Need few tips.[SOLVED]

[Oracle911]

I need(ed) reinstall my Windows XP due virus infestation (it is a pretty nasty Russian troyan which blackmail you), but it seems like whenever i start the re-installation i got struck and after restart start again. Windows is my second OS.

So, somebody mentioned it is possible install the Windows trough Linux, I have a partition for it as my 2nd OS. My 2 questions are:
-how can I do it (step by step guide please)?
-what about the restarts?

[knome]

You can't "install" XP through Linux. Possibly you could clone an installation using Linux tools but that's pointless if it's unbootable and you're trying to get rid of a viral infestation.

You should be able to reinstall XP using an official XP disc. There are plenty of guides available from Microsoft or elsewhere.

An alternative is to install XP in virtualbox though, depending on the age and specs of your hardware, this may be incredibly slow. Again, you'd need an XP disc or a copy of the ISO for virtualbox.

[Oracle911]

I have the original CD, and I have space for it, I'm asking if is it possible install Windows trough virtual box on another partition.

[knome]

I only have experience in using a local image file for virtualbox. It may be possible to use a separate partition, I don't know.

Why not install virtualbox and experiment?

[jcoleman]

I thought you could install windows to an empty partition with Linux installed, however the Windows install will write to the MBR so when the computer boots (starts) it won't see the Linux operating system. Simple answer is Grub/LILO will need to be reinstalled. Not sure if Windows needs to be on the first partition or not.

Restarts?? - if it's a disc, could be the disc is damaged and/or dirty.

The 1st link below is a little old but it gives a good idea of the process. Remember "google" is your friend.

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_linu ... htm?page=1

this link goes back and forth of what needs to happen -- but no real definite instructions -

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions ... br-932827/

I've found VirtualBox works well for Windows but I'm not a heavy user, ie:developer, high end graphics, etc.

[Oracle911]

Where can I download the VirtualBox (compatible version) and how can I install it?

[knome]

Try Sourcery and search for virtualbox

Good Luck!

[mimosa]

Virtualbox is available from Sourcery/slapt-src. However (unusually) a direct download may be the easier route. Search this forum and you will find plenty of tips.

I'd say if you mean to use Windows much, a real installation may be a better bet. To avoid the problem mentioned above about the bootloader, install Windows first. Otherwise you will need to boot into Linux manually and install Lilo or Grub.

Windows up to XP needs to be in the first partition on the disk, and this must be a primary partition (not logical). Windows from Vista on needs a small boot partition (primary, the first on the disk) of about 100MB. The main Windows partition can be logical. 20GB is a comfortable minimum for Windows (less for XP, more if you have any mammoths).

So the first thing would be to back up any data and create some suitable partitions using a Salix Live CD. The WIndows ones should be NTFS, the Linux ones can be anything you like; but FAT or NTFS (not recommended for Linux anyway) would be detected by the WIndows installer and you might then end up with Windows in the wrong place.

[mimosa]

Here is a useful post on Virtualbox. I think the info is still up to date. The second method (which is more straightforward) is the direct download. However, this is an exceptional case. It is almost always better to use a distro's package management tools (Gslapt/slapt-get, Sourcery/slapt-src).

http://www.salixos.org/forum/viewtopic. ... asl#p24806

[Oracle911]

Virtualbox is available from Sourcery/slapt-src. However (unusually) a direct download may be the easier route. Search this forum and you will find plenty of tips.

I'd say if you mean to use Windows much, a real installation may be a better bet. To avoid the problem mentioned above about the bootloader, install Windows first. Otherwise you will need to boot into Linux manually and install Lilo or Grub.

Windows up to XP needs to be in the first partition on the disk, and this must be a primary partition (not logical). Windows from Vista on needs a small boot partition (primary, the first on the disk) of about 100MB. The main Windows partition can be logical. 20GB is a comfortable minimum for Windows (less for XP, more if you have any mammoths).

So the first thing would be to back up any data and create some suitable partitions using a Salix Live CD. The WIndows ones should be NTFS, the Linux ones can be anything you like; but FAT or NTFS (not recommended for Linux anyway) would be detected by the WIndows installer and you might then end up with Windows in the wrong place.

Thank you.

So you are telling me to create a new partition for windows XP (about 100 MB), and than run installation normally?

Because my problem is after the 1st steps of installation it restarts automatically (which is normal according the installation CD), than suddenly reboots without apparent reason. So you are telling me this may be the reason (the thing what you are suggesting to me)?