Okay first things first, I bought the book Red Hat Linux for Dummies and it came with RH9 and everything was doing just fabulous. Except for some reason my computer wont boot into Linux. I mean like, I hold down F8 (so i can access that start-up menu thing) and I goto the option Boot From Multiple OSes or something like that but only Windows XP shows up (i have it so i ought to be able to dual boot) The only way I can get Linux to boot is if i use the boot disk I made (during installation). This is becoming a problem because Red Hat has automatically updated my kernal and since I hafta boot from the disk, it keeps complaining about me "having a new kernal installed but i'm still running an old one and i should reboot". In the Dummies book I have it mentioned something about the Master Boot Record and sometimes Windows programs can delete this or something like that, making it impossible to boot to Linux without the aid of a boot disk (a la my problem). So basically mu question is what do i need to do to make my computer recognize Linux and make it so I can boot to it without having to use my out-dated bootdisk? plz im a n00b but i really want to learn Linux and i have been searching everywhere on how to remedy my problem. and this is, essentially my last hope. thanks in advance ^_^

If you put the CD back in you can do a rescue boot.

Then you can install the Bootloader that not on your MBR (Thats where you need it.)

Details should be n your book.

You should boot from the redhat cd again. in setup go to boot loader or install grub or whatever the name is, you shouldnt have to go thru the whole install again.

at the installing a boot loader menu
make sure you set it to install on the MBR and select dual boot with windows. the red hat installer should set up grub properly for you.

all this is assuming that windows xp is on the first partition of the first drive.

'dox

mkay thanks ill give this a whirl *crosses fingers*

it seems as though the only way i can re-install the boot loader is if i reinstall Linux... this won't be too bad i dont really have a whole lot of stuff on it anyways. but as for the guy who mentioned installing it on the MBR, wont that make it so i can't boot winxp? or is grub able to boot into winxp anyways? im really confused but i just wanted to see and experiment with Linux but im not willing to accidently kill my windows xp install. thanks for all your help guys ^^

Grub can boot WinXP. During the Install It should be detected and put on the menu for you.