I had Windows XP Pro running on my comp before yesterday. Why? I was raised on microsoft. Anyways before yesterday I had a computer that was ok, but i wanted something better so I decided to try Linux, the Redhat distro if it matters.

This was the structure of my hard drive before i started; I have a 40 gb hard partioned off at 6 gb and 30 gb roughly. Then I started to partition and format for Linux, I put the swap partition (double my memory which was 128mb and the swap partition is 256mb) , then I put a main 5gb partition, I just wanted to try Linux, see if it was for me. Next I installed linux onto the partition, its using just under 2gb. (btw I did set the 5gb partition active through partition magic) No problems yet, I liked my experience so far.

But after I had my fun looking around, and it was quite different, which is good for me, I decided to boot into windows. It shows loading status etc etc, but when I think that it is done, what is supposed to be the login screen comes up saying "Autochk not found skipping Autocheck." then it restarts the computer now it does that every time.

Now for my theories... I believe that the problem is that the Windows partion is not active which it isn't so thats probably the problem.

However it could just be a simple line needed to be added to my boot conf.

Some of you are probably thinking that I should just pop in the PM's rescue disks and that will help me, I thought that as well but when my comp boots it says cannot start dos press any key to continue.

Anyways the major reason I need to get into windows is because my mom needs to get into her MSN yay more microsoft for you guys. Anyways any help would be very very helpful to me. (and my mom!)

So far I like Linux there are a bunch of things I can use instead of the microsofts products, open office, emac etc etc. Thanks I may be on here for other problems in the future.

Linux partitions don't need to be active. Did you try booting your XP with it's partition active?