How to reinstall Win XP on dual boot systemand leave SUSE 10.0 intact

riba43 · 02-13-2006, 10:28 AM

Hello guys,

I have a problem with Win XP on my dual boot system. Linux is working perfect, without any trouble. The problem is in windows, which I still need for running ( not so often) some programs (Autocad). If I try to repair or reinstall Win XP, what will be done to my SUSE 10.0. Do I have to reinstall them too or there will be no harm done?? And what I have to do to avoid damages.
In the past it was only SUSE I had to reinstall so nothing happened to Wins.
I would remove wins if I would have a choice, but for the time being there is no other solution, I still need the damn system. So pls help.

RedShirt · 02-13-2006, 10:39 AM

In seperate partitions, if you do a reinstall or a repair of windows, none of the other partitions should even be affected. Just be careful when you choose partitions so as not to do an install over something you already have.

accessrichard · 02-13-2006, 10:44 AM

After the windows installation you will probably have to re-install grub.

duffmckagan · 02-13-2006, 10:50 AM

If you "repair" windows xp, then I don't think there would be any problem you should know of.

If in case you "reinstall" windows xp, your MBR will be overwritten by Windows.
SuSE will stay there unaffected, but GRUB will disappear for sure.
The solution would be to reinstall grub, which is just a walk in the park, provided you have the required CDs.

riba43 · 02-13-2006, 10:55 AM

Well I have two hdd*s. Wd 80GB is divided into two partitions. Partition c

FAT32in wins) has 15GB and the rest was left and formatted reiserfs when installing SUSE. The other disk, Maxtor, is 40GB, FAT32, and is only for my documents and other needed things. So if I do setup on my wins partition and install all programs needed, how do I reinstall grub , if necessary??

thanks RedShirt and accessrichard and duffmckagan

I have SUSE 10.0 eval DVD

duffmckagan · 02-13-2006, 11:10 AM

Is it like a Live DVD or something?

If not, then you can boot to the command line, like safe install options or something like that.

Then enter the following commands at the konsole.

grub
>root (hdx,x)
>setup (hdx)

and then restart.

You better tell us the output of

Code:

fdisk -l /dev/hda

So that i can help you replace the hdx,x by numbers, to install GRUB successfully.

riba43 · 02-13-2006, 11:16 AM

my fdisk:

bogomir:/home/bgorjup # fdisk -l /dev/hda

Disk /dev/hda: 80.0 GB, 80026361856 bytes
255 glav, 63 sektorjev/stezo, 9729 stez
Enote = cylinders od 16065 x 512 = 8225280 bajtov

Naprava Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 1 1912 15358108+ c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
/dev/hda2 1913 2038 1012095 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hda3 * 2039 9728 61769925 83 Linux
bogomir:/home/bgorjup #

duffmckagan · 02-13-2006, 11:26 AM

So, somehow you need to get to the command line from the Eval DVD, and enter the following commands:

Code:

root@computer# grub
>root (hd0,2)
>setup (hd0)

This should help you get your Dual Boot system back on Track, after re-installing Windows XP.

victorh · 02-13-2006, 11:57 PM

Another alternative:

After you have reinstalled Windows, you can also use the DVD or set of CDs of SuSE and start again the installation procedure but this time SuSE will tell you that you have already a SuSE system, and you can choose to repair your system, you can skip all the checks except the one related with GRUB, SuSE will install again GRUB and you can even make some adjustments in case it doesn't detect one of your OSs in your box. I think this one is easier.

riba43 · 02-14-2006, 12:04 AM

Hi guys,

thanks to all of you. Today I will try (it is a new step for me in learning Linux) to do what I have to do. I will let you know later this day.

Thank you again

riba43 · 02-15-2006, 03:19 AM

Hi guys,

I have successfully reinstalled winXP pro and restored GRUB Loader. I used SUSE 10.0 installation DVD where I found repaire grub and everything is now O.K.

Thanks to all of you

duffmckagan · 02-15-2006, 08:04 AM

Good to see that everything is working alright.