cannot switch back to windows part of pc, no way to fix internet in mint13?
 

I dont have a clue as to how to get back to WIN xp in my partioned pc. I needed to do this because mint 13 did not have any way to fix internet connection. Cannot believe that there is no simple way to do this without jumping thru hoops. I tried about every way I could to do this. REstarted pc, and it wont let me go back to windows..why?

Is this a new installation of Mint 13? If yes did Grub see Windows?
What's wrong with the internet connection? Do you need to install drivers/firmware?
Does Mint 13 see you have a connection internet? If it does what have you tried? if it doesn't do you need to install drivers/firmware?
Does it access your connection? If it does how far does it go? can you ping anything? If it doesn't you you need to install drivers/firmware?

steve@steve-Dimension-C521 ~ $ sudo apt-get install startupmanager
[sudo] password for steve:
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'sudo dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
steve@steve-Dimension-C521 ~ $
I tried to go thru terminal and type in following...
sudo apt-get install startupmanager
but when I try to type in my password I get this.
as far as the things mentioned in post above, I have no clue??? GRUB????
drivers?? I have been on internet on mint13 with no probs so far, but all this is confusing. I am a newbie, not one of the developers who have college degrees in computer science and programming. I like the idea of linux, but boy it sure takes alot to keep up with it and use.

Mint is telling you to manually run, meaning type this into a terminal and hit enter etc.
You don't know if this is a new install or not?
Grand Unified Boot Loader it is what tells the computer what you want to boot into.
Yes drivers/firmware. This is the thing that allows the hardware to work.
Then why do you need Mint 13 to fix your internet connection?
May I suggest you take a step back, a deep breath, and then follow the instructions given to you by Mint itself and the help you are offered here.

K3LT01, OK,,,,calming down now. I installed mint13 this past sat. New install, never have had it before. I did a alongside install with winxp on pc...Internet is now working. I still need to know how to get my downloads working again, how to get back to windows so I can access things, still may unistall mint 13 and load mint 15, or if I can upgrade to it that would work fine too. I just want to be able to switch between windows, and mint, to download programs when needed and then calm down, have a earl gray tea...and relax....

Did you follow the instructions that were in the terminal?

See attached is a picture of GRUB it list the operating systems installed in your computer during boot time, from that menu you can select the OS you wish to boot in. The selection is done with the up and down arrow keys in your keyboard.

You can access to the folders and files of your windows while you are running Linux Mint. You can download files from Linux Mint too so you dont have to boot into windows just to download stuff. Actually downloading is probably safest in Linux becase malware that targets windows have no effects in Linux. Like Trojans and spyware.

I wouldnt recomment to install Linux Mint 15 because it is going to be supported only for a short period of time so stay with what you have and wait for the next lont term supported release.

Good luck to you.

thx for the tip about terminal, I entered the text you wrote down, and at the btm it wanted to know, keep present or change or some similar wording....what should I choose? I chose "D" which was to show difference since I dont have a clue. I think that the Linux systems you have to learn these commands. If there is a LINUX book for dummies, I think I will go buy it. Might come in handy. I still like Linux, no viruses and lots of support and all, but I now know I have to learn commands in case there is a glitch. Should have loaded the MINT13 on one of my old pcs, ran it full load, no partion and ran it alongside my current pc using a KVM switch, using the MINT pc just for internet..that would have been a good idea...please let me know which option to choose..thanks for your patience and help.

I usually (meaning not always) keep the current configuration. It depends on what information is presented to me.

when I restart my pc, the type is so very very small, cannot say as to what it says. If I were to guess, the type is about an 8 or smaller. How do I get to grub? maybe that is a good place to start. I have calmed down now. I will say one thing that I do love about linux mint13, yes I said it. Whenever I went to youtube to watch a movie, tv show, vid or whatever, it would sieze up and be ever so slow on winxp. Now, just like sitting down in front of the tv set. I swear that the video quality is much better as well. If only I can go back and forth then i think I will keep things like they are, or maybe upgrade to a mint 15 or try the items mentioned by k3lt01, the MATE dont know much about it. Will have to go to youtube to see if there are walkthrus and see what it is like. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING PATIENT WITH ME, I AM A GROUCH...SORRY.

Once you boot your computer and you see the screen from the pictured I attached on post #7 quickly press the down arrow key that will pause the GRUB menu allowing you time for you to choose which OS you want to boot.

I would advice you to stay in Linux Mint 13 instead of 15 because 13 will have support for a longer period of time.

Graybeard, as others have said stay with Mint 13 instead of installing Mint 15. Mint 13 is an LTS (Long Term Support) and will be supported until something like 2017 while Mint 15 is a regular release and will be supported for 18 months at the most.

When you say that type is very small what else is there? is it in a box? or does it just run down the screen really quickly?
If it is in a box that is GRUB, if it is running down the screen quickly that is Linux starting and it is after GRUB.

Ubuntu, which Mint 13 is based on, stopped showing GRUB by default and you have to hit the Shift or Tab key just after the PC boots (after the POST screen, confusing I know). Grub should then show and be something like the image in post 7 (that's the box I was refering to). When you know your in GRUB follow TroN-0074's advice and hit the down arrow key and that will stop the countdown giving you time to select what option you want. Remember to use the arrow keys to highlight your choice then hit enter.

thanks folks for the hints, Ok when pc starts it takes awhile for anything other than a blk screen, then tiny tiny print, maybe 4 or 5 lines top it then takes a few minutes of this, no box, no scrolling down just the tiny print. Then my desktop pops up asking for my password. ( do I have to log in every time?, only me using it) What I have done to try to get to winxp, is to restart pc, then after the dell screen starts up hit F12, then I have to fool around punching buttons, f2, f4, whatever I can try to do....a lil bit of knowledge is a dangerous dangerous thing in the hands of a moron like myself...

When you see these 4 or 5 lines then press the down arrow key. Be quick!

well, I finally got back onto Windows, BIG DEAL...I now remember why I was so desperate to download the Mint13 cinnamon Maya in the first place. tried getting online in winxp, took forever, used to then, still does now. Mint...BOOM ON INTERNET FAST AND FURIOUS! Ok, still gotta figure out how to go in and download software thru the software manager. I will go back onto it and get whatever info I can so I can get to the btm of problem. thanks everyone with your help and with being so understanding. I am a grouchy person at times, and not very patient. Another thing. after I installed mint there was book that said it was like 600+ pgs that was free about linux, how do I get one? I was going to have the wife get me a book for christmas about linux so I have all the sudo apt -get instructions and other matters to help me adjust. Next time I have a computer to load Linux on, it sure wont be a split personality pc, only Linux. Windows usage has pretty much seen the last of me. I have not tried some of the things loaded yet, writing letters etc. But my mint is so much faster than my windows programs that I am going to do that. I may have the local pc guy just scrub my pc down to nothing and install Mint 13 as only operating system on it...thanks again I do appreciate everyones input and support!