I got into XP and I am about to reformat.
 

Thanks for the help so far guys. I was able to get into XP by deleting the RH Linux paritions and repairing Windows. I am sure my master boot record is corrupted by now. I have some questions. #1, my partion system looks like this:

C: Win XP
D: Linux OS
E: XP Programs
F: XP Files
I: Linux Swap

I have heard it would be better to do this:

C: Win XP
D: XP Programs
E: XP Files
F: Linux OS
G: Linux Swap

#2, Is a mount point the same as a root directory? It gives me alot of options on what my mount point should be. Anyone in particular I should use or just use "\".

#3, After Linux boots and XWindow tries to start I get a black screen. Thing is I am using the driver Linux probed on install and I used xwindow to install.

#4, GRUB and lilo will not recognize WinXP.

#5, When I install should I save the boot record in the master boot record or on my local Linux parition?

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it.

Mr_Floppy4

to boot winxp it is going to be the first partition on the first hard drive

unless you switched some drives around which is going to not work

Uhhhh, ok, I know that, I didn't ask that question.

Mr_Floppy4

Can someone answer my questions?

Mr_Floppy4

Re: I got into XP and I am about to reformat.
 

#2 Nope. The root directory is / under Linux, and the mountpoints are simply subdirs (somewhere) on that filesystem hierarchy where you can access certain things. For example, the normal mountpoint for the cdrom under Mandrake is /mnt/cdrom, so you would access the CD by going to that dir. SuSE, however, has /cdrom as the default mountpoint for the CD. The area of the filesystem that is used to store all your user data (your home dir) is always mounted under /home.

#3 When it comes to installing X windows at install time (i.e. before you actually have a working system), try skipping that section and configuring X at some later stage. Some people have had terrible problems with X configurations from installation.

#4 Yes they will. At the very least, all you need to do is install Grub or LiLo into the MBR and in the entry for Windows, point it to the correct partition. Windows, in it's infinite wisdom, deciced to not only put its bootloader on the MBR but also in the bootable portion of its main partitions (C:). You may find a little tweaking is neccessary, which is why I pointed you (it was you, wasn't it) towards XOSL, so that should you not get a working Linux bootloader, you can always use something else. It's always a good idea to have a backup plan :D Oh, and don't forget to make a boot floppy. You might need it.

#5 MBR

#6 What happened to #1?

"#2 Nope. The root directory is / under Linux, and the mountpoints are simply subdirs (somewhere) on that filesystem hierarchy where you can access certain things. For example, the normal mountpoint for the cdrom under Mandrake is /mnt/cdrom, so you would access the CD by going to that dir. SuSE, however, has /cdrom as the default mountpoint for the CD. The area of the filesystem that is used to store all your user data (your home dir) is always mounted under /home."

So mount points are sub-direcotries of the parition? Then my main OS parition would be just "/", right?

"#3 When it comes to installing X windows at install time (i.e. before you actually have a working system), try skipping that section and configuring X at some later stage. Some people have had terrible problems with X configurations from installation."

I tried this but I knew none of the commands for the prompt I got.

"#6 What happened to #1?"

#1, my partion system looks like this:

C: Win XP
D: Linux OS
E: XP Programs
F: XP Files
I: Linux Swap

I have heard it would be better to do this:

C: Win XP
D: XP Programs
E: XP Files
F: Linux OS
G: Linux Swap

Mr_Floppy4

Aha! That explains the missing number :D Just kidding with you!

Yeah, it would be better to organise your harddisk that way. So long as your XP is the first partition, it shouldn't make any difference where the rest of it goes, but it probably will ;)

Good luck.

I just edited my post. Yeah, who could have noticed that whole block of text taking the first half of my post. :D

Mr_Floppy4

can i just point ou tthe dangers of trying to explain your linux problems in terms of windows practises, you insist on using the c drive and d drive etc... and these representations very soon run out of power, and make the situation very misleading. always try and state facts, rather than relying on poor conventions. you have a primary partition containing windows, and then an extended partition containing linux, two xp partitions and a swap partition yes? the "d" drive could be a second primary partition or the first inside the extended partiton, which would make a considerable difference in design.

"So mount points are sub-direcotries of the parition? Then my main OS parition would be just "/", right?"

like thymox confirmed, that's basically right, don't necessarily think of it in terms of the "main" partition however, you can keep the core of a system on whatever drives you want, as long as it is accessible in a standard way, so you could theoretically keep virtually nothing on your root partition (only a few mb) and attach everything else from other sources.

I think it's obvious that C: is my primary parition and the rest are exteneded. Here:

Primary

/dev/hda (C): Win XP

Extended

/dev/hda1(D): XP Programs
/dev/hda2(E): XP Files
/dev/hda3(F): Linux OS
/dev/hda4(G): Linux Swap

BTW, I am using the Win Boot Disk to parition, so it automaticly assigns them letters. My goal here is to DUEL BOOT. Not just Linux, not just Windows, so you are going to have to help me out

Mr_Floppy4

Yeah, but what Chris was saying is that using the 'drive letters' from Windows is pretty meaningless! You can actually change the drive letters for any Windows partition you like, and make it anything, and they could be spread across multiple disks. At least if you use something like the Linux disk naming convention, you get a much clearer view of what goes where. And we will help you out, we're just giving you some pointers to make this, and possible future enquiries a little easier.

well see that's very wrong anyway. hda is the physical device, and the partitions you suggest are not possible... sorry!

hda1 - 4 = primary partitions / extended partition
hda5+ = logical partitions

In case you didn't know drives can hold 4 primary partitions, M$ has just never let you do this... you can do it fine under linux.

One last question. Should my Linux OS partition be mounted "/"?

Mr_Floppy4

Yes.