This was my first Mandrake 10 install on a HD containing XP. So I was going to use dual boot XP and Linux. After installing mandrake only XP boots ! I can see inside XP and "drive management" that there is 3 unknown partitions (5,73 GB and 494 Mb and 3,55 GB) so I assume Linux is installed on the same HD as XP (disk 0). The other disk is Disk 1

The first I did before innstalling was to use FDISK deleting a D-partision so I could use this for Linux. When installing Linux from CD I selected to use free space for innstall files. I remember I used Lilo with graphical enviroment and KDE as options. I got alternatives about the Lilo I think ? to install in /dev/hdc or in /hde /hde5 /hde9 /hde10 or in /fd0

I used default the /hdc ! Is this where the problem came ?

The disk0 shows in XP I have partitions c, e, f and g and 3 unknowns.
During install of Linux I recognized something with hde5 and 9 so maybe the linux partition are the hde5 9 and 10 ? fd0 is the floppy right ?

Am I able to fix this or maybe doing a new install ? Someone give me a hint for this ? I tried to boot with the Linux CD but no reapir menu !

Thanks

When you boot the computer is there a menu of choices, such as Windows and Linux or does it just automatically load Windows? Did you make a boot floppy? When you boot from the Linux CD there should be a list of options accesses by several F keys.

Hi

When reboot there is no options.....only XP starts normal

I tried the Linux CD and rescue option. Did a "write bootloader again" but nothing happens, eg only xp starts after reboot.

Noticed during "rescue" that linux is installed in hde5 (root, ext2) , hde9 (swap) and hde10 (home, ext2)

Bootloader is meant to be written in hdc ? Not in linux partition ?

Sverre

Apparently you didn't install a bootloader. Did you make a boot disk? If so, what happens when you use it to boot Linux? Other members may not agree with me, but personally I would just install Linux again and this time make sure you install bootloader to the hard disk. I've installed Linux a zillion times using dual boot and have always had Linux/Windows options upon reboot.

thanks for answer !

No I did not make any boot disk !!

You say there maybe no bootloader written, that seems OK

But I cant understand why, during install of mandrake 10 i followed the steps
carefully !!! I did not pick out partitions myself but used auto-install so that linux could
find avalable free space on HD

Have I missed something here ???

Sverre

or you could have configured (somehow) LILO or Grub to wait 0 seconds to boot up into windows... (just another diagnosis..but i'm probably wrong)

-student04

I know where in xp I can edit the startupsystem, or the bootfile, but can I edit or do something here ? Basically I want to know what went wrong during install of Linux.

It should not be so difficult to install ?

I suppose others must have experienced this problem, but I read that the usual problem is
that XP wont boot......not Linux !!!

Please give me a hint.....mentioned above I do think there might be a resolve for me if I understood about the Lilo and alternatives for /dev/hdc or /hde /hde5 and so on.....

I'll keep on reading and looking around internet waiting for answer !!!

Sverre

I'd say you need to boot from the linux cd and run rescue mode to re-install the bootloader.

i've already done that, but no progress !

More data is required to give you any sort of technical support with this issue.

1. Before you began this process, what partitions were on your hard drive? Name them, how big they were, what they were used for, what was on them?

2. What dod you do and which partitions did you do it to in order to create free space?

3. What partitions are currently on your hard drive? Stick a windows boot disk in, run fdisk, and tell us how many partitions you have, their names, and what you are doing with each of them.

From there, we can advise you accurately.

Without that information, or if you don't know, then put everything on the primary partition, delete all partitions other than the primary partition containing XP, and then run the Linux installer again. This time, choose to pick and size your partitions on your own.

Before installing I had win XP pro with 5 partitions
c: 19,5 Gb
D: 9,77 Gb
E: 29Gb
F : 9,77 Gb
G: 43,4 Gb

All partitions were Fat32 windows

With fdisk I deleted the D partition to free up space for Linux

After checking that win XP booted ok, I started Linux install from CD

After install I got 4 windows partition and 3 unknowns

The 3 unknown (unknown because I used xp drive handler program)
has sizes at 5,73 Gb (root) - 494 Mb (swap) - 3,55 Gb (home)

Later use of Linux install CD shows me that it finds 3 linux partition

sverre

you have two disks, yes? and hdc and an hde?

your bios might be trying to boot of the wrong drive.

Yes I have 2 disk, but the 2.nd disk is only for backup matters, cant see any changes there.
Have tried booting with and without this disk ! There are 4 windows partitions on the 2.nd disk....the first parttition is active. Should I try to install Linux without this disk ??

Like I said booting to XP on the 1.st disk is OK, I identify 3 linuxpartitions on this disk, do you think Linux install can have a bootloader on the 2.nd disk ??

Sverre

Then everything went just exactly as it should have, except that Linux bootloader is apparently not showing up and XP just boots on its own?

Did you put linux on your first disk or the second?

Does your BIOS have the disk that Linux is on (and therefore the disk it put LILO (the bootloader) on set to be bootable?

Yes linux took the free space available from the D partition I deleted with fdisk !
So XP and Linux is on the 1 st drive or HD

The question if bios is set correct.....if I disable use of 2.nd HD on booting xp boots ok so I assume yes to that because linux also is on that HD

The only thing I wonder about is when using fdisk it shows an active partition on the 2.nd HD but only a "system" mark on C-partition on the 1.st HD. I've seen this before, but ignored it because of booting with 1.st HD while the 2.nd is disabled means there is a active partition C on the first HD.

But anyway I will try install linux once again while the 2.nd HD is disabled. I read in a post here that I can choose advanced install, delete the linux install partition (something about *drake) and install once more. I'll test that tomorrow after ending my job (working nights)

Really interesting this Linux, I dont give up, and thanks for all help

By the way, should I mark out all install options or leave it by default. I only have 10 Gb for the Linux available

And once more, like mentioned in first post "" I got alternatives about the Lilo I think ? to install in /dev/hdc or in /hde /hde5 /hde9 /hde10 or in /fd0 "
Is it correct to use alternative /dev/hdc ? I now that hde is where the Linux is, but when I have 2 HD should'nt it be hda and hdb or in this case hdd and hde ? Some problems for me to understand that !!

Sverre