1 Topic by PS FUN DUDE (edited by PS FUN DUDE 2010-12-05 10:38:02)

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Topic: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

Hi all - 1st post so please don't bite!

After HOURS of searching Google I found ONE
solution I hadn't yet tried:  GParted.  The
poster had added, almost as an after
thought, "GParted worked"!!!

I wanted to scream: "Hey, Dude!  Life is in
the DETAILS!"

So here I am... tried
UBCD/DBAN/HDDeraser/KillDisk DOS & Killdisk
Win, ISO and EXE, etc., etc., etc.

Here I am, still with two sata drives
(100gb and 80gb, Hitachi & Seagate) that
have survived the rigors of the above
programs.

Been abusing computers since the TRASH-80 (TRS-80) came out, some where around 1968-1970 and at least once a week I find a unique situation that seem to require at least 72 Phi Beta Kappas to come up with 72 totally different solutions...

I think I have tried about 60 of them.  GParted is my final stop before I trash the ACER Travelmate 8100 and buy a Netbook along with an external hard drive... sigh!

I probably won't find another use for GParted for a few years so I am trying to avoid the extended learning curve needed to maximize all the features of GParted (if I had found out about it in 1970, well, that's a horse of a different color!)

Way way too late to make this brief however, what I want to do, briefly, is three things:

1.  Delete partitions 0, 1, 2 (1 hidden) on each hard drive
2.  Create two partitions: System and Data
3.  Install Windows XP Pro SP2
(Tried working drives as external USB storage... tried...)

I know how to do the third however, if I don't manage to do 1 and 2 they'll be coming to take me away, ha-ha as the song goes...

What details do I need to post so that nothing is left out and someone will help me avoid those guys in the white coats?

I KNOW many of you have encountered problems that would cross a Rabbi's eyes and so can easily empathize... your help would ... uh, oh... I think they're at the door... gotta go!  I'll be Back!

Muchisimo Gracias, Merci Beaucoup, Danke Schoen, Shay-Shay-Nee, Yak-She-Mas, Obrigato, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

Palm Springs Fun Dude
(PS Fun Dude)

2 Reply by gedakc

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

Is there anything that you wish to save from these two drives?

Since you mentioned DBAN, I'm guessing that you want to complete erase the drives and start from fresh.

3 Reply by PS FUN DUDE

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

Thanks for your reply!

No, not at all and I have no security issues...

Jim

4 Reply by gedakc

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

If you wish to wipe out the partition table, you can overwrite the first sector with zeros with a command run as root from a terminal window:

WARNING:  This command will erase an MSDOS partition table

sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/path-to-your-disk-device bs=512 count=1

Where /path-to-your-disk-device is something like /dev/sda or /dev/sdb


If you wish to wipe the entire drive (this takes a while), you can overwrite all the sectors with zeroes with the following command:

WARNING:  This command will erase all data from the drive!

sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/path-to-your-disk-device bs=512

Where /path-to-your-disk-device is something like /dev/sda or /dev/sdb

By leaving off the "count" parameter, all sectors will be overwritten with zeroes until the end of the drive is reached.  At this point an error message will be displayed because the command has run out of drive to write to.

5 Reply by PS FUN DUDE

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

Sorry for the delay... unavoidable.

Ok, I booted to the live media GParted cd and did as you suggested for both /dev/sdb AND /dev/sda which returned:

1+0 records in
1+0 records out
512 bytes copied (512B)

for both

for /dev/sdb:

9,94356 s, 0.1kb/s

for /dev/sda

2,1442-e -05, s 23.9MB/ s

--May be a comma or dash out of place--

I started the complete run - ie; leaving off the 'count=1' command - for /dev/sdb at about 10pm - the time of this posting - and will do the same for /dev/sda when completed.

FWIW: in the past, when I tried to install XP Pro SP2 two partitions labeled UNKNOWN showed up...this is where xp gave up the message 'cannot delete this partition'

Will post results - it's an 80GB drive so I expect it will take some time.

I'll check back to see if you have any further suggestions.

Thanks very much for your input to date!

Jim

6 Reply by PS FUN DUDE

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

That was quicker than expected!

for /dev/sda:

dd: writing '/dev/sda': Input/output error
215601+0 records in
215600+0 records out
110387200 bytes (110 MB) copied, 4800.09 s, 23.0kB/s

for /dev/sdb:

dd: writing '/dev/sdb': No space left on device
2059489+0 records in
2059488+0 records out
1054457856 bytes 1.1GB 5,10274 s, 207MB/s

Obviously a partition with the major portion of space is located elsewhere.  But where?

Thanks!

7 Reply by gedakc

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

PS FUN DUDE wrote:

for /dev/sda:

dd: writing '/dev/sda': Input/output error
215601+0 records in
215600+0 records out
110387200 bytes (110 MB) copied, 4800.09 s, 23.0kB/s

It would appear that /dev/sda has at least one bad sector or something because otherwise the command should have ended with the same message as on /dev/sdb.

Many manufacturers have hard drive testing software available on their web sites.  You might want to look up the manufacturer of your hard disk drive, download the testing software, and then run it to see if the /dev/sda disk is beginning to fail.

8 Reply by PS FUN DUDE

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

Thanks!

Something new though which leads me to ask:

Should I run sudo again with the cluster size of 4096 ... or is the new result typical of a mechanical failure?

While the laptop is a Acer Travelmate 8100 the hard drive is from a Toshiba - could it be tied to the mobo of the Toshiba? Should I retry with the original hard drive?

The details, mostly redundant and/or superfluous, are below:

I ran the sudo etc from the terminal window, of course.  However, when I booted to the live media cd and selected the default settings it began its scanning process which continued during the sudo stuff.

After quite some time the scanning completed and it displayed two lines:

/dev/sda1 ntfs TOSHIBA SYSTEM VOLUME
1.46GB 500.07 MB used 999.93 MB unused diag (Flags)

/dev/sda2 ! (yellow triangle, exclamation) SQ004242V05
73.08 GB --- --- boot (Flags)

So I ran sudo on both:

input/output error, etc. on both, 109 MB /58 MB copied, seemingly normal, expected results...

Then I double-clicked the yellow triangle and a report of some kind displayed and incomplete list - I say incomplete as it seems, at about  the 20th line only half of the line is displayed - whatever that may be indicative of I am unsure - here is what was displayed, even line 20 as I could still read it:

Device name    :/dvd/ssda2
NTFS volume version:  3.1
Cluster size    : 4096
Current volume size:78,452,355,584 (78,453 MB)
Current device size:78,452,359,168 (78,453 MB)
(commas added, above)
Checking filesystem consistency ...
Accounting clusters ...

Cluster accounting failed at 6423 (0x1917):extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 22684 (0x589c):extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 23117 (0x5a4d):extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 28194 (0x6e22):extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 212164 (0x33cc4):extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 212165 (0x33cc5):extra cluster in $Bitmap
Cluster accounting failed at 212166 (0x33cc6):extra cluster in $Bitmap

I've left the pc with the above screen displayed as well as the
terminal screen and the GParted scan result...

I intuit, for some unknown reason, that the solution is just a neutrino away! Wishful thinking, perhaps... although I really, really hope to be able to post 'SOLVED' soon as there are so very many Google hits out there with unworkable, seriously frustrating suggestions...

I sincerely appreciate your considerable attentiveness to this long journey of mine!  Without the dedication and contributions of people like you and your members the computer world would be a complete Tower of Babel and Bits!

Jim

9 Reply by gedakc

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

I am confused.  hmm

In post #6 the commands were to overwrite both drives with zeroes.  Now in post #8 there are two partitions listed with file systems on /dev/sda.

How did the hard drive testing turn out?  Did you start partitioning and formatting the drive again?  If so, what exact steps did you take?

10 Reply by PS FUN DUDE

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

First I used the  sudo command on dev/sdb and sda with the 'count=1' command.

Next I did the same with both WITHOUT the count=1, assuming this would do the entire drive/partition.

Finally, after the GParted scan completed and indicated two OTHER partitions present: dev/sda1 and sda2 (I had a typo in prior post and listed the boot partition erroneously as ssda2) I ran the sudo command on each WITHOUT the count=1, assuming  it  would wipe the entire drive/partitions.

While the immediate  results seemed  normal except for the  partition sizes, it  wasn't until I clicked on the Yellow Triangle Exclamation point that I discovered, apparently, that the scan of the 73GB boot partition created the list of $Bitrate/extra  cluster errors listed in the previous post.

The above paragraph is how running the sudo command turned out.

I have NOT attempted to re-partition the drive as I  am unsure
precisely how to do so, using GParted or other software.

Neither have I tried to simply installed XP Pro again.

You also  asked:

Did you start partitioning and formatting the drive again?  If so, what exact steps did you take?

I am hoping for exact step by step instructions from you.

Is that, perhaps, too much to ask?  Should I just give it a shot and put in my XP Pro install cd and see what happens?

Sorry for the confusion and I hope this brings the clarity you seek...

I can send you screenshots if you prefer: of the terminal window results, the 'error report and the GParted scan results???

Please let me know!

Thanks!

Jim

11 Reply by gedakc

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

I am concerned that your hard drive is failing as mentioned in comment #7.

After overwriting the drives with zeroes, there should be nothing on either drive.
That is why I suggested testing the hard drives using software from the manufacturer.

If this does not bother you then do feel free to try to install Windows XP from the install CD's.

12 Reply by PS FUN DUDE

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

Ok, I will get the OEM diag software...

A question though: in running sudo I indicated a cluster size of 512... any possibility of an improved outcome is I changed the cluster to 4096 as it is NTFS?

Jim

13 Reply by PS FUN DUDE

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

I went to the Seagate website and downloaded their SATA install/diags/wizard software however two other things:

1.  I went to the ACER website, got the service manual and noted that they claim the hidden partition cannot be deleted although they follow up with the fact that, while they don't offer software to effect a clean, single partition install, If I chose to I would have to use  some 3rd party software such as FDISK or Partition Magic (Which I have the complete and latest version of)
This is why I do not think that the hard drive is failing...

2.  I booted, again, to the Live Media ISO CD (has to be the most current version as I only downloaded it a week or two ago) and, of course, the scanning process commenced.

When it was finished it displayed the two very same partitions, dev/sda1 and sda2, that were present prior to my running the sudo commands.

I just happened to notice that the icons for GParted - Move Resize Delete were no longer 'grayed' out so I clicked on the larger of the two partitions (75GB) and the clicked Delete.

That was well over 24 hours ago and the little slider bar is still going back and forth as, I hope, the process to delete is being successfully carried out.

I remember, when I previewed many of the forums posts prior to posting my problem, that someone had mentioned it went on for 9 days - a 2TB drive, I think... any idea how long this process will continue and, more importantly, if it goes on for, say 9 days, should I assume the program has hung?  I don't mind the wait - it's just sitting there doing it's thing - just want to know what a reasonable time frame would be to either give up the ghost and bail or let it go on...

I'll end up trying Partition Magic as I just got it and am reading the lit, however I seriously think that if GParted can't do it then PM certainly can't either.

It's no longer about the economic feasibility of continued efforts with this thing:  I want to know the answer and so will continue however slim the possibilities are...

JIm

14 Reply by gedakc

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

The delete operation should be very fast.  If not then something wrong is happening with the hardware.  You might try opening a terminal and running the "dmesg" command to see if it is showing any errors with the hard drives.

15 Reply by PS FUN DUDE

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

Well, very fast this process wasn't although it politely asked if I was sure I wanted to stop... that the partitions may be inaccessible, etc..

Pretty much that way now!

I, once again, tried to boot with the install CD and, yet again, I selected the repair, recovery console option.  FDISK, FIXMBR, FIXBOOT no go... when I rebooted the Live Cd and it finished scanning there were the very same two partitions.  Two days of 'Delete' didn't delete a single kb. 

Booted to GParted, opened the terminal, dug out my copy of Debian/GNU/Linux Bible and located the bin/sbin command appendix - will figure out how to 'become' root so I can adduser etc. and access other features on the Live CD...

Sigh... it's better, I suppose, than going out and holding up liquor stores... so I'll be busy with it for awhile - going to pickup a new sata drive to try - should that not go smoothly I'll convert the new drive to an external and put the notebook on Craig's List for parts...

If, however, some miracle happens, I'll post the details.

Thanks for your efforts!

Jimm

16 Reply by PS FUN DUDE

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

I did run dmesg..took me awhile to learn the |more command to slow the screen down and, while searching for Linux command lists (the Debian Bible is a bit lacking when it came to find helpful commands, I learned how to saved the log log file dmesg>log.txt however can''t figure out how to open log.txt with nano - there ARE errors - DMA something, file is too big to re-type and I don't, yet, know how to mount a usb stick or usb floppy so I could save it/paste it...

Tried installing Linux/Redhat - had the book/cd lying around since Win98 days - resulted in Loading Boot Failed... it's Redhat version 6 so I wasn't expecting much anyway.

Found what could be a solution in one of my searches which brought me to post at Partition Magic - guy had an Acer, etc., etc., etc - he experimented with creating a partition about 2gb, FAT32, then, right away did it again as FAT, THEN installed XP and it worked - have a step by step so I'll let you know - I'll make a serious effort at getting the dmesg log file off of ram somehow, barring that I'll copy down the parts that appear the most ominous...

Thanks!

17 Reply by gedakc

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

If you have performed a few disk operations, then any errors would be at the end of the log shown by dmesg.  These should show up as errors with device names such as /dev/sda.

18 Reply by PS FUN DUDE

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Re: XP install says "This partition cannot be deleted"

Thanks but it seems like the most obvious was, in fact, the culprit....

On the 100GB Seagate I can hear the caliper scraping against the disk...

On the 80GB Hitachi I booted to a USB floppy with Hitachi's DFT32 and got the Technical Error Code 75000628 (0x75) ... which indicates a hard drive component failure.

Not having another SATA drive around I can't be 100 percent certain but 99.99 is close enough!

Wish the heck M$oft could indicate something a bit more explicit than 'This partition cannot be deleted."

Case  closed.

ummm...  ahhhh... BUT, if I happen across another SATA I'll give it another shot!!

Thanks again for your input - nothing lost, on my end, at least as I learned quite a bit!

Jim