Disk boot failure after installing FC4
 

Hi all , I previosly used Windows XP but then I changed to Fedora Core 4.

NO DUAL BOOT.

After I install FC4 , error msg comes up saying , Disk boot failure, please enter bla bla .....

But after I enter Windows XP cd it starts normally. So everytime I want to login I have to enter windows xp cd into the cd rom.

Does anyone know how to solve this problem ? so that I dont have to enter windows XP cd everytime I turn on my computer ??

Thanks in advance.

Not sure what does this mean!
Whats with the Windows CD?

He's using the windows XP install CD as a boot/rescue disk - goodness knows why. Or - indeed - how.

Dr V: you installed with no errors. You remove the install media. You powerdown and powerup. Now what?

Be pedantic and we need to see the whole error message. It certainly dosn't ask you to enter the windows XP CD?!

Yes.

Can you quote the entire error message?

Hi all thanks for the replies.

Here is the full msg : DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

This error msg always appear when I turn on my computer and stays like this even tho I press enter. It wont load FC4.

The only way I can load FC4 is by inserting windows xp cd into the cdrom and press enter. If I put FC4 cd in , it will only starts new installation.

Its true that it didnt ask me to enter windows XP CD but I tried this and this seems to be the only way I can go past this error msg

My boot order 1st = Cdrom 2nd=HDD 3rd=Floppy

I hope that helps. Please ask me more details if needed.

Please help me. I've been trying to figure out this error for 2 days now.

And I already re-installed FC4 countless times.




Many Thanks to everyone

I am completely clueless about how the Windows XP CD helps you get to the Operating system!

Well, it seems like a GRUB problem.
Moreover, would you like to tell us what did you do before you started receiving this problem?


Moreover, with the Windows XP CD, you can get to Windows, FC or both?
After entering the XP CD, what exactly happens?

After I installed FC4 , my CD ROM opens automaticly right ? Asking me to remove the installation cd , and I did . Then I click REBOOT.

It reboots then I received this error msg : DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

I pressed enter so many time but this msg is just blinking for 1 second then appear again.

I tried 3 different sources for the CD. 1st one is from Fedora website, 2nd one is from my uni mirror , and the 3rd one is from DVD that comes with my FC4 book. All these gives the same error msg.

With the Windows XP cd I can only get to FC. Because I DONT setup dual boot. Im also HAVE NO IDEA how can a windows xp cd boot FC4.

After I put windows xp cd , I pressed enter , then the screen turn blue , then FC4 starts. But I dont want to be doing this everytime I turn on my computer. Also this tells me that theres something wrong with the installation.

Many thanks once again

So you don't want to setup a Dual-boot system.

Maybe you will need to start afresh.
Delete all the partitions and create a new setup.

Let Fedora CD/DVD whatever you are using automatically format the partitions for you.
(If you aren't smart enough to know about the manual partitioning, drop a message here, and i will tell you how is it done.
I will require information about the Hard Disk and RAM for that purpose.)

Then install Fedora Core.
Choose the Location of the Boot Loader as the MBR (Master Boot Record).

That should solve the problem.


Long story short, you will need to do a Clean Install of Fedora Core.

Alright I will start fresh again.

Yes Im a newbie with linux so please make sure you explain every command clearly and keep it simple.

Could you please tell me how to make the partition ? Previously, I select the "Automactic partition". Should I do the automatic or the manual ?

Oh yes , I've look something about "Boot Loader as the MBR" ? Where should I installed the "boot loader" ? /dev/hda ? or /dev/hda1 ?

My HD is 40GB and my ram 512MB.

Any other tips for the clean install will be much appreaciated.


Thanks ^^

I am glad to hear that you want to learn.

Okay.....so here we start.
Put the Fedora Core CD/DVD in.
I hope you haven't changed the BIOS (CD ROM should Boot First.)

Now, i don't remember the exact steps to be followed.
But I think that you only need help with Partitioning and Installing the Boot-Loader.

Partitioning comes first.
So when the Fedora core asks you to setup, do the following things.

Lets start Manual partitioning.
I guess the Disk Partitioner for Fedora Core is called Disk Druid.
Delete all the existing partitions using the Delete Button. (I hope that you have backed up all your data.)


Create all partitions as Primary Partitions

First lets create a Swap partition.
Press the New button.
Then enter the size= 512MB (Swap is another name for Virual Memory in Linux)
Format it as Swap.

Now lets create a Root Partition.
Press the New Button.
Then enter the size=<remaining size> But wait....you have one more option here.
Mount it as /

You have the option of creating a new /home partition. If you keep it seperate, then it is good for backups.
Moreover, if you need to format Fedora sometime later, the /home parittion can be retained will all the data.
So if you can decide to use a seperate /home partition, if you want to.

If you decide to use the /home partition, then you may keep the size of the / partition around 10GB

To create a seperate /home partition,
Press the New Button.
In the mount section...select /home
Size = <remaining size>


Then create those partitions using the next button (or whatever it is).

Then when you come to the Install the Boot-Loader Section,

Select MBR as the location.
MBR = hda = hda0
All mean the MBR(MBR is the Master Boot Record.).
Install GRUB as the Boot Loader.





HOPE THIS WORKS.
If you have any doubts, ask before doing anything critical.

Note: the message wanted a rescue CD - you insert CD1 of fedora and type "linux rescue" at the "boot:" prompt. (The installation should not start automatically - you have to press enter at the boot: prompt first.)

It sounds a lot like the windows bootloader was still in MBR (Master Boot Record) ... this time make sure you install GRUB to MBR during that part of the setup process.

And - when you repartition all your drives - tell us what partitions you created and with what attributes.

BTW: I'm sitting in front of FC4 right now. Though duffmckagan seems to be closer to your timezone. Also - really check out the FC4 install notes in www.mjmwired.net - you too duff.

Does this refer to doing a clean install?
If it does, I have mentioned everything in my previous post.

Moreover, Simon Bridge, I have already taken a look at that link, but my experience with FC hasn't been good. :(
I think he should look at the following links.
Personal Installation of FC4
Fedora Core Release Notes

Could it not be his bios just insists on booting from a CD ROM because that's the setting?

I have seen older computers do this. Perhaps once he is finished installing he should just set his hard disk to be 1st in the boot order?

Not sure if this is really the case.

If the first boot device is the CD, surely the system will try to boot from the Cd,and if the CD is Bootable it will boot.(from the CD)
Well, if it doesn't find any bootable CD in the drive, it should simply switch over to the hard drive and boot from the hard-drive without making any comments. :D

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Soon I will re-install my linux and if theres any further problem I will keep it posted.

Thanks for being so helpfull.