Linux / Windows Dual Boot Problems

[jmhiggins]

Well I was running Linux and Windows in a dual boot config but it seems to have crashed It was pretty weird I was playing games Friday night and went to bed. I woke up in the morning and my mouse wouldnt respond in Windows. I restarted the PC and Windows wouldnt boot it would just get to the splash screen and die even in safe mode. So I'm like argh!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyway I decided to reload windows and I am having this weird problem where it either stalls out after loading the initial setup files or it makes it through the install (really really slow takes hours not normal) and then says cant load OS. I think it has something to do with Grub and the fact that I blew up the MBR? Anyway I reloaded SuSE 9.0 Pro today and it works great but Windows still isnt happy when I try to install it on a secondary hard drive. Can anybody help me out on this one?

[X_console]

I've never used GRUB, but if you suspect the problem is with the MBR, then you can wipe it out. Boot with an MSDOS boot disk and type fdisk /mbr

Then boot with your Linux bootdisk/CD and restore GRUB. Reboot and see if it works.

[jmhiggins]

Originally posted by X_console
I've never used GRUB, but if you suspect the problem is with the MBR, then you can wipe it out. Boot with an MSDOS boot disk and type fdisk /mbr

Then boot with your Linux bootdisk/CD and restore GRUB. Reboot and see if it works.

Sorry I should have mentioned I have tried this already. I thought I did but I dont see it in my original post.

[bosox79]

Originally posted by jmhiggins
Sorry I should have mentioned I have tried this already. I thought I did but I dont see it in my original post.

so are you booting directly into suse? is windows even listed in your grub menu list?

[jmhiggins]

As I said earlier I cant install windows. I am booting directly to SuSE right now.

[somebitch]

that is pretty weird. once i installed windows xp after linux and it took over the MBR, making it so i couldnt boot linux. this was a fresh install so i didnt have any important stuff on my harddrive. i had to go in and reinstall linux to have the option of booting it. you may need to start over from scratch & install windows first. :(

[nonidentity]

u can get windows to boot in other than first partition but it is non-reliable!

Better reinstall Win then Linux.

Use grub and chain-load windows and voila!

Cheers

[deathadder]

Is that the drive windows was on before? If so the partition table could be a bit messed up after the crash, have you tried to delete the partition with fdisk and create a new one for windows?

[bosox79]

Originally posted by jmhiggins
As I said earlier I cant install windows. I am booting directly to SuSE right now.

so grub has no menu entery for windows, just for suse?
have you tried restoring your windows bootloader to the mbr of yur primary slave drive the procdure will be diffrent depending on what version of windows you are running :D

[omniuni]

I have had my share of dual boot problems as well. Luckily, I had another computer that worked, and realized that GRUB had messed up a line! If you have a copy of a configuration that works, try to edit GRUB to see if it helps.

Also, I believe there is an option to install the boot loader on the first sector of the hard drive. (There is on RedHat) This may help if the MBR is the problem!

Hope I could help!

[DMR]

Originally posted by deathadder
Is that the drive windows was on before? If so the partition table could be a bit messed up after the crash, have you tried to delete the partition with fdisk and create a new one for windows? Yes, good suggestion.

What version of Windows are you trying to install, and what partiition on the second drive are you trying to install to? As nonidentity mentioned, some versions are more picky that others in terms of what drive/partition you install them on.

[jmhiggins]

Sorry for the Delay I had to fly out to Boston this week. Anyway to answer a few questions I am trying to install Windows XP and yes I am trying to install it on the drive it originally was on. I am positive that the problem lies within the mbr yet fdisk /mbr has no effect. I am going to try and dig up a low level format utility and see if that fixes the issue. Once I do that I will install Windows XP first and then Linux because that definately seems to be the way to go.

[deathadder]

yes I am trying to install it on the drive it originally was on

Have yo tried to delete and then recreate the partition with fdisk?

[jmhiggins]

yes I have tried several times with fdisk and fdisk /mbr each time brings the same result. I'm going to try a low level format utility today so keep your fingers crossed ;)

[bosox79]

Originally posted by jmhiggins
yes I have tried several times with fdisk and fdisk /mbr each time brings the same result. I'm going to try a low level format utility today so keep your fingers crossed ;)

keep us posted pn your progress

[jmhiggins]

turns out it was a fried instruction set on the cpu. I know am the proud owner of a p4 3 Ghz ;)

[je_fro]

Thanks for updating.

[hardcore]

lol damn i was just about to say it's probably a hardware problem, and not a partition problem. But i'm glad it all worked out :D

[bosox79]

Originally posted by je_fro
Thanks for updating.

I 2nd that :D and how does the new proc run?