PCA Forums

I got linux mandrake 9.2 to try it out, installed it easily on my older scsi machine to try so thought I'd now put it dual boot on my XP pro machine. Used about 5gb on the second drive for the install, only problem was driver setup for my 9800pro/monitor setup--said there was an error & may not display properly, but thought I'd just get some specific drivers later. Anyway, go to boot, bootloader screen gives me linux, linux non fb, failsafe, windows & windows2 plus floppy. Linux boot takes me to a dos like screen and asks for a localhost login, where I type my login name then I get a flashing cursor! No GUI or anything.

I'd just like to take it off the machine/uninstall but I thought I'd disconnect the second hard drive it resides on but blank screen for me as bootloader is on it I think. Would like to change bootloader to windows default but dont see how to change it.

Easiest I thought would be to do a system restore in my XP pro but want some opinions first as to the bootloader and linux partition. dont want to lose any data yet from my windows

If any ideas, I'd like to hear them

First off I dont think you lose data on a system restore, it keeps the files you have. Secondly this problem just sounds like it could be from that fact that you are Canadian and proudly announce it Lmao j/k

I had dual boot Windows XP and had Mandrake I believe, I never had a problem though, and I have installed a dual boot various times..... If you can just boot with windows, and then Delete or partition off the Linux install and try again? Not really sure whats the correct answer for this.

Blackhawk...
Just wait till you see him @ LAN
lmao.

System restore WILL alter your files back to the condition they were in on that date (only exception is anything in your My Documents folder).

You can disable System Restore on selected partitions though. Disable it in your Linux and bootloader partitions and they won't be affected.

Will take a look at it today. Want to just go back to pre linux or repair linux but dont want to lose anything on my winXP.

snow on the ground again today! , a proud canadian

thanks for the info Flying Penguin,

you're always willing to share your knowledge without hesitation or attitude, I appreciate it

If your boot loader was on the second hard drive, all you should have to do is change the boot order in your system BIOS back to the XP drive first. Your system shouldn't even look at the linux drive to find the boot loader there and should jump straight to the XP boot loader which will then proceed to boot normally. (If you did your dual-boot the easy way, you didn't actually change anything on the XP drive.)

If your (linux) boot loader is on the XP drive, you should be able to do a fdisk /mbr to erase the master boot record, reboot, and run the XP installer from the XP CD and find the option to repair the XP boot sector/loader. I don't remember exactly where this is in the installer, but you could probably find it with some digging.

Yeah I just had a crash course in linux. Basically put the cd in and installed and sat here until i figured it out.

Login as "root" with no quotes.
Whatever you set your password to enter it when it asks (dont worry if it doesnt echo to the screen, its not supposed to). But once u enter it press enter.

THis will log you in.

"startx" will start the GUI. If you have problems and it does not load it should come up with a program that will say it had problems and give you the chance to view the log and re-configure X.

If you have a problem with the driver (which i'm assuming it probably will be) make sure to use the "vesa" driver. Get the error (if u get one) and post it here i'll try to help you.

As far as getting it to stop booting to linux, reboot with a win98 floppy and at the command prompt type "fdisk /mbr". That should fix it. It did for me.

see ya and good luck.