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MS Tells How to Delete Linux, Install NT or Win2K
Posted by
Roblimo
on Tue Dec 21, 1999 10:59 PM
from the don't-delay-do-it-today! dept.
from the don't-delay-do-it-today! dept.
Ion Berkley writes "Should we feel flattered or threatened that Microsoft now provides
on-line instructions on how to delete Linux from your hard drive
and replace it with 2000/NT? The only thing that suprises me about
this is that they don't try to sell you a Microsoft tool to use in
place of fdisk."
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Microsoft Tells How To Replace Linux With MS 2000
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Amusing? (Score:4)
Wonderful! (Score:5)
-----------
"You can't shake the Devil's hand and say you're only kidding."
I find it interesting... (Score:3)
Also noted is how they state that file Linux can recognize the filesystems of Microsoft (and over 40 other) partition types, yet their Windows is ignorant of all but its own.
Just something to think about.
Didn't work... (Score:4)
World domination? Bah. Mighty sad, M$. I wonder whose great idea it was to make THAT document?
this is not FUD or anti-linux people. (Score:4)
also i don't think this is news worthy except for the
-Jon
Wow! MS Doesn't know how to use Linux! (Score:4)
- The document says: "LILO can be configured to start from... The root folder (superblock) of the Linux partition." First, no Linux user calls anything non-manilla a folder. And the superblock is not the same thing as the root directory.
- "'Superblock' in Linux terminology means that the Linux partition should be the active partition." Um, no. Active partitions are a separate concept from superblocks. Two wrong, yet conflicting, definitions of superblock in just two sentences. Wow!
- [Nitpick] They tell you to delete all partitions; perhaps one already has a dual-boot and ought to keep his Windoze partitions.
- When we type fdisk
/mbr, we ought to be in DOS, yet the previous step instructed us to but a Linux bootable CD or disk in and wait for the command prompt. Then again, they could just have us do the whole thing with the MS fdisk, but that'd be too logical, I guess.
And I haven't even argued with the point of the document yet...Removing Linux partitions isn't too easy (Score:4)
In fact, it's pretty well impossible to remove a Linux partition from within Windows, and it's really for no good reason.
There used to be a hidden switch: FDISK
After using the hidden
After all this, it's really clear why they felt the need to give instructions that don't rely on undocumented switches to their software.
A sad necessity for many people (Score:5)
I think it's a bit of a long jump to assume that a single M$ support doc reinforces Linux's competitive value against M$ products, and is somehow an attack on Linux. We also had to develop a support doc for our (less capable) techs to help the increasing # of customers who wanted to go back to Windows. Our more experienced techs assisted clients in dual booting so they could experiment in Linux, but keep the computer productive until they had things going in Linux.
I think it does provide a good sign that Linux indeed is getting allot of good attention from people who are willing to move to a new OS, but find current distributions too difficult to begin with. Perhaps if newer distributions were easier to use, customers would be more willing to stay. Many of them want to learn how to use Linux, but do not have the resources (or time) necessary to switch without a massive amount of bother.
In the meantime, the calls keep coming.
Keep your linux cd... (Score:3)
my pathetic opinion
David
Now I know why they were hiring Linux guys... (Score:3)
- Detritus
"The Penguin is Mightier than the Sword"
Hmm.. (Score:4)
So you (for example, not you personally, ok?) are a Linux newbie and you trust Microsoft for aid in getting Win NT on your box after Linux has been installed by that Zealot down the hall. Here's how to do it, plain and simple. Nowhere does it say that Linux is inferior. It even makes sure you have a backup of Linux in case you want to install it at a later date. (Go _read_ it!)
This is hardly Microsoft running scared. Hardly Microsoft taking over the world. Hardly Microsoft killing Linux with one fell swoop. For crying out loud, lighten up!!
Re:Fdisk (Score:3)
This is masterful propaganda, and it's disgusting.
And, like most MicroFUD, its inaccurate. (Score:5)
The partition types used by the Linux and Windows operating systems are incompatible.
A curious definition of "incompatible". Last I checked, my notebook had Linux and Windows partitions coexisting quite nicely, and Linux could access them all. Is it _our_ fault that _Microsoft's_ product is deficient in this area?
The Linux operating system is generally installed on partition type 83 (Linux native) or 82 (Linux swap).
Hey, how many people have installed Linux on the swap partition?
The Linux boot manager (LILO) can be configured to start from:
I think the lilo README says it far better:
"Superblock" in Linux terminology means that the Linux partition should be the active partition.
Well, since every (formatted) ext2 partition has a super block, that would be a bit difficult, wouldn't it?
Remove native, swap, and boot partitions used by Linux:
Hey, you told us about the native and swap partition types, but what is this "boot partition" type?
Insert either a bootable floppy disk or a bootable CD-ROM for the Linux operating system on your computer, and then press CTRL+ALT+DELETE to restart your computer.
Good...
Remove LILO. To remove the LILO, type fdisk
Well, no. Since you booted from a Linux disk, assuming that you did that from the shell, you'd get:
Also, Linux recognizes more than forty different partition types,
Closer to eighty, but I guess when comparing it to Windows, which is brain damaged and only recognizes things like
FAT 12 (Type 01)
FAT 16 > 32 M Primary (Type 06)
FAT 16 Extended (Type 05)
FAT 32 w/o LBA Primary (Type 0b)
FAT 32 w/LBA Primary (Type 0c)
FAT 16 w/LBA (Type 0e)
FAT 16 w/LBA Extended (Type 0f)
I guess they didn't want to make Windows look too bad in comparison (although they forgot to mention the NTFS partition types which Linux knows about). Well, I guess that I'll just tell them that their "information" didn't answer my question.
They do say how to fix Linux, too. (Score:3)
Windo ws Overwrites Linux Boot Manager [microsoft.com]
SYMPTOMS
When you install Microsoft Windows on a computer that has the Linux operating system installed, Windows may overwrite or deactivate the Linux boot manager (LILO, or Linux Loader). As a result, you can no longer access the Linux operating system.
They also tell you this:
Remov ing the Linux LILO Boot Manager [microsoft.com]
When Linux is installed on your computer, it allows a dual boot by loading a boot manager called LILO directly into the MBR. To remove LILO, perform the following steps...
Wheeeeee.
Ah, for the days of Yggdrasil... (Score:5)
RedHat Manual Tells How to Delete Windows! Oh my!! (Score:5)
Guys, take a look at the Red Hat installation manual. I have in my hand a copy of the manual that came with 5.2, but it's basically the same as the 6.0 manual. The Red Hat manual describes, in detail, how to remove Windows from your hard drive. Big freaking deal. Red Hat tells you how to remove Windows, Microsoft tells you how to remove Linux. Do you expect Microsoft to help you install Linux? Or Red Hat to help you install Windows?
Grow up, folks.
--
Bug Report: How to remove your brain... (Score:3)
The relatives of several potential users reported a bug in the installation of Windows2500. According to reports, many users could not install Windows2500 as the vacuum pump remained turned on. Due to this Windows2500 was sucked by the pump, aborting the installation. Due to a bug in the human body, caused by a timeout in certain functions, most users died.
To issue this problem we have created a workaround. To install Windows2500 you need the assistence of a third person, preferably a person with Windows2500 already installed. He must control the work of the vacuum pump. However this issue should be taken with extreme care:
1. The pump should not be turned of too early. The vacuum force should give time for Installation Bug (TM) to enter the brain.
2. Any cerebral remains may cause the Bug to work incorrectly.
3. If the pump is turned off to late this may result in irrevocable damage.
We are now working on a Service Patch to conclusively issue the problem.
spinning the "upgrade" meme (Score:5)
MS would like consumers to think that because Windows 2000 has a release date in 1Q2000, one would "upgrade" to it from, say, Suse 6.3 released in 4Q1999. However, the reality is that "upgrading" is a subjective concept. It implies that one is moving to or augmenting a system, resulting in greater value. To my mind, one would "upgrade" from W2K to any kernel 2.2 release. I'm sure that MS apologists would see things differently. The important thing for MS is to squelch this idea and redefine the debate, presenting (a) the notion of "upgrading to W2K" as an objective decision, and (b) drowning out all the other voices to make it seem as if the common wisdom relating to that decision is a nod to W2K.
Just as AMD and Intel are involved in a race for MHz when the consumer should be interested in actual performance (like attempting to judge the speed potential of a car by only looking at the tachometer), Microsoft attempts to refocus consumers' collective attention away from what's more well-developed or robust, to what's the latest version number, what's the most with-it name, or what's newest and modern.
There's a lot of Microsoft precedent for this:
- Version inflation, to make it seem as if the development work and stability present in a product is comparable to the competition. Witness Microsoft products such as MS Exchange 4.0, which was really a 1.0 release, MS Word 2000 (v9) which is really version 6, Schedule+ version 7.0 which was really release 3, etc etc)
- Association of a product release with a date, such as the OS and Office apps, to make it seem as if there were value in running a application with the current year in the name. One of the admitted original goals was to prepare the consumer for yearly software licensing -- an idea which MS quickly withdrew, at least publicly.
- Most importantly: The public positioning of the latest product as THE thing to which one upgrades. It's a mindshare thing. For example, when MS released NT 3.1 it supported HPFS, which is/was generally acknowledged to be technically superior to NTFS. However, HPFS was associated with OS/2, and was thus "old" technology. Clients were strongly encouraged to use the lesser NTFS technology, then (with 3.51) refused support if they used HPFS, and then (with 4.0) forced to abandon the superior file system technology entirely. To my mind, NT was used to kill a technically and architecturally superior Warp 4 simply by marketing that portrayed the latter as old and tired. (Not to make any apologies for IBM, which couldn't market a firehose to a common consumer in a burning building...)
W2K will be marketed as the latest thing, the most "2000" thing, and the best thing -- despite the fact that the first two are valueless, and the last is something that is only determined by the consumer. Personally, I will "upgrade" my NT4/RH52 system at work to W2K (because it will make life easier in a Win-centric office), and then will "upgrade" my new home system that will inevitably come bundled with W2K to the latest RH or SuSE distro (because I don't like sloppy code or bad licenses in my home; it's a poor example for the kids).J
The truth about Microsoft Linux (Score:3)
The partition types used by the Linux and Windows operating systems are incompatible
Microsoft has added a very valuable patch to the kernel - it has removed support for some inferior, obsolete and insecure technologies (msdos, umsdos, fat, vfat and ntfs filesystems) that have bloated the Linux kernel for quite a while.
Thank you, Microsoft. It's about time someone dared to do this. Keep up the good work.
The Linux operating system is generally installed on partition type 83 (Linux native) or 82 (Linux swap)
Microsoft Linux NT introduces another innovative(TM) technology - the possibility to install the whole system on a swap partition. I've talked with some other Linux developers to see if there's a reason to do this. We came to the conclusion that they're doing this for FUD purposes ("Linux becomes unstable if you use it on machines with less than 64 GB RAM. It will start overwriting arbitrary data on your harddisk.").
"Superblock" in Linux terminology means that the Linux partition should be the active partition
Microsoft Linux NT uses a new filesystem that doesn't need superblocks. Since they removed support for fat and ntfs, they must have come up with something really new (cpmfs?) - however, apparently we can't boot from partitions in their new filesystem.
Insert either a bootable floppy disk or a bootable CD-ROM for the Linux operating system on your computer. [...] To remove LILO, type fdisk
Seems Microsoft ported Microsoft fdisk to Linux! I hope it's GPL... Where can I download it? And why would I want to? Microsoft keeps throwing up interesting questions...
Also, Linux recognizes more than 40 different partition types
"more than 40" is a neat way to put "about 100 last time I checked" - I wonder if they'll advertise Windows 2000 with "Windows 2000 recognizes more than 10 kB of RAM!"...
FreeBSD taught me how to reinstall Windoze (Score:3)
Ok, they have a desktop monopoly and billions in revenue for R&D - think that maybe NOW they can deliver a quality product for a change??
Boojum
Re:Linux/W2K coexistance (Score:3)
To dispel this myth, I have been using Win2K beta 3(well actually, I have had it installed, but I haven't used it more than twice), for about 5 months now, and I haven't had any problems with my system. I also have Caldera 2.2, RedHat 6.1, and Win98 installed.
Granted, When I got Win2K, I also got a new HD, so I wiped everything, set up my partitions, and installed everything at the same time. I don't see how there would be a difference though, if you just said to install to a given partition.
Now, I'm sure people are going to say, what the hell are you doing with 2 Windows OS's and 2 Linux distros on the same machine. Well here it is. I have Win98 for Partition Magic (anyone know how that Linux, free tool is coming?). I have Caldera as my primary OS, the one I use all the time. I installed RedHat, because I wanted to check out Gnome, and didn't want the hassle of getting everything to work from within Caldera. And lastly I installed Win2K just to see what it was like. I thought there were a couple of pretty UI enhancements, but overall it is very similar to NT4.0, I still had almost all the same problems setting up devices.
For some reason, I can't have both my SMC 9??? Network card and my USR 56K modem installed at the same time under either NT4.0, or Win2K, even though Win98, and Linux have no problems whatsoever. Oh well. I don't really care, since I don't use 'Doze for anything anyway.>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re:this is not FUD or anti-linux people. (Score:3)
But Microsoft claims:
The partition types used by the Linux and Windows operating systems are incompatible.
This is a false statement designed to make you doubt that you can use Linux and Windows on the same system, sow uncertainty about those who claim to do it, and fear that if you try Linux that it will be difficult to return to Windows. How is that not FUD?
Re:Wonderful! (Score:3)
at least it tells you you can't make a bootable partition more than 4gb in there - it'd be worse if it would go ahead and extract to a 12gb partition and then you find out it does not work.
but what a pain - on the new machines we've gotten in, they have 13gb drives, so we are setting up 2gb for old dos/win3.1 (damn old programs that can't handle windowsNT), then we have NT on a ~8gb partition after the Ghost, which leaves about 3gb left over that we don't really want to partition because after the cdrom we're getting into network drive territory (F: for novell).
Yuck.