XP/Mandrake Dual Boot Problems

Factual Questions
1

First off, I apologize for using GQ to ask this question, because GQ isn’t really a technical support forum. That said, I need this fixed, because I’m having to post this from a friend’s computer right now. Here’s the problem:

My comp was set up to dual boot XP Home and Mandrake 9 (on separate disks) using LILO. Unfortunately, my Linux HD died (it acts like it constantly powering up and down, and clicks constantly.) The BIOS will not even recognize it now. When I try to boot, I get the following error:

L 01 01 01 01 01 01

so on and so on until it finally stops without booting.

I figure that I need to change some setting somewhere, but without the HD I don’t know if I can. I have both XP and Mandrake bootable install CDs, if I need them.

Thanks in advance, and please help if you know anything, because I really need my computer up and running.

2

been awhile since I worked with Lilo - It means that the Lilo bootloader is trying to find the Linux boot partition, and since the HD is toast, can’t.

IIRC, I think you need to 1) remove the Linux HD completely from the system; 2) Boot to the XP CD, select ‘R’ to get to the Recovery Console.

I haven’t worked a whole lot with the Recovery Console, but I think there are commands to fix the Master Boot Record (fixmbr ? - can’t remember). I believe that will remove Lilo and start XP normally. I’m sure someone will come along shortly and correct me if necessary.

Oh, I just noted that you have XP Home - I have no idea if the Recovery Console is an option for Home or not - someone else will need to confirm/deny that.

critter42

3

Not enough info, so here’s the guess.

First, you say you have 2 hard drives. What’s the IDE config and OS location ?
Primary / Secondary / Master / Slave …etc

Remove your Linux HDD from the BIOS and set it to boot from your XP drive. Chances are, you’ll get the XP start logo but will then be told of a missing/corrupt ntoskrnl.exe error or something like that.

If this happens, you’ll need a DOS/Win 9x boot disk or something that can get you to a command prompt with file editing tool. Once, at a prompt, you’ll need to open boot.ini and change the location of XP. Without knowing your config, I can’t tell you the changes.