[SOLVED] I have a HDD with Linux on it and I am trying to install windows 10 in it through a USB

[keithecampbell]

I have a HDD with Linux on it and I am trying to install windows 10 in it through a USB, but the installation says the drive needs to be formatted NTFS.

 

[drawingpin]

I would completely rebuild the disk partitions and reformat the new partitions. That way you'll get rid of any Linux left overs. If you trying to go for a dual boot then you'll need 2 partitions, one for Linux, one for Windows. You could always install virtual machine software on Linux and run it through there. That way you won't have to do anything to your hard drive.

 

[keithecampbell]

How do I rebuild/reformat from the USB drive?

 

[drawingpin]

When you run the Windows install make sure you select advanced options. You'll be prompted to select the drive. At that point you can select the drive, delete / rebuild partitions: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-windows_install-winpc/how-to-perform-a-custom-installation-of-windows/38adfa8c-32f8-4354-8c53-13b5f2cf7e44

 

[howtobeironic]

However if you want to do a dualboot installation (aka having an option to boot Windows or Linux) you still need to remove Linux, install Windows, create empty space for Linux, then install Linux on top. Windows bootloader is arrogant and will screw your Linux bootloader and cost you a lot of works to get it back up, however Linux is more compatible and it will surely install grub which can boot from both smoothly.