Ubuntu
gparted package

How do I format a partition for ntfs?

Asked by tadiv

My Windows XP partition crashed and I can't get Windows to re-load onto that partition - so I want to format the partition to be sure it is clean and like new, but I can't find a way to format the partition for ntfs... I can't get windows XP to boot (from CD) far enough to use utilities there... Any ideas? gparted does not seem to want to let me select ntfs...

Thanks,
Tom

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu gparted Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Solved by:
marcobra (Marco Braida)
Solved:
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
charizan (gxrisan) said : 		#1

if you want to completely and entirely clean a partition you can use dd or dban. *HAVE IN MIND THAT YOU MUST HANDLE BOTH TOOLS WITH EXTREME CARE!!!!* cause you may lose ALL your data etc.
after you will clean the partition with one of the tools mentioned above you will be able to use it to install windows!
Have you tried to boot with the winxp cd, and remove the windows partition and then recreate it before the installation?
after you will finish with the installtion use your linux cd to re install the boot loader
cheers

Revision history for this message
tadiv (tadiv-comcast) said : 		#2

"Have you tried to boot with the winxp cd..."? The winxp CD boots, loads drivers, says that it is starting Windows and then crashes stating that it is stopping to protect the pc from damage...

I'll look at the two tools you mention later today... Thank you for the suggestions.

Tom

Revision history for this message
Best marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#3

gparted can format ntfs partition if in your system is installed the ntfsprog package...

To be sure you have, from terminal type:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ntfsprog

the ntfprog can do:

 The Linux-NTFS project (http://www.linux-ntfs.org/) aims to bring full support for the NTFS filesystem to the Linux operating system.

 This is a set of tools targeted for people interested in working with the NTFS support in the Linux kernel and using it. The following utilities are included:

 ntfsfix - Fix common filesystem errors and force Windows to check NTFS.

 mkntfs - Format a partition with an NTFS filesystem, optionally bootable.

 ntfsinfo - Show some information about an NTFS partition or one of the files or directories within it.

 ntfslabel - Show, or set, an NTFS partition's volume label.

 ntfsresize - Resize an NTFS partition without losing data.

 ntfsundelete - Recover deleted files from an NTFS partition.

 ntfscluster - Locate the owner of any given sector or cluster on an NTFS partition.

 ntfscat - Concatenate files and print them on the standard output (without mounting the partition).

 ntfsls - List directory contents on an NTFS filesystem (without mounting).

 ntfscp - Overwrite files on an NTFS partition.

 ntfsclone - Efficiently clone an NTFS filesystem or a part of it.

 ntfsmount - Mount an NTFS partition from user-space using libntfs and FUSE.

 ntfsdecrypt - Decrypt NTFS-encrypted files (NOT INCLUDED).

 ntfscmp - Compare two NTFS volumes and tell the differences.

Revision history for this message
tadiv (tadiv-comcast) said : 		#4

Here are the results - package not found...

tadiv@tadiv-computer-room:~$ sudo apt-get update
[sudo] password for tadiv:
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 8.04 _Hardy Heron_ - Release i386 (20080422.2) hardy/main Translation-en_US
Ign cdrom://Ubuntu 8.04 _Hardy Heron_ - Release i386 (20080422.2) hardy/restricted Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/multiverse Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/multiverse Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security Release.gpg
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/main Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/restricted Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/universe Translation-en_US
Ign http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/multiverse Translation-en_US
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security Release
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy/multiverse Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-updates/multiverse Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/main Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/restricted Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/main Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/restricted Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/universe Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/universe Sources
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/multiverse Packages
Hit http://archive.ubuntu.com hardy-security/multiverse Sources
Reading package lists... Done
tadiv@tadiv-computer-room:~$ sudo apt-get install ntfsprog
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package ntfsprog
tadiv@tadiv-computer-room:~$

However -- I was able to format the partition as ntfs using the 8.04 boot disk... Still the Windows XP Setup crashes - it suggests that I should run chkdsk /f on the partition (Microsoft and their great ideas - how does one run chkdsk if Windows is not installed?)...

Any other ideas?

Revision history for this message
tadiv (tadiv-comcast) said : 		#5

More info - it seems that the package is "ntfsprogs"... I have run ntfsfix and will try again...

Revision history for this message
tadiv (tadiv-comcast) said : 		#6

I'm calling this issue closed -- I have the ntfs partition - it's not an issue w/ Linux that Windows will not load -- Thanks for your help marcobra!

Revision history for this message
tadiv (tadiv-comcast) said : 		#7

Thanks marcobra, that solved my question.