HELP! Can't boot Windows XP

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 02:38 PM

shit just typed out the whole freaking thing and my ie crashed!!!pls can u tell me the specific info u need as i think if i av 2 type it out again it will kill me (no other way to transfer the text havnt got my internet working on linux yet).

sumary:

linux -hda3
linux-nonfb -hda3
linux-smp -hda3
failsafe -hda3
windows xp -as detailed above

sorry but i just cant type it ALL out again!

thanks

sam

Skyline · 09-03-2003, 02:48 PM

Hi Sam

su to root user

cat /etc/lilo.conf

If you copy the out put to a text file - then put it on a floppy - you can always open ordinary text files up using Wordpad in Windows - don't feel rushed etc - if you want to get it sorted for tommorow etc just post back then when your more sorted - there's always somebody on hand to help.

One final option is to boot to the 1st Mandrake cd and press F1 then type

rescue

this will give you the option of re-installing either the Windows bootloader or LILO.(just to keep in mind)

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 02:50 PM

the thing is i would be ok if i could boot to my windows cd. i hav set cd-rom to boot first and it says it is trying to do it but then lilo pops up and takes over

Skyline · 09-03-2003, 02:56 PM

I f you go into your BIOS you should be able to set the cd rom drive as the 1st boot device - if you put n the 1st Mandrake cd - youll be able to reinstall the Windows bootloader - then when Windows is up and running you could consider reinstalling LILO to see if it will configure right.

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 02:59 PM

done that.

Bad IPL - any key to reboot is my computer's answer

eek

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 03:01 PM

i think that i need to set my windows partition active again. si there a way to do that in linux?

sammyd56 · 09-03-2003, 03:08 PM

i have found another thread where the user has the exact same problem as me but was using grub instead of lilo and he figured out the solution using grub. how can i change from lilo to grub?

quatsch · 09-03-2003, 05:21 PM

actually, your first partition is *hidden*. That might be the problem. I don't know if you can unhide from mandrake control center. Try see if there are such options under mount point.
if there isn't
parted
should let you do that.

If you want to change to grub, you can do it from mandrake control center -> boot.

sammyd56 · 09-05-2003, 04:39 PM

Thanks for your help guys i switched over to grub, changed a few settings as reccommended on another thread on this forum and now am safely back in windows

Thanks again,

sam

Joey.Dale · 09-05-2003, 05:53 PM

Are you shure losing winblows is such a bad thing