Fedora 2 install not working...

[Psych]

I tried to install Fedora Core 2 earlier this month, and the 2.6 kernel 'windows boot' problem occurred. I used FIXMBR and FIXBOOT from the Windows Recovery Console, and then I switched my hard drive logic to LBA and I could get Windows running again, but I'd like to know how I can reinstall Linux without having that happen again.

I have an 80GB hard drive that used to be completely formatted in NTFS with XPSP1a on it. I put all my important files on it and tweaked the OS quite a bit. Then I used the Linux System Rescue CD to used QParted to shrink the NTFS to 60GB.

I used the Fedora Core 2 discs to install Linux, and it gave me errors with misaligned partition tables, but the dialog box said it was Ok so I continued with the install. I chose Grub as my loader, and I restarted the computer. Fedora worked fine, but XP wouldn't boot!

What options should I have chosen to prevent this from happening again?

 

[drag]

I don't know exactly.

All I know is that repartitioning partitions is always kinda a risky thing. It works most of the time, but sometimes it doesn't work out. Seems like "parted" causeed the problems here.

hmm.....

Do you still have the Fedora install on your harddrisk? There is a way to modify the Windows boot loader to dual boot with Linux.

But if you want to look at the fixes other people have worked out check out the bugzilla system for fedora from your link. Some people have gotten it to work fine.

Even if you are planning on just installing windows, have more then one partition that you can maybe in the future delete or backup or something. Or if you want to just go out and buy another harddrive. If it's not a big issue. People who fool around with OSes a lot often even set aside a bunch of empty unpartitioned space that maybe in the future they can use for extra space if they need it or whatever. It makes stuff a bit more flexible. Just remember that the max partitions you can have on x86 is 4 partitions, so the extended partition (number 4) has to use up all the space and then use that to devide up between logical partitions, otherwise any space beyond that is unnaccessable.

 

[silverpig]

What you can do is download another install cd that boots off of a 2.4 kernel and re-partition using that. Then shut down and boot from the fedora2 cd to continue the install.

 

[Psych]

There is nothing wrong with QParted as far as I can tell, it is just the boot loader that is installed with Fedora. I'd just like to know if there are options to prevent the XP boot process from being broken.

I didn't know that there was a way to go Windows->Linux, I just thought it was Loader->(Windows||Linux), Drag. That might work. Thanks.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Fedora Core 2 has issues with dual booting. It's a known issue. There are supposedly fixes out there, but since I don't use it I don't have any links.