Apparently, my decision to dual-boot with Linux and Windows XP unleashed hell on earth. Here are the problems I have been having; any input/suggestions for any of them would be appreciated.
1) Boot loader (LILO) installed by RH9 is bypassed; Windows XP always tries to start. I installed LILO to the MBR. Should this be changed? If so, is there a way to change loader/location without re-installing? Any config files to change, perhaps?
2) Since Linux is installed, Windows XP fails to start (after bypassing LILO), due to a missing file (HAL.DLL). Normally I would put this file back where it's supposed to be, but when I boot into DOS and do C:\, it takes me to the last partition of my disk, not the WINDOWS partition (which is, and always has been, C: ).
3) Attempting to run the repair console from the XP CD fails; it asks me for the administrator password, which I was never asked to set, as I never log in as administrator. I also tried the password for the account I use in XP (which is set up as an administrator but is not physically named 'Administrator') to no avail; it won't take. I never set such a password, and if I did, I know what I'd have set it to. WTF?
4) Attempting to convert my WINDOWS partition to FAT32 (so I could move HAL.DLL from floppy to the correct destination via Linux) fails, due to a 'sparse file.' This may be corrected by running ScanDisk or CHKDSK, but I cannot run them if I can't get to my C: drive or my C: drive isn't pointing to the correct partition, can I?
Any ideas on how to fix any of these problems? The last 3 are inter-related actually ... I am desparate for any suggestions at all; I'd prefer not having to reformat that XP partition.
Thanks much in advance,
TGHH
1) Boot loader (LILO) installed by RH9 is bypassed; Windows XP always tries to start. I installed LILO to the MBR. Should this be changed? If so, is there a way to change loader/location without re-installing? Any config files to change, perhaps?
2) Since Linux is installed, Windows XP fails to start (after bypassing LILO), due to a missing file (HAL.DLL). Normally I would put this file back where it's supposed to be, but when I boot into DOS and do C:\, it takes me to the last partition of my disk, not the WINDOWS partition (which is, and always has been, C: ).
3) Attempting to run the repair console from the XP CD fails; it asks me for the administrator password, which I was never asked to set, as I never log in as administrator. I also tried the password for the account I use in XP (which is set up as an administrator but is not physically named 'Administrator') to no avail; it won't take. I never set such a password, and if I did, I know what I'd have set it to. WTF?
4) Attempting to convert my WINDOWS partition to FAT32 (so I could move HAL.DLL from floppy to the correct destination via Linux) fails, due to a 'sparse file.' This may be corrected by running ScanDisk or CHKDSK, but I cannot run them if I can't get to my C: drive or my C: drive isn't pointing to the correct partition, can I?
Any ideas on how to fix any of these problems? The last 3 are inter-related actually ... I am desparate for any suggestions at all; I'd prefer not having to reformat that XP partition.
Thanks much in advance,
TGHH
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