Russell Tiedt wrote in a message to JAY EMRIE:

 RJT>> I seem to recall some discussion in here a while back regarding
 RJT>> some version or other of windoze that makes it *real* much of a
 RJT>> PITA to try and do anything else with the HD afterwards,  like
 RJT>> maybe install something else...

 RJT>> I can't recall the particulars,  though.  Can you guys refresh my
 RJT>> memory on this issue?

 JE> If you install XP or 2000 and use the NTFS file system rather than the
 JE> older 98 or earlier file system (FAT32) it is a pain to revert back to
 JE> FAT32.

 RT> Had to put a friends HDD in my Linux box for that reason, delete 
 RT> the partions, then it was usable again. :-(( A real PITA.

And _you_ were the one who sent _me_ that copy of TomsRtBt,  remember?

I took that floppy down there and booted it,  and used _that_ to delete the
partition.

Apparently running dd to write zeros over the boot sector wasn't quite
enough,  though,  I should've done the whole bloody drive,  as it found
something on there to holler about anyhow...

But it was late,  and I was tired.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it! :-)

---