I'm running a dual-boot PC all happy-like when WinXP Pro has a fatal heart attack and refuses to boot up. At all. It just restarts itself. So, I select linux from the boot loader so I can salvage my C drive and have a little formatting fun.

It starts to load, then the GUI flickers in and out a couple times. Quickly. Then, the poor machine seems to give up on it and loads another logon.

My computer's name is MAGI01. This is what I see on my screen:

--

Mandrake Linux

MAGI01 login:

--

Except it's way prettier than that.

When I type in my logon name and hit enter, I get a request for my password. Now, I'm not entirely sure what my password is. At all. So, we try my brother's area. He types in his username and password and we get a pause...and then...Login incorrect.

Since then, we have gone through every combination of valid usernames and passwords we can think of. Still, Login incorrect.

Just so you know, we are total Linux newbies. Just got it to play around with and to give Windows a boost when it needs help.

Help?

Hmm.. strange question.

Is this your machine and did you install Mandrake? You need to remember your root password to administer the machine and your username (all created during the install, btw).

Put Mandrake install CD1 in and boot and examine the possibilities offered on boot is all I can offer you....

# Mandrake links
Mandrake home page
Mandrake Users website
Easy urpmi config for Mandrake
urpmi mini-HOWTO
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Urpmi But Never Dared Asking Before
Maximum RPM
rpmfind
You didn't install the developmental packages? As root, command:
urpmi gcc
An Introduction to the Midnight Commander. You can install it by commanding:
urpmi mc
Midnight Commander home page

This is indeed my machine. I did install Mandrake. Actually, my brother installed Mandrake (and accidentally wiped the F drive), but what's the difference? Our root password does not work. We tried logging in as root but it said that user didn't exist. That was mildly distressing.

We're trying to repair the WindowsXP partition right now, but I'll try to re-install Mandrake if that fails three more times. *shrugs* If at first you don't succeed, you must be installing Windows.

Reinstalled Mandrake 9.1.

ldm_validate_partition_table

That fails. Three of them?

Anyway, now the login screen says:
Mandrake Linux release 9.1 (Bamboo) for i586
Kernel 2.4.21-0.13mdk on an i686 / tty1
MAGI01 login:

Again with the not being able to log on thing.
If I hit the Microsoft key...
Server for display :0 terminated unexpectedly
..
..
IO Error in XOpenDisplay
Display :0 cannot be opened
[x3]
Display :0 is being disabled (restarting too fast)
check pass; user unknown

And that begins the log of our authentication failures. ;p

Boot linux single or rescue on bootup (be quick on the draw on the boot up to get the interactive thingy) or by using either your boot floppy made during install or install CD1.

Once you have access to the system, the command passwd allows you to change your root password and passwd <user> does the same for the user.

See the Mandrake pages for explicit details on how they boot to linux single and rescue as distros vary in the amount of automation.

Windows XP Recovery Console

# I hosed my box
LILO fails: Error messages and their interpretation
LILO mini HOWTO
Multiboot with LILO HOWTO
LILO, Linux Crash Rescue HOW-TO
Installing a bootloader

When you do things with MicrosoftXP, sometimes it tries to "fix" some Linux partitions.

Rule: Install Windows first and on the first primary partition of the hard drive, then install Linux.

If you are lucky and Windows tools ignore your Linux partitions and leave them alone, all you will have to do after is to boot to Linux and re-install lilo.

Ah-HAH! That works! That's awesome! We already knew about the WindowsXPNAZI thing, though. Heh, figured that out when the boot loader kept not working. Anyway...got WinXP working again and linux...well...it's being a little less special. ^^;

Thank you so much!