Hi, i'm new to this forum, and i'm new to linux. Seeing as i had a free day, I downloaded College linux, set it all up, but being a dumbass, I forgot my password.... formatted my linux hard drive ( I have two, a windows XP home one and a linux one...), re-installed linux, booted. After the first bleep that normally occurs during boot up, the screen half fills with "9a 9a 9a etc..."
Now I can't get into either. I tried reinstalling linux, via the install cd, but nothing happened. I was wondering whether it was, by small coincidence, both installs of Linux that caused the problem (I installed it before i forgot the password, but i messed up kernel image thingys on lilo (i have no idea what image kernals are, but i realised that lilo had filled it in for me, and i had erased it on my first install!) A google search for 9a boot reveals some very helpful things, I think.... (couldn't understand half of them ), though it involved mandrake linux, and editing files. Which I can't do, since, ehem, I can't boot up.

Thanks for helping

Please don't make your answers to technical,

Auriel

It sounds like you've hosed you Master Boot Record. If you normally use Windows, it's probably best to fix that first. If you have a Windows CD you'll need to use it boot to some sort of repair/command prompt that will allow you to fix the Windows bootloader. I think XP has a program called fixmbr. College Linux uses lilo. I've never fixed lilo with a boot CD so I'm unsure how to do that and I'm a little reluctant to try it just to find out. I prefer Grub. It seems to be easier to deal with in these situations.
Once you've fixed Windows you can then reinstall College but don't forget you password this time. I allways use the same one so I don't wear out my brain cell.

yeah i always use the same one, but i guess i must have missed type it or something.

When i bought my pc, all they gave me was a windows key or something, no cd. Is there something i can download?

on the link, whats a recovery console? I'm not exactly that expert on computers, if someone could just tell me a simple step guide, if they have the time, then i'd be happy , instead of sad

i.e

1. install boot disk from www.blah.com

2. stick in computer, type blah blah blah.sys

3. select yes

4. do something else blah


Desperatly,

Auriel

fixed the problem.

YAY!