I have labored over this issue and need a hand. I have XP running on my PIII, and decided to try to install RH8.0 or Mandrake 9.0 on a different partition. Partitioning went well, but Linux has insisted that I use a bootloader(I prefer to use a floppy) After successful installation, I cannot reach my Windows partition. Grub shows DOS as an option, but when selected, it goes to the XP splash screen, shows a short error message, then restarts the XP Splash screen again. This goes on infinitely. I made a XP boot floppy, with intentions to rewrite the mbr, but when I place this floppy in the drive and reboot it says something about a I/O error. What gives?? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

give me a lil more info, such as what did you do to create your partitions? and whats the error say

Umm, I don't remember the error message at the XP bootup. The error when using my floppy just says I/O error.

Your Windows partition didn't have a label, so Grub (or LILO) didn't pick up that it needed to be added. Go to this site, go down to where your boot loader is and it will tell you what to add where.

http://www.redhat.com/advice/tips/dualboot.html

there is a simple way at least can make ur winxp come back to life i think, though maybe linux will die(but up to u)

Use your WinXP installation CD to boot your machine and select repair exist windows installation(can not remember the exact messages, but should be something alike), then you should select recover boot sector i think, NOT the Master Boot Record(MBR), else linux will die(coz Grub will be overwritten).

BTW. Recovery process is quite fast.