Please help me !

[mufaris]

i'm very much new to Linux environment.

I installed Red hat linux 7.2 in my PC which has a AMD K6II processor, 20 GB Quantum fireball harddisk,and Windows 2000 OS

I had 4 partitions
C: Primary
D,E,F -logical
I prepared the root and swap partitons only, by using Partition Magic pro .After that I installed

Redhat 7.2 by using the CD-ROM.I select to install LILO in the MBR

installation completed successfully, but LILO does not load.

immeadiatley I reboot the computer and again try to install the Linux.

This time I select to install LILO not in the MBR but the next option .

Even though installation completed successfully the result is same, I could not see the LILO.

Again I tried to install Linux and this time I convert ths ext2 file system to ext3.

Linux has installed successfully but LILO did not load.

Here the problem occures

When I reboot the PC and select Windows 2000 ,the OS was loaded with no problem.

But when I try to format a floppy , the 'Format' did not work .why?

no problem with floppy drive .drive is working.

FDISK (MS-DOS) also did not work.

Then I decided to delete the Linux partitions and I did that using Linux's Disk Druid tool.

When I try to boot the system using a windows 98 bootable disk I can not do that.

I saw a lot of error messages saying "Missing files".

Then I Format the C: using Windows 2000 Bootable CD and install the Windows 2000 again.

But nothing changed same problems occures.

When I try to run Norton Disk Doctor It analyzed only the partition table of C:

and display a error message saying can not continue.

But I did not stop this much.Now I tried to install Linux again but I used Disk Druid to prepare the partitions for Linux(Swap and Root).

Installation process started and moved smoothly but it stoped half way dispalying an error message saying "Fatal Error probably due to a bug" and also displays a detailed list.

Now I deleted all patitions except C:,which has Windows 2000 OS.
how can I run FDISK(ms-dos)again
and how can I boot using a Windows 98 floppy disk ?
Is there any hardware problems or my harddisk has demaged?
I'm a student please help me !

[Lojan]

This is what you do:

1. Boot from Win98 floppy disk.
2. Partition the hard-disk. Make just one partition for WinNT/2000/98. Let the remaining space unpartitioned. Format the WinNT/2000/98 patition and put system on it. Just put the system, don't install any other thing. Don't create any Extended DOS partiton at this time, even if you want one. If you make an extended DOS partitoin, you will not be able to make all the required FILE Systems for Linux, i.e /boot, /usr, ...etc. Extended DOS partition can be created later, using fdisk of Linux.
3. Don't Install Win2000/NT/98 at this time. 4. Now start the installation of Linux. Install Lillo on MBR!!!. Make sure that on the Lillo Installation screen you allready see a dos partition (Yes, DOS partition will show there, FAT32).
5. Go ahead and finish linux installation. 6. Now, while rebooting Lillo gives the option of Linux/Dos. Boot to DOS.
7. Install NT/2000/98 Whatever you wish.
8. If you want to create any extended DOS partition, create using fdisk of Linux, set the correct partition type, format from Windows when you reboot from Widows next time.

This should do it.

[Choozo]

Now, why do you suggest to install Linux first and installing LILO to MBR?? When you install Windows after that, MBR will be overwritten and you loose LILO!

Instead, make the second logical partition (where you install Linux) bootable through fdisk in Linux, and install LILO to that partition. This lets you install/reinstall Windows any time without disturbing LILO, and still let you boot into Windows from LILO.

[Lojan]

Ease up, I know this works. I only offered assistance. There's more than one way to skin a cat. I offered this one. The poster had a problem and now he/she has solutions.