Yeah!!!!!

[j2k]

Yeah!!!!!! We have our forum!!! Nice work guys!

Anyway, my question: I have Windows XP, and have just received SuSE Linux 7.3 as a present :)

I was wondering, how would I go about duelbooting Linux with Windows XP, without losing my data as I really want to try Linux but don't have the time to back up 40 GB at present :rolleyes:

Any tips?

Cheers

[JungleMan]

Get your hands on a copy of Partition Magic 7 which will let you shrink the size of your main partition. So you have a bunch of unallocated space.

Then install SuSE 7.3 and it will make a partition with that space, and install it's dual-boot software:)

[j2k]

Hi jpbtennisman,

Have done that, and I am now posting via Linux - thanks :)

Now, the only problem is I can no longer boot into Windows!!!

I can see the Windows partition on the Linux desktop, and everything is there, but when I select Windows from the LILO, I get a message saying "Windows cannot boot, missing file <Windows Root>\System32\hal.dll - please reinstall this file and try again".

Now, how can I fix this, as I don't really want to reformat and lose my stuff, and I can't just install WinXP over the top as it's only the WinXP Home Upgrade :(

Any advice?

[JungleMan]

Do you see the hal.dll file in the Windows directory while viewing from Linux?

[mastermind94]

yeah that happened to me too!

Here's how i fixed it:

Go in the console repair thingny when u boot from the winxp cd, go in ur (cdrom)\i386 directory, spot the hal.dl_ file and extract it to the (windir)\system....... directory and bingo, you got it.

or, just do like if you would install winxp, while the setup scans for current windows version, select the detected one and press r for repair and setup will repair it for u

[j2k]

Hi,

Yes, that would be all well and good, but Linux reports the C:\Windows directory is EMPTY!!

Surely this can't be right? I'm using Acronis OS Selector which claims it moves the C:\Windows folder, but where to?!

[j2k]

ARGH! C:\Program Files is empty too!

[JungleMan]

you must still have your old copy of Windows, so try to install XP home, it should prompt you for a Windows CD, so give it the Windows CD

[j2k]

Hi,

Yeah, I know, but that was kinda like a last resort, as I don't want to reinstall my apps again if possible, registry entries etc etc.

[JungleMan]

Originally posted by j2k
Hi,

Yeah, I know, but that was kinda like a last resort, as I don't want to reinstall my apps again if possible, registry entries etc etc.

Check your PM box

[j2k]

:)

[sail3005]

or, try using FDISK to restore your master boot record.

fdisk /mbr i believe

[j2k]

That would be no use as C:\windows and C:\program files are goners :(

[Gandalf_Grey_]

why don't you just let the intaller take care of that partitioning stuff? its much easier

[sail3005]

how do you know that linux just isin't having trouble reading them?

[j2k]

it's too late now!!

Oh btw, is there any way in SuSE to change the partition? I partitioned it to 25GB for windows, with 15GB for Linux, but in fact, I would like it 30GB for windows, and 10GB for Linux.

[j2k]

Originally posted by sail3005
how do you know that linux just isin't having trouble reading them?

Because it won't boot into Windows XP even with a boot disk, it claims hal.dll is missing, but in fact, EVERYTHING is missing!!

[sail3005]

did you try looking for the files in DOS?

use the /dir command.

linux sometimes has trouble reading my files

[j2k]

Yes, I've looked everywhere, and have come to the conclusion, that sadly, Windows, along with all my Program Files, have been deleted.

[Gandalf_Grey_]

if only you had let diskdrake handle it

[Gandalf_Grey_]

if you have any important Data files look for a program called Get Data Back, we used it at school to get all the school records bakc (the secretary foolishly put the only copy of them on a 10 year old hard drive)

[j2k]

diskdrake sounds mandrake-ish, this was SuSE!

[JungleMan]

Originally posted by j2k
diskdrake sounds mandrake-ish, this was SuSE!

Maybe because it IS part of Mandrake. :p

[j2k]

:)

[j2k]

Any ideas on partitioning in linux? i should think it's via YaST2 somewhere, but where?

[sail3005]

look for Recover 98 too. that is a great recovery program. it got everything i needed back after i formatted over my backup drive.

[j2k]

I sure hope this software isn't for Windows, for obvious reasons :rolleyes:

[sail3005]

i reinstalled windows and it still got the stuff back.

if you REALLY need your stuff back, then format your linux partition and install windows on there, then recover it off your dead windows partition.

[Gandalf_Grey_]

fine not diskdrake, the Suse equivilent

[j2k]

Originally posted by Gandalf_Grey_
fine not diskdrake, the Suse equivilent

YaST2 :p

So any ideas on changing the partitions?

sail - hmm, I'll think about that, but I'll try some other options first.

[sail3005]

what do you mean changing the partitions?

[j2k]

The disk is 40GB.

25GB is Windows ( :rolleyes: ), 15GB is Linux.

I want to make the Windows partition 30GB, and the Linux one 10GB. How?

Thanks

[sail3005]

I am pretty sure that there are DOS utilities with partition magic that can do that. if not, as i said before, install windows on your linux partition, recover your files, adjust the partitions, and start from scratch.

[j2k]

Well SuSE Linux claims it can resize partitions 'on-the-fly' - what it doesn't tell you, is how.

[Gandalf_Grey_]

you could probably get diskdrake off the internet, or what you could do is plug the hard drive into the current computer on which you are communicating, and use partition magic on there or partition commander, or you could get something like diskdrake fof the internet, it is free

[j2k]

The current computer on which I am communicating is this one! I'm just communicating via Mozilla in Linux!

[Gandalf_Grey_]

i couldn't get my modem to work in linux cause it is a winmodem I am not paying $100 for a hadware modem either so i just go on the internet in windows

[sail3005]

most distros that i have used support my network card, but a few don't.

i am gonna install redhat real soon

[Gandalf_Grey_]

I have installed redhat before and found it REALLY REALLY picky. Mandrake was an easy install :)

[mastermind94]

i am currently installing Mandrake 8.1 and i am getting that stupid error message after installing the rpms. "No list HD found" and goes back to package selection, click install and the same message appears... !!! Argh

[j2k]

UPDATE

Decided Windows was more important than Linux, so repartitioned, erasing Linux and installed Windows XP. Linux will be installed on a test machine later, which will hopefully become a server.

Took literally 3 hours to get rid of Linux though, as good old Microsoft's fdisk utility refused to remove the non-dos partition, so I had to fill the disk with zeros using the dd command in linux.

Ah well, back on Windows XP now, thanks for everybody's help :)

[sail3005]

i could have given you a utility that would erase and format the partition in seconds! you should have asked!

[j2k]

lol, I'll bear that in mind next time ;)

[Gandalf_Grey_]

what you COULD have done was take the HD out stuck it in another machine and used partition magic to get rid of linux

[j2k]

I don't have Partition Magic, and I didn't have the time to download the "demo" ;) :D