How to recover messed up Lilo?

[bluesky]

Well, I went ahead to install Mandrake 8.2.
It went all the way to the point of updating files, the last stage before reboot, but freezed in first attempt.
It went all the way to reboot, but Lilo is not working, getting 10 or 01s.
Can recover XP boot loader, but reinstalling Lilo w/installation CD is not working.
Tried this method from http://www.anandtech.com/guides/viewfaq.html?i=58, but I can't copy bootsect.lnx file since
I didn't bother to install a floppy drive.
Can anyone show the content of the file to me?
Or can I read the file(I guess it's very short anyway.) from Rescue mode?
If it's possible, how?

Or, how can I reinstall Linux boot loader?

HD configuration.
Disk 1 - XP and data, both in ntfs.
Disk 2 - Linux partitions and data(ntfs)

Thanks for the help.

**Edited the title.

 

[Tiger]

You'll have to delete the current D: partition and use diskdrak that's part of the Mandy install to re-partition and format for Linux. Diskdrak will do all of that for you. If D: is currently formatted NTFS it will show up as "other". The D: partition will also be refered to as hdb1 in Linux speak.

 

[n0cmonkey]

You can do it. You will have to format it (D🙂 though. You should be backing up anyways. Never had a disk just die on you?

 

[TheOmegaCode]

You don't want to have Windows duel Mandrake, it can't be good for your computer... 😛

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: TheOmegaCode
You don't want to have Windows duel Mandrake, it can't be good for your computer... 😛

Its only bad if Windows wins.

 

[bluesky]

Thanks.🙂

You should be backing up anyways. Never had a disk just die on you?

How did you know. Not yet. I just moved on before it was dead.😛
But I know what you mean.
Just the files are big and scattered around. There are some of the files I must protect, and some of files I don't have to,
and some of them I don't know yet.😱

I don't have to delete the D drive w/XP cd, with which I made the partitions, do I?
How can I make Linux read other NTFS drives(C,E and F drives), if it's possible.
Where should I put Lilo not to erase MBR by XP, since I don't have floppy drive? Should I make a boot partition and save it there?

Forgive my confusion. I'll be better soon.😀
Reading a book and the manual.
Thanks.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Originally posted by: bluesky
Thanks.🙂

You should be backing up anyways. Never had a disk just die on you?

How did you know. Not yet. I just moved on before it was dead.😛

Ive had 2 die on me (1 in a laptop and 1 on my firewall). I lost no important data (I have nothing important 😛), but it helped me realize how important backups are.

But I know what you mean.
Just the files are big and scattered around. There are some of the files I must protect, and some of files I don't have to,
and some of them I don't know yet.😱

cdrw drives are cheap and the media can be had for pennies 😉

I don't have to delete the D drive w/XP cd, with which I made the partitions, do I?

Nope, you can do that during the linux install.

How can I make Linux read other NTFS drives(C,E and F drives), if it's possible.

There is a FAQ on that.

Where should I put Lilo not to erase MBR by XP, since I don't have floppy drive? Should I make a boot partition and save it there?

At the beginning of the partition *I think*. I havent dualbooted in years, and never with an NT based OS...

Forgive my confusion. I'll be better soon.😀
Reading a book and the manual.
Thanks.

You'll get it sooner or later 🙂

 

[bluesky]

Thanks Monkey for the reply and an encouragement.🙂
I'm reading the faq, but most of content is ahead of me, well as of now.

I guess if I overwrite XP boot loader, the file would be put on C drive, which I put XP.
So, if I have to reinstall XP, I won't be able to boot Linux any more, since XP boot loader would replace the Linux one.

My question is what would be the best way to save the dual boot loader, well except a boot disk.
Is it possible to replace XP boot.ini file with a boot file, which was made by Linux, and saved on different partition before reinstall XP?
Is it possible to dual boot even if I save the Linux boot loader on a Linux partition(which would primary slave drive, since XP is in master drive.)?
I'm reading a book, Complete Linux, and it warns not to replace MBR, if I have Windows NT based OS for dual boot.

Thanks.

 

[n0cmonkey]

There is information out there on how to boot using the NTish bootloader. Do a search on google.com/linux (I dont have a link off hand). There is also a program out there that has been mentioned here many times (my mind is drawing a blank on this too) that will add linux to the boot.ini file.

 

[bluesky]

Anyone?
If you didn't, take a look at my edited post on the top.
Thanks.