On Tue, Nov 15, 2005 at 03:30:09PM -0600, akonstam@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote: > On Tue, Nov 15, 2005 at 10:30:33AM -0800, peter wu wrote: > > Hi, > > > > I have a dual-boot system (WinXP & Linux), but during further partitioning, for some reason it got really hosed up. Now I lost access to Linux, and I can only boot to WinXP from GRUB. So, I need to format the hard drive and reinstall Windows, but the reinstallation method provided by Dell (my computer manufacturer) doesn't work on the machine. Where can I find help for formatting screwed-up hard drive and reinstalling Windows? > > > > Thanks for your help, in advance. > > > > --peter > Well I have several things to say: > 1. If Windows works all you have to do is to install Linux. At at this > point I would install Fedora Core 4 rather that RH 9, but the choice is > yours. > 2. The installation of any Linux will allow you to format the > partition that will hold the Linux. > 3. During the installation of Windows you can format the partition for > Windows as part of the installation. > 4. I don't see what Dell has to do with it. Well I guess I have to say a few more things. 1. If you are trying to boot or install Windows restore CD from Windows it is not designed to reinstall Windows. You need a real Windows CD. 2. If the Windows works leave it alone and either: a. reinstall the Linux. The installation will allow you to re-format the Linux partition. b. Just fix the grub as follows: i. Boot the rescue CD or boo the regular CD 1 and type linux rescue. ii. Eventually your linux system will be mounted on /mnt/sysimage. iii. Restore your /etc/grub.conf file to something like this: # grub.conf generated by anaconda # # Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file # NOTICE: You do not have a /boot partition. This means that # all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /, eg. # root (hd0,2) # kernel /boot/vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/hda3 # initrd /boot/initrd-version.img #boot=/dev/hda default=0 timeout=5 splashimage=(hd0,2)/boot/grub/splash.xpm.gz title Fedora Core (2.6.14-1.1637_FC4) root (hd0,2) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.14-1.1637_FC4 ro root=LABEL=/1 rhgb quiet initrd /boot/initrd-2.6.14-1.1637_FC4.img title Other rootnoverify (hd0,0) chainloader +1 This is a FC4 grub.conf but yours should be similar. The Other clause id the one for Windows. iv. Run: grub-install /dev/hda <- it may not be hda in your case. v. reboot and things should be ok. Once again bite the bullet and install FC4 instead of RH 9 is my advice. Ther is much more traffic on the fedora-list than the shrike-list of you need further help. ------------------------------------------- Aaron Konstam Computer Science Trinity University telephone: (210)-999-7484 -- Shrike-list mailing list Shrike-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/shrike-list