HELP! Can't boot Windows XP
 

Hi guys,

I've just installed Mandrake 9.1 with basically the default settings.

I assumed that using LILO I would be able to get back to my Windows XP (which is still installed on a different partition) but I cannot for the life of me work out how to do it. The only boots I have on the menu are different linux ones. I tried clicking add but i dont know what to put in any of the options?

Any help greatly appreciated,

Sam

Hi Sam

Open a console

type

su

press enter

then type your root password

press enter

then type

cat /etc/lilo.conf

copy the results and post them here

also post the results of
fdisk -l
type in the above in a console.

thanks for the quick reply guys, tis much appreciated.

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
vga=normal
default="linux-smp"
keytable=/boot/uk.klt
prompt
nowarn
timeout=100
message=/boot/message
menu-scheme=wb:bw:wb:bw
OPTIONS FOR 4 DIFFERENT LINUX BOOTS (cant be bothered to type out i dont think theyre important - correct me if i'm wrong!)
other=/dev/hda1
label="WindowsXP

I just tried booting using the windows xp option and it showed the xp loading screen as if it was gunna load then crashed and resetted :(

sam

For starters you could try putting

table=/dev/hda

in the XP stanza - ie change it to

other=/dev/hda1
table=/dev/hda
label="WindowsXP

To make changes to lilo - su to root user then type

kedit /etc/lilo.conf

once youve made the change then type

/sbin/lilo

as root user - to make the changes take effect

same again mate :(

autochk not found then brief blue screen then restart :(

Can you post your fstab file?

su to root user again in console

then

fdisk -l /dev/hda

(-l= hyphen small L)

/dev/hda1 = hidden hpfs/ntfs
/dev/hda2 = Win95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda3 = Linux
/dev/hda4 = Linux swap
/dev/hda5 = HPFS/NTFS

thanks very much for your help so far mate it really is much appreciated :)

Is

/dev/hda5

were your main XP install is?

i dont know! :(

i would have thought it was the hda1 though cuz i installed it first.

shall i try 5 then?

in fact no wait scratch the last 2 comments it is DEFINATELY 1

Edit : I'll change mine

can you post your Full lilo.conf exactly as it is on your screen - we need to see all of it.

su to root user

cat /etc/lilo.conf

ive worked out its definately 1 mate.

because 1 is 30x bigger than 5.

and 5 is the data partition i created the other day.

so its definately 1, i just dont understand y it wont boot?!

does it make a difference if the label is wrong or is that just what the gui will display it as?

I'm not sure whether youve got the edit but we need to see the full lilo.conf file

can you post your Full lilo.conf exactly as it is on your screen - we need to see all of it.

su to root user

cat /etc/lilo.conf