DSL Linux messed up Windows XP boot

[dpopiz]

I installed DSL linux to the hard drive with the grub bootloader and it said it found windows. But the grub list only shows a few DSL options, no Windows XP Pro.

I put in the XP cd and did a "r for repair" on the windows install, but it didn't do anything to the mbr.

How do I get windows back -- I don't really care about keeping DSL at the this point; I'd just like my old windows and my secondary NTFS partition with all my files.

 

[SleepWalkerX]

That's kinda weird, DSL always detected my ntfs partitions.. Well if you still have your windows xp cd pop that in and go to the Recovery Console. Run the 'fixmbr' command and that should be it.

 

[drag]

As far as the DSL stuff goes it's ultimately immaterial weither or not it detects the windows install. The fix is fairly easy once you know what it is.. you just have to add a entry to your bootloader manually.

I don't know what DSL uses by default, either lilo or grub, but you can find details on several places on the net.

But if you don't want to mess around with that you can just do the fixmbr thing.

BTW DSL runs inside of windows using qemu emulator if you want to try it out without rebooting or whatnot. It's a zip file download then..

 

[dpopiz]

gah this is so frustrating. you guys were right -- fixmbr was all I needed to do, but unfortunately before I did that, I did "r for recovery", which means now every time I boot up it just goes into windows setup and asks for a cd key which I do not have. I've tried all kinds of cd keys off limewire but none of those work for some reason. I'm worried that it might have something to do with the fact that I used my friend's xp CD when I did "r for repair", which is possibly a diff version than I used before (it's an Upgrade ver or something)...

any idea how to solve this mess without doing a fresh install? I just want to get back to my old windows install -- which I think would have happened if I had just asked you guys on AT first and done fixmbr before trying anything else. if only there were some way to "undo" the r for repair option

 

[drag]

Well that sucks. If it's OEM isn't there suppose to be a sticker with the cdkey attatched to your computer somewere? Like behind a door or something like that? I remember I had to do that for my parent's computer when I built it.

Otherwise maybe contact Microsoft? Did you register your stuff, maybe that would help you out. Although they'd probably charge you.

Maybe something like this can help you:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q328874
http://www.magicaljellybean.com/kf-faq.shtml

But I figure it you ran a recovery and you machine can't find the product key, then I bet those programs/scripts and you won't either. :/

 

[SleepWalkerX]

Hmm yeah might've messed with something when you did a repair install. Maybe your oem can help you (like if you bought the pc from dell, try asking dell). You can say that Windows asks for reactivation and explain your predicament.