I am trying to run Windows XP and PCLinUXOS 200 on a Duron 700 with 512 meg of Ram and a 80 Gig Maxtor drive.

I messed up trying to set up partitions for Linux and need some help in fixing my partition table.

I have somehow ended up with 4 volumes with names:

C:/ NTFS 9.77 GB Healthy

D:/ Fat 32 798 MB Healthy

E:/ Fat 32 4.88 GB Healthy

G:/ NTFS 47.71 GB healthy

Then 5 unknown partitions all basic layout and no volume names of capacities:

A) 1.17GB
B) 2.42GB
c) 7.35GB
D) 3.82MB
E) 80MB

Note "A" tp "E" in this case are not drive names

I believe I need three partitions for Linux and the file extension is different how can I fix this HD , is there a utility that will walk me through the process,
should I save my data and delete the entire drive and start over?

Thanks

Try Partition Magic 8

Which partitions did you have before trying to install Linux? If you can still boot XP, go to Disk Management (System, Administrative Tasks) and delete those partitions you don't need in XP. Ideally you want one contiguous section of Unallocated Space before attempting to install Linux again.

It's a bit late now, but it is always a good idea to backup your
boot sector before you start playing with the partition table.

Your Windows partition is probably still intact. Delete any
unneeded partitions to make space for Linux. The Linux
installer CD should have all the tools you need. Remember
that you are limited to a maximum of four primary partitions.

Welcome to CD Freaks.

Hi
First - Before these atempts, how many windows partitions did you have in your HDD?
The first 4? It seems Win XP sees them and consider them as OK, so you should have them before.
Was you HDD using all capacity?

How many times did you try to install Linux?
How did you create this five "no name/no volume" partitions?
From windows partitions? From unsed/unpartitioned/unformated disc space?
Did you install Linux at all? Is it running?
You will never see your Linux partitions from Windows XP, unless you install specific software that allows you to do so.
If you didn' install Linux follow the advice given above and use Partition magic to eliminate the unwanted ones.