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02-13-2002, 12:17 PM
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#1 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: West Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 25
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Linux - Windows98 woes
My brother tried to install Linux within his Windows 98 operating system. Followed the correct procedure (according to him) in the installation manual.
He had problems whilst booting Win98. Immediately after the POST, Win98 would not boot, stopping with a DOS prompt saying it was looking for a missing file. Anyway, I formatted his hard drive in the attempt of helping him in his next installation attempt. Problem is, even with a CLEAN, FORMATTED hard drive and booting the system it is STILL stopping at the prompt looking for this program. Obviously there must be a program looking for this file BUT where can the program be stored? Can't be on the formatted hard drive so only option left is the BIOS? Can anybody shed some light on this mystery? P.S. He does not want Linux but needs it for his UNIX course. Last edited by albaguy69; 02-13-2002 at 03:14 PM. |
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02-13-2002, 03:26 PM
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#2 |
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Member (11 bit)
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Northeast, Michigan
Posts: 1,063
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I would go into fdisk and see what file system his hard drive is formatted in because Linux uses ext2 file system, that might be the problem
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02-13-2002, 03:50 PM
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#3 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 394
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If he didn't change the file system (e.g. keeping it fat32) and installed linux then he needs to "fdisk /mbr" from the DOS prompt to kill linux from being in the master boot record.
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02-13-2002, 03:55 PM
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#4 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: West Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 25
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Thank you so much. This sounds like his answer!
The master boot record I take it is stored on the hard drive? |
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02-13-2002, 04:03 PM
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#5 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 489
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Master Boot Record is stored on the hard drive, but is only accessible by Operating systems. When you install Linux, it overwrites the MBR to include a boot manager, therefore removing Windows from having boot rights.
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02-13-2002, 05:08 PM
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#6 |
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Member (5 bit)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: West Lothian, Scotland
Posts: 25
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Yep, sounds like the problem.
I'm sure the file/program (if memory serves me right) it's looking for is called BootMagic or InstallMagic, something like that. So it's simply a case then of throwing in a startup disk, waiting for the prompt then typing "fdisk/mbr"? Nothing more complicated than that? |
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02-13-2002, 06:15 PM
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#7 |
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Member (9 bit)
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 394
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fdisk /mbr (with a space between.) you wont get any confirmation or anything, so when you get the DOS prompt again after running the fdisk /mbr don't be alarmed.
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