Hi experts

I am using Scientific Linux and windows xp. But my windows xp get corrupted. I tried to repair it with bootable cd but nothing happened.


How can I install XP without removing/disturbing Linux ???

Any suggestion???

with regards,
Summit

Yes, you can. Just make sure you know which partition holds the existing installation of WinXP.
The installation of Windows will override the MBR, which means that you'll lose Grub. That is not a big problem, as you can easily restore it later on using either a Live CD or the Scientific Linux installation DVD.

Just install Windows on the partition that it's currently used by Windows. The install will however overwrite the MBR and therefore wipe the current bootloader from it. So before installing, make sure you know how to restore the bootloader (probably grub).

And make a backup of any important documents in case something goes wrong.

Look here: http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_l...lled_first.htm

buried deep inside the xp install cd ( hidden )is a check box ( that for YOUR convenience is already checked for you ) has the install cd USE THE WHOLE DRIVE
the DEFAULT setting is to REMOVE any and ALL other operating systems

so uncheck that already checked hidden check box .

Especially look at the page on getting your grub bootloader back. When you reinstall Windows it will wipe grub out of the MBR and you will need to know how to put it back. I don't know Scientific Linux; so you might want to see if there is some documentation on that particular flavor of linux and restoring the bootloader. Umm, a quick look at their site shows it is of the RedHat variety and not Ubuntu type. It looks like it does use grub and I see that it has live cd.

Some live cds allow you to add boot parameters when booting the disk. This means you can state the root you want to use giving you the opportunity to state the partition where your linux is installed and thereby the kernel from the cd will boot to the partition that is installed. This is a way to get to your installed linux when grub has been overwritten. Once you are booted on that partition, you can run grub install as root. This will put it back into the MBR. If your drive is /dev/sda you would run 'grub-install /dev/sda' for example.

You need to find out what your options are for getting grub reinstalled before you reinstall Windows. Try out your live cd to see what you can do with it.

Just make sure you use same Grub version to avoid trouble.
Since when? Windows by default allows choose on which partition it will be installed not remove everything in partition menu and has no check box to be unchecked. There is XP install simulator btw on internet if you seem not know. Maybe you used non-original CD..

If you have an i386 folder u don't need the cd.
If 32bit system open i386 folder & double click winnt32.exe it'll start installation or repair. If you're in linux when you execute it'll reboot & finish installation or repair.

Hello
thanks for reply.

Can you explain me the complete procedure or give me a link? What is the procedure to override the MBR and after that how can I recover the Grub?

Thanks,
regards,
Summit

Do you have an i386 folder on your drive?

The windows installer will automatically override MBR - you don't need to do anything about it. The procedure for recovery was described in the link provided above by one of the members. Here's another one:
http://www.sorgonet.com/linux/grubrestore/

Good Luck

Is your system using grub or grub2?

If it's Scientific Linux, I'd assume the OP has grub.

May i know how can I get check either it is grub or grub2?

try:
I just looked at their website and you should have:
grub-0.97-68.el6.x86_64.rpm
(obviously that's for a 64-bit version of SL6)