Hey there sorry this question has probably arisen heaps and heaps of times but i just cant figure it out....

Ok i installed Linux Mandrake 9.2 just from a cd from a magazine, and i overwrited windows xp with it. Now i want windows xp back, but my computer wont let me restore it, and i dont have a windows xp install disk as XP just came installed on the computer. So can i eva get my Windows XP back?
If i cant get that back, i've got a windows 2000 install cd, and i cant get that to boot and install either......... so yea im stuffed atm

Moved: This thread is more suitable in General, and has been moved accordingly to help your thread/question get the exposure it deserves.

well if it had, you would have found it when you searched google and the forums. So obviously it hasn't, which means that new GNU/Linux users generally choose to stick with GNU/Linux.

Sounds like you're SOL. It's really a shame: just because Bill Gates needs some 200$ more than you do, you get screwed over but not being given an install CD set, but only one for restore. That doesn't work.

... just because Bill Gates needs money so much more than you do.

It's a shame, really.

By the way, if you'd like help instead of sarcasm, try reading http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html (and also http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html).

They will tell you what to do next.

hope you get the help you deserve--

Jonas Kölker

Well, that's hardly likely to encourage a potential new convert to Linux is it ???.

Richo7 you really need to provide more info;
- where did you install Mandrake (i.e. which partition ?? - did you create new, over-write the recover partition, or over-write the XP partition.
- what messages does Win2000 produce when you try to boot it ??.
- if you have Mandrake still available, enter the following from a terminal session and post the output.

tried to type do that command in the Konsole.. but i get this

bash: fdisk: command not found

Become root by typing su in a terminal and then try that command.

Usage: fdisk [-b SSZ] [-u] DISK Change partition table
fdisk -l [-b SSZ] [-u] DISK List partition table(s)
fdisk -s PARTITION Give partition size(s) in blocks
fdisk -v Give fdisk version
Here DISK is something like /dev/hdb or /dev/sda
and PARTITION is something like /dev/hda7
-u: give Start and End in sector (instead of cylinder) units
-b 2048: (for certain MO disks) use 2048-byte sectors

Thanks guys

Try where hda is your primary master (assuming your hard disk is the primary master).

Disk /dev/hda: 41.1 GB, 41110142976 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 4998 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 764 6136798+ 83 Linux
/dev/hda2 765 4998 34009605 5 Extended
/dev/hda5 765 827 506016 82 Linux swap
/dev/hda6 828 4998 33503526 83 Linux

Whoops. Looks like your Windows XP partition is no longer there (unless you've installed it in a second hard disk).

Most likely you'd have to wipe all the partitions using fdisk and then reinstall XP using the installation disk. There is no way to "get it back magically", I'm afraid

far out, and they didnt even give me an instalation disk... oh well i´ll haveta stick it out with linux now... even tho it´s totally confusing to even install things half the time

where abouts in Oz are you matey
if you rock on over to the LUG section here at LQ
search for Australian LUGs
I made a huge list of all the LUGs I could find
theres no need to get upset
somehow somewhere there is a group out there
waiting to help you

floppy
Albany, WA

Yea, i just need a few things like how to connect USB flashdrives, and thats about it for now... Just i put in either my 128mb flashdrive, or my ipod and linux just doesnt recognise them? any solution to that?

Im in Tasmania by they way, am checkin out the Tasmanian Group site atm

Mandrake 9.2 should work just like Windows with your USB flash drive. Mine's completely plug and play. There were a couple nasty bugs in 9.2, the RPM database locking issue in particular. If you haven't already, make sure you run Mandarke Update ASAP. A Mandrake Club member should be able to get you the 9.2.1 ISOs too, if you really like that version. I bought mine in a retail box so didn't get updated CDs like the club guys who don't buy anything retail. <---- (Bill Gates isn't the only one that'll try and stick it to ya)

Ugggh I ditched 9.2
went back to 9.0 until 10 came along
suggest most strongly you update to 10.1
if your hardware is cool with that
but it should be
watch out too for Linuxformat magazine
its a UK one, about $ 20 in the shops
comes in a DVD or CD version
get the DVD version if you can, and have a DVD
latest Mandriva linux will be on the cover soon
its also a very good magazine

good luck with your LUG
floppy