Hi everyone

Suppose there are 2 OSs 1)XP 2)fedora
I have got 2 doubts

i) If i format linux partion from xp How to recover XP again??
ii) If i reinstall XP how to recover linux again ??

Bye

Thanks in advance

if you're actually formatting the same disk sectors, then there will be no way to recovery, possibly outside of forensic IT labs...

Please give us some details about the drive setup and how you boot each OS--eg is GRUB on one drive?

What do you mean by this:Windows will not recognize a Linux partition, much less format it.

what i mean is that if we right click the mycomputer in xp it shows an option Manage .In that there is another link for disk management
where it shows linux partition as unknown file type
we can format this drive by right clicking it and selecting format
If we format this partition the grub bootloader will be deleted na?
How to boot XP with out reinstalling xp or repairing xp if i do this ???

Another question is
IF I REINSTALL xp HOW TO RECOVER EXIXTING LINUX

OK--the terminology is getting us here...In Linux, you create a partition and then format it with a file system. I think Windows blurs these two steps. What you describe swould effectively delete the Linux partition and create a new one. If GRUB is on the MBR, nad it config file is on the linux partition, then you will no longer be able to boot.

The second question is easier: before re-installing XP, put GRUB on a floppy. Then you can still boot Linux from the floppy.

What configuration do you want to have when you are all done?

Hi

I think u must be getting grub prompt when booting ur system which is something like..

grub >

u can follow the following steps to boot into WinXP

1. rootnoverify(hd0,0)
2.makeactive
3.chainloader +1
4.boot

This will chainload ur WinXP and u will get boot into XP

Cheers

I think the OP is confusing himself/herself.

Yes one can use right click my computer/Manage/storage/diskmanagement to format a Linux partition but it does "nothing" to the XP partition. The XP is perfectly save and can be booted if you have the right tools.

What the OP has mixed up with is the removal of the Linux partition also destroys the home for Grub which was used to dual boot XP and Linux. Without Grub xp would not boot.

Pixellany has the solution of saving Grub on a floppy but that is only bootable if it is made in accordance with Chapter 3.1 of Grub Manual so that Grub is independent of an operating system. When an ordinary Grub floppy, made by the grub-install command, boots it needs to load the menu.lst which would have been removed if the Linux partition were formatted.

The logical step is to restore XP's MBR using XP installation CD or a Dos floppy (Task B1 and B2 of the last link in my signature refer) so that XP boots just like before Linux was introduced.

I have had (maybe I still have both) two OS on an old laptop. Xp and Debian. Xp is still on first (as primary) and third partition (as extended), and Debian which was boot from floppy was deleted with Computer management console and with Partition manager from second partition. I can not partitioned this "free" area as extended xp partition but only as primary. When I start to partitioned it as primary it stop at 16%.
When I try to boot from floppy I can still see: grub >
1. How can I format second partition as windows extended partition?
Thanks in advance

if you have a new question, please start your own thread.

In the new thread for assistance to partitioning your hard disk please provide the output of
if you are in root
or if you log in as the default user
It will show us all the partitions of every disk you have. The command is in Linux and obtainable form booting up any Linux Live CD.

Hi khemchand_glaec

Thanks for your reply
I am away from net for many days so i couldnt quote ur reply

I shall surely try the steps that u have mentioned if i encounter this problem from now
once i have have reinstalled Xp to get xp booteed

Have u tried it once before ??

bye