HELP! Can't boot Windows XP

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 02:28 PM

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

Skyline · 09-03-2003, 02:49 PM

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

quatsch · 09-03-2003, 02:50 PM

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

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 02:59 PM

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

Skyline · 09-03-2003, 03:01 PM

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

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 03:06 PM

same again mate

autochk not found then brief blue screen then restart

Skyline · 09-03-2003, 03:08 PM

Can you post your fstab file?

su to root user again in console

then

fdisk -l /dev/hda

(-l= hyphen small L)

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 03:12 PM

/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

Skyline · 09-03-2003, 03:14 PM

Is

/dev/hda5

were your main XP install is?

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 03:16 PM

i dont know!

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

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 03:17 PM

shall i try 5 then?

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 03:19 PM

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

Skyline · 09-03-2003, 03:21 PM

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

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 03:23 PM

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?

Skyline · 09-03-2003, 03:25 PM

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