to install it and then it can't finish because there is an error that doesn't let it finish.

Member Avatar for hughv

What necrolin said.
Delete all the partitions before installing.

Member Avatar for Anpippin

Ok I think I just fixed my problem! Right now I'm installing Windows 7, because my Windows XP disk wouldn't go to the partition screen. I put my Windows 7 disk in and then deleted the partitions and right now it is installing Windows 7. Once it is finished with that I will try and get Windows XP on it.

Member Avatar for caperjack

is it a SATA hard drive perhaps! xp will need sata drivers install first to see drive partition ,as it has none of it own

Member Avatar for Anpippin

is it a SATA hard drive perhaps! xp will need sata drivers install first to see drive partition ,as it has none of it own

Yes it is a SATA hard drive

Member Avatar for caperjack

Yes it is a SATA hard drive

knew it , xp will not see the drive unless you hit f6 when booting to winxp cd and install sata drivers ,some say you can set it to vga mode or something in the bios to get by with out sata drivers.

not all bios have this option but if your dose you can get by with out the f6 option.

set BIOS sata settings to not AHCI, but to IDE emulation.

google and found this .

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.