[Spritz2523]

does anyone know the linux command to erase the hard disk.

i installed suse proffesstional 9.3 and i tried using the system restore cds that came with my pc. it wont load the symantec ghost, or anything. i think i have to wipe the hard drive and partitions completely.

i believe the command looks something like "rm *.* -r".

if anyone knows the command or has suggestions to fix my problem it would be greatly appreciated.

[macdude425]

rm -rf should do it.

[furtivefelon]

i thought you have to put in "rm -rf /" (or was it "rm -rf /*".. can't really remember it), as then it will start erasing starting from root and work recursively down the directory

try to reinstall it? format it? there are alot of ways, but this is definately not the way to do it :|

[Iron_Cross]

rm -rf /

But you could probably use fdisk (or cfdisk) to repartition and format your hard drives.

[Spritz2523]

well i did rm -rf /* and it erased all the directories went into kernel panic at restart, but still coulndt use my restore cds. im gona try fdisk. if not i guess i will have to get a windows xp install cd. fudge. well thank the lord i have my mac. i use it for everything. i just want xp for the pc essentials and to try vista.

[Qiranworms]

The rm command won't format your drive. All it does is remove files. If you want to install a new OS on the drive/partition, you have to properly format it with something like fdisk.

[reztart]

dd if=/dev/null in=/dev/hd? count=1 but i dont know now or its exactly. It should delete your hard disk partition table =)

[macdude425]

Yes, and so will cfdisk.

[TheRecluse]

I'm having the same problem. Is there anyway I could create a windows boot disk in linux? I tried to use wine and the bootdisk EXE from bootdisk.com but it didn't work. I don't have my Linux install disks with me anymore either.

[macdude425]

I THINK this should do it:
dd if=*.img of=/dev/fd0

* is the name of the disk image file.