Mandrake Linux 9.0

[PcH]

Hi.
First off, I would like to say that this is my first time using Linux. I already have Windows ME on one 20Gb partition. I downloaded all three CDs of Mandrake Linux 9.0 in ISO format. I burned them to three CDs using Nero. On bootup, I inserted the first CD and installed it using the recommended method. I created a 1Gb Linux Swap Partition, and a 5Gb EX3 Partition for Linux. Drivers aren't supported for my modem/network. Anyway, GNU was supposed to automatically configure a dual boot method for WinME & Linux on startup. It didn't. I can only boot into Linux. Linux obviously can't read the other FAT32 partition for WinME. I was wondering if there is Linux software that can configure this. If not, can I use a Windows bootup disk to format that Linux partition to start all over? Thanks.

[ADSLpredator]

Linux support all partition from DOS to NTFS. If you can't in Windows, maybe can in DOS? Anyway on startup is run LILO, and there is ordinary this:

LINUX
LINUX something
DOS or WINDOWS
FLOPPY

what you see on boot? maybe can help you with posting a LILO's default configuration file? i use mandrake 9.0 and before 8.1 for long time (i'm not an big linux expert)... but i can try help you... if you understand me ...

[ADSLpredator]

Ok, needed or not, here is my lilo.conf:

you may edit this if you logon as root, this file is /etc/lilo.conf

boot=/dev/hda
map=/boot/map
vga=normal
default=linux
keytable=/boot/slovene.klt
prompt
nowarn
timeout=100
message=/boot/message
menu-scheme=wb:bw:wb:bw
ignore-table
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label=linux
root=/dev/hda7
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="quiet devfs=mount hdc=ide-scsi"
vga=788
read-only
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label=linux-nonfb
root=/dev/hda7
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="devfs=mount hdc=ide-scsi"
read-only
image=/boot/vmlinuz
label=failsafe
root=/dev/hda7
initrd=/boot/initrd.img
append="failsafe devfs=nomount hdc=ide-scsi"
read-only
other=/dev/hda1
label=windows
table=/dev/hda
other=/dev/fd0
label=floppy
unsafe

As can you see, i have on startup this:

LINUX
LINUX-NONFB
WINDOWS
FLOPPY

try modifiy your lilo.conf file and when you are done, run command in console as root:

lilo

this will add your corrections in boot ... or something like that

ok... that's all

[PcH]

Thanks for the help. I like the feel and stability of Linux. I will try changing the config.

[PcH]

I logged in as root and looked in /dev and found out what hda partition extensions I have. I used the same hard drive hda extention, but tried different hda partition extenstions. None of them worked. I did use the lilo command in Konsole before I restarted. I even replaced the failsafe other with the windows other! Is there a program that can configure this? Please help. Thanks.

[I_DONT_SHARE_PORN]

You people are doing it all wrong, you need to get on kazaa and download Partition Manager, it includes a boot-manager called "Boot magic", and pch , a 1gb swap is too big if you ask me, and you dont even need all 3 .ISO files , all you need is one, Trust me i have XP pro, Mandrake and RED Hat all on one pc.
Create your partitions w/Partition Mgr. then install linux onto the partition you created, Linux will do the rest if you install "BOOT MAGIC"!!

[PcH]

You make it sound so easy, but it's not. I can't access the WinME partition to do anything. I don't want to format all partitions. Explain the swap to me. I made it small just out of guess. Does "Partition Mgr." run in Linux? If it does, that would be highly convenient.

[Sid]

It is pretty easy once you get used to linux. You don't need boot magic use Grub or Lilo. Your swap partiton should be twice the amount of ram you have. To acces a fat32 partition you need to edit /etc/fstab. Add this line to it /dev/hda1 /mnt/hda1 vfat user,auto,umask=000 0 0 then in console type mkdir /mnt/hda1(enter) mount /dev/hda1(enter) then you should see your windows partition in /mnt/hda1. Hope this helps, if you need more help post back.

[PcH]

My RAM is 512Mb PC133 SDRAM, so my swap size is fine. Thanks for the explanation, Sid. I'll try the mount command.

[PcH]

OK. I found out why Windows wouldn't list on the bootup list. I didn't state the lilo command in Konsole, I did it in Command. I fixed it, but when I choose the Windows option, it says 'Loading Windows...' and remains at a black DOS screen. I found out the following through FSTAB:
HDA: The physical hard drive
HDA1: 5Gb Linux EX3 partition
HDA2: 14Gb FAT32 WinME partition
HDA5: 1Gb Swap
How should I configure the mounting and lilo.config for this to work?