removing bootloader? 2

[piti]

i have a booting problem with my hdd and as this problem exceeds my knowledge i do shout HELP PLZ

after instaling(?) linux on my w98 machine, the linux bootloader (lilo or whatever it is) is not starting, it just writes L and then a never-ending stream of 01 01 01 ...

is there any possibility how to remove that bootloader and return to the previous state - booting directly to w98?
but without loosing data on any partition on the disk!!!

HELP PLZ

 

[Eguy]

Hi;

from a dos prompt run:
fdisk /mbr

This recreates the Master Boot Record with no damage to any other partitions, files, etc.

Ed

P.S.
The fdisk program is on your windows Start Up disk or in
C:\windows\command

 

[piti]

well if i knew that is so easy i wouldn't aks this at all, this is realy embarassing

but thanks anyway

 

[Comtech]

You may also have to boot to the windows startup disk, and at the a:\ prompt, type: sys c:
NOTE: your Linux should still be accessible. If it's in the first partition of a second HD, just change the boot sequence in BIOS to boot to that HD.
If linux is in a different partition of the first HD (or second), then you'll need a boot loader.
Check out

http://www.xosl.org

for a good free one. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

 

[Eguy]

piti;

\\soap box on

The only dumb question is the one that's NEVER asked.

The smartest person in the world is the one who knows that there is something left to learn.

\\soap box off

Ed

 

[piti]

I've tried that sys c: command
that was my first idea
but this was not working, same situation after reboot

and now to that bios settings:
i do have the linux in the 1st partition of the second hdd
do i have to change my boot sequence every time i want to boot to another os or there is some way how to choose during the boot?

 

[Comtech]

You MUST run fdisk /mbr and then sys c: in that order.
If you still want to access Linux, you can do a couple of things:
1. Change the boot order in BIOS every time (not a good idea, but it works).
2. Install a boot loader:
Option a)

http://www.xosl.org

Option b) Get into Linux, edit the lilo.conf file to reflect the boot partitions you want to use. You can leave the BIOS to boot from your Linux drive, and let lilo (or grub) give you the boot options.
Option c) Get partition magic or other 3rd party (PAY MONEY) boot loader.
Option d) Reinstall lilo as the boot loader on your primary (windows) hard drive. Edit lilo.conf to set default boot drive/delay, etc. Cheers,
Jim

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/