Hi,

I have a Windows XP/Mandrake 10.1 dual boot configuration. I also have a FAT32 partition (to share files between my OSs). I ran diskdrake and tried to delete the FAT32 partition. Upon rebooting (and selecting 'linux' from the boot menu, I get an error:

'Bad magic number in super-block while trying to open /dev/hdc5 Failed to check filesystem. Do you want to repair errors? (Y/N). I choose "Yes" and I get a message saying "Failed". I then get tossed to a shell.

I treid to go back into Windows and recreate the FAT32 partition, but the same thing happens. Here's my config:

hdc1 - NTFS (Windows XP)
hdc2 - W95 Ext'd (LBA)
hdc5 - W95 FAT32
hdc6 - Linux

How can I get my boot loader to work again?

I am very new when it comes to linux so please be descriptive. Thanks.

Ryan

Mandrake usually automatically configures windows partitions to mount at boot. Since you deleted the partition Mandrake can no longer mount this partition. You recreated hdc5 but probably didn't format it with a filesystem.

Edit the /etc/fstab file and remove the entry for hdc5.

The hdc5 partition does exist. I recreated it in Windows with partition magic. It also shows up when I do a fdisk. I can't get into linux. I get dumped to a shell. Any suggestions as to what I can do? Do you need any more information?

Is it formated? The shell is linux, it just isn't a GUI.
Go to the /etc/ directory and edit the file:

vi fstab
use the arrow keys to scroll down to the line that contains /dev/hdc5.
Press the Insert key.
Enter a # character at the beginning of the line.
Press the Esc key
Enter : Character
Enter wq
Press the Enter key.

Type in
shutdown -r now

I am getting a message saying /etc/fstab is read only. I believe I am logged in as su. Help!

heh one way to make it not read only it to chmod it 777, to do this make your way into /etc and type "chmod 777 fstab" ...be sure to be logged in as root

Don't listen to Gitzo645. If you're logged in as root there's no need to chmod 777.

If you don't know who you're logged in as you can run 'echo $UID' (or 'echo $uid' if you run csh)
If the reply is anything other than "0" you're NOT root and thus can't edit /etc files.

Your problem might be that the partition is mounted read-only. If you type 'mount' you'll see
something like "/dev/hda6 on / type ext2 (ro)" . The (ro) part means read-only.

When you get tossed into the shell you should be given a possibility to enter the root password
to be able to correct things.

- Peder

Hi,

I ended up just reformatting the hard drive and reinstalling Mandrake. Thanks.

Ryan