Thank you, Aaron for your kind reply.
I tried to reinstall just Linux, and it gave me an error saying "No Drives Found." I believe the msg said there was no valid device on which to create new file systems.
I also tried to fix grub, but wasn't able to mount /mnt/sysimage. Partitioning with PartitionMagic somehow got really messed up -- I really don't have a clue. -- I think the only possible way to fix this problem is format the whole thing and reinstall Windows again. (I can then add Linux later. Luckily I backed up most data on to another Linux machine.)
I still can't find the right way to format the hard drive. My computer just refuses to let me do that... :(
Thanks in advace for your help.
--peter
akonstam@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
I tried to reinstall just Linux, and it gave me an error saying "No Drives Found." I believe the msg said there was no valid device on which to create new file systems.
I also tried to fix grub, but wasn't able to mount /mnt/sysimage. Partitioning with PartitionMagic somehow got really messed up -- I really don't have a clue. -- I think the only possible way to fix this problem is format the whole thing and reinstall Windows again. (I can then add Linux later. Luckily I backed up most data on to another Linux machine.)
I still can't find the right way to format the hard drive. My computer just refuses to let me do that... :(
Thanks in advace for your help.
--peter
akonstam@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
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 t! hat
# 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
Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.
-- Shrike-list mailing list Shrike-list@xxxxxxxxxx https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/shrike-list
