Problems.

I've got a 13gig HD, running win ME. Tried to install Mandrake with Windows, using "lnx4win" or whatever (I'm completely new to linux). Everything seemed to install fine until after I rebooted, it said GDI.EXE couldn't be find and switched off computer. Knowing that there was no way I could get my files back, I tried to simply install Mandrake on the formatted drive. Seemed okay until I got the error, "Invalid system disk", even though I had no disk or CD in my drive.

So, I've managed to reinstall Win ME (despite losing all files) again.. but want linux. Why did I get those errors? What was I doing wrong?? Help, please?

seeing that no one has replied to your plea, i'll try and help with whatever i can... (i'm saying this coz i'm not a guru and i don't use mandrake anymore... someone else might have a better solution)

is this "lnx4win" installed on WinME rather than on its own? if this is the case, i'm suspecting that installing mandrake on the WinME OS might have deleted that file away

why not try dual booting instead:
1.) partition your 13GB into 2 partitions. size of the partitions depend on how much space u want for windows and linux.

2.) format the first partition as FAT and install WinME on it. for the other partition, leave it blank (ie. if it is already a FAT partition, delete it and don't format it)

3.) set your CMOS settings to boot from the CD. put your mandrake CD in. when u are ready, continue and let the CD boot up.

4.) hit enter at the boot prompt and you will come to the graphical installation interactive menu. just follow through the steps one by one. this isn't too hard.

note that there will be a part where u will be asked to format a partition for mandrake. there will be a bar showing your entire hard disk and the first part of it should be blue (your WinME FAT partition). don't touch that! click instead on the remaining unused block of your hard disk (should be white) and choose to format that partition for your linux installation.

warning: try not to install LILO (the boot loader which lets u choose between the various OS u have on your computer) on the MBR (Master Boot Record) as this will most likely corrupt it. choose to boot up linux from a diskette instead.

good luck!