LinuxQuestions.org - Enabling Windows 2000 at startup using Slackware

- Slackware (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-14/)

- - Enabling Windows 2000 at startup using Slackware (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/slackware-14/enabling-windows-2000-at-startup-using-slackware-152665/)

I can't do:
man vi

but if I just do:
vi

it works, however it's a confusing editor. Can't I install a new one? If I can, then how exactly do I do it? Or isn't there an online manuel for vi?

- Julian

I finally made it work. It seemed like something was missing, so I re-installed making 100% sure I got everything. And now I can edit the file etc... But then when I edit the file and run "/sbin/lilo", then reboot... it won't work. Says it has wrong system disk etc... Are you sure this is the right methode to use? If you are, then show me exactly how you would paste it. Thanks :p

- Julian

after you edit /etc/lilo you need to run lilo as root to make the changes take affect

so at a root promt just type lilo and it should give you an output telling you that it added for example

added windows*
added slackware

i dont have a *nix box infront of me right now so i cant give you the exact output but it should be somehting like that

It does say:
***
added Windows *
added Linux
***

but then when I reboot and chose Windows it says: "Invalid Disk..."

Why?

What I do is that I write:
***
other = /dev/hdb1
label = windows
boot-as = 0x80
***

Am I doíng something wrong?

it doesnt sound to me like you are really doing anything wrong...what version of windows are you useing?

I'm using Windows 2000 Pro.

C > Linux
D > Windows 2000 Pro

Hda > Linux
Hdb > Windows 2000 Pro

i maybe wrong here but i think windows needs to be installed on the primary drive, or hda, could someone else verify this?

Well before in time I had a backup windows(Windows ME) on my C:\ drive, and after installing the backup I installed Windows 2000 on D:\. So I belive it should work. Also while I tried *new*(actually some old ones, but the one I use now is perfect) harddisks I found a harddisk with another windows in, and also with MBR, and it's MBR could load Windows 2000 Pro perfectly. So I belive it should be possible, the question is just:
How?

i think what would have happened is when you installed 2000 on the d: drive it would have put ntldr on the c:
this is a file that windows needs to start up properly
then when you put linux on the c: you would have lost the file
there is no way that i know of to get this file back short of a reinstall of windows

Before I formated my old Windows ME, with the MBR, I backed up Boot.ini to my D:\ drive. Since Boot.ini should be the only file with boot information for Windows 2000 I should be able to use those informations to make Windows 2000 work again. The question remains: How?

boot.ini is only one of the files needed to access windows
ntldr is another main one and i believe that is generally written to the primary partition of the first drive on the bus

from microsoft.com

Quote:

If you choose to boot into DOS or Windows at this point, the NTLDR program loads the file BOOTSECT.DOS and runs it. This file is a copy of the boot sector that existed before you installed Windows NT (assuming you installed NT on top of DOS or Windows). If you select to boot Windows NT, NTLDR loads the programmer NTDETECT.COM, which is responsible for detecting your hardware. If you have configured multiple hardware profiles, it is NTDETECT.COM that provides you the choices. Next, NTDETECT.COM loads program NTOSKRNL.EXE and passes it the information it has collected about your hardware. However, on RISC-based computers, the OSLOADER carries out all of the functions.

So, what exactly do I need to do then?

try this
from microsoft.com

Quote:

To resolve this behavior, correct the invalid Heads (sides) value in the FAT32 BPB to enable the Windows 2000 boot process to continue. The easiest way to update the field is to rewrite the Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows MTo resolve this behavior, correct the invalid Heads (sides) value in the FAT32 BPB to enable the Windows 2000 boot process to continue. The easiest way to update the field is to rewrite the Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me boot code by using the following procedure:
1.Restart the computer with a Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me Startup disk that contains the Sys.com file (this file is included by default).
2.At a command prompt, type sys c:. This command rewrites the Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me boot code with accurate BPB information. If this is successful, skip to step 3.e boot code by using the following procedure:

if this doesnt work then if you have the windows 2000 install disc, boot to this and go into the recovery console and copy ntldr off the disc onto your windows partition. this should fix it

it has been awhile since i have done much windows support of this nature so i could be off on this

if anyone sees any errors in my information i would welcome correction

Try to reinstall ntldr. Boot with the 2k cd and go to the repair option, tjen run the 'fixboot' command. Find some way to keep it from messing with the Linux partitions/disks.

'sys c:' is for the win9x, not for 2k.