Trying to Install Windows XP over Linux Mint 15

[xisaaccantu]

I just bought a computer with Linux mint installed on it. I want some form of Windows.

So far I understand that I have to delete the partitions that Linux has and then I should be able to install anything else.

I tried installing windows 7 and it asked for the driver to my dvd drive, which I had on usb. It didnt accept any of the ones I had downloaded (9L09, 9L05).

I have a computer with an intel motherboard d915gag, according to the website it will take xp but not windows 7. After extensive searching I found another user who was trying to install windows xp and it asked for his drivers for his cd drive.

Anticipating this, I tried to find the drivers for my SM-Lite-on DVDRW LH-20A1S but was incredibly unsuccesful. Everything I come across is an exe of some sort (fix my drivers or other applications) and I just need the drivers. I have a windows 7 legit disk and I have a windows XP disk that I made from the .iso at microsofts website and I just want to install my programs already. I need help uninstalling linux, and my install disks will only boot sometimes.

 

[The_OGS]

Hi. It's pretty easy to dual-boot WinXP and Linux.
Ideally you would grab a new HD ($50 bucks or whatever) and set up a 2GB FAT partition on it using the bootable WinXP disk.
Then you can install WinXP, and put an entry to the Linux OS on the other HD in the WinXP boot menu that will now appear. Simple. But you need a HD.
To just rub out the existing Linux OS, that's simple too - but you're going to have to boot from a bootable Win OS disk.
You will need a compliant USB optical drive, if an external drive is what you're using, correctly configured to boot from in BIOS.
If you can get it to boot from the optical disk rather than the Linux, then use the Windows installer to bust all the partitions out of the HD so it has zero, nothing.
At this point the Win install will offer to take over, by default making the whole drive one big C:\ drive, partitioning it, formatting it and making it active all automatically...

 

[xisaaccantu]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly! Both of your ideas are great but I cant always get my computer to boot from the cd. Its a hit or miss thing. I have a burned .iso of Windows XP from the Microsoft Site and my cd drive reads it, I just dont have the option to boot directly from cd during the boot process. It says to press F12 for network boot, and my BIOS doesnt have a lot of settings to work with. edit: Just checked my Bios and I THINK that I am running 0444. (Third set of numbers in bios info). The intel website has bios 0482 up for download. The last time I flashed a bios I bricked my laptop, so I will need instructions on how to do this please...

I also have Win 7 Ultimate cd's, I tried installing 7 but it kept asking for the CD/DVD Driver and it wouldnt read it when I had it on a USB. I think this is likely to happen during the install of windows xp, could you help me to get the correct drivers? I need the actual files, not the .exe files that are everywhere. Its an SM-LITE-ON DVDRW LH-20A1S for reference.

 

[xisaaccantu]

I tried to boot my windows xp burned iso file and it said it was an invalid disk. I burned it onto a dvd-r and when I ran auto-run through WINE it popped up to install windows but wouldnt load properly. Im guessing maybe its all got to do with the BIOS update. Or maybe I need to put my iso's on actual CD-ROMS ?