Ercan,
It sounds like Win is still there, it's just a matter of getting to it.
Two issues:
#1) Are you using a shim program? These are variously known as disk
manager programs and designed to allow an older motherboard bios to use the
full capacity of a large hard drive when the motherboard cannot see the full
capacity itself. If so there is a special method to boot from floppy (which
varies). You MUST use that method, and do NOT fdisk/mbr that hard drive! If
you have a shim, it lives in the mbr area and Lilo or Grub try to install
themselves there, hence your problems ... the shim is damaged and he Windon't
bootloader can't find the rest of the files without it. Don't use Linux
Mandrake's automatic install, let Lilo or Grub write to the front of a Linux
partition, and boot Linux Mandrake from the floppy you make during the
install (you may or may not have to use whatever the special method is (but
it often involves pressing the <spacebar> at a certain point during bootup)
since Lilo does find Linux).
If you have a shim, it sounds like Lilo overwrote it, and you will need
to repair the boot manager to gain access to Windon't and boot Linux from
floppy. If you don't have a shim you will need to go into etc/lilo.conf (if
I remember right) and repair the error in the Windows section.
2) If you are not using a shim program, and the floppy is not being
sought during boot you need to change the boot sequence in CMOS (the
motherboard bios configuration). Do you know how to get into CMOS? It is
often <delete>, but can be <F1> <F10> or others. VERY IMPORTANT >> once you
are at the first CMOS screen determine how to get out without "saving
changes". This is almost always possible. If you are not completely
comfortable that you have changed exactly the right thing (and nothing
else!), then exit without saving and do it again. Bioses vary, but in
general you will find what you need on the second configuration page. Look
for an entry about boot sequence, and change it (usually <F1> shows the
possible choices and <pageup><pagedown> will change the setting, but it will
say on the edge of the screen) so that A: is first, C: is next, etc. Back
out, usually <esc>, and exit saving your changes. Confirm that "Y"es you
want to save the changes. You should now be able to boot to floppy. -Gary-
In a message dated 10/11/2000 3:30:09 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<snip>
<< Somebody suggested using DOS' fdisk /mbr but I can not boot the machine
from startup floppy either >>
<snip>
Ercan Solak
