Note, where I suggest you type something in, do *not* include the quote marks (unless I specifically say to do so!).
First off let's get booted:
When you power up the laptop, after the BIOS start up, you should get the GRUB window that says something about booting linux (Fedora) in 10 seconds, press a key to interrupt.
Press the any key if your keyboard has one (bad joke).
Just interrupt the GRUB boot by pressing a key. You should now have a GRUB display showing your dual boot options (and no count down timer - if there is a count down time, press a key again (any key will do!)).
Next, you can alter the boot options for this boot.
If the root password is wrong, you can boot into single user mode and reset the password:
Making sure the splash screen still says something about GRUB, make sure the Fedora option is highlighted.
There are some instructions at the bottom that say:
"Press enter to boot the selected OS, 'e' to edit the commands before booting, 'a' to modify kernel arguments before booting, or 'c' for a command-line."
Press 'a'
The screen should now change to show you a line which may say something like:
grub append> ro root=label=/ rhgb .....
At the end of the line, add the word 'single'
This tells the boot process that you want to boot the laptop into single user mode.
Next, hit return.
Your system *should* boot up straight into a command prompt.
From here you can set the root password:
sh-3.00# passwd
Enter the new password, then re-enter it to confirm.
A word of warning: Bear in mind that your original password may have been set 'incorrectly' if your keyboard layout is not the same as that which the system thought it was!
Avoid using characters that may change depending on your keymap For example, '@' and '"' characters are often swapped about. As are '├В┬г' (UK Pound sign) and '#').
This will sort out the root password.
Next, you can edit your boot config so that Windows is the default boot option:
(Assuming you know how to use the 'vi' editor)
sh-3.00# vi /boot/grub/grub.conf
You will see a line that reads something like:
default=0
This tells the system which menu option is the default one to boot from.
Further below in the file, you will see at least two lines that begin:
title
These are the start of your menu options.
I'll assume that they are something like:
title Fedora Core 4 ...
...
title Windows ...
...
Everything in GRUB starts counting from zero (not one). So the first option (Fedora) is option zero. The second option (Windows) is option one.
Change the:
default=0
to read:
default=1
*IF* Windows is the second option. If windows is the first option, then I guess the defaults I've written above would be the other way around!
Next, you need to sort out X.
Currently, your laptop is in single user mode and you won't be able to run any X config type apps.
Execute:
sh-3.00# init 3
This will tell the system to change from single user mode to run level three (multi-user, non-graphical).
You will need to log in (as root).
Login using your new password and execute:
# system-config-display --reconfig
If all goes well, you should have a graphical gui start up which allows you to configure your X11 display.
For more info on how X11 works, google about and you should find lots of material.
Top-tip: Google has a linux specific search engine:
http://www.google.com/linux
Go from there.
Regards,
Andy Bruce
I Love it when a plan comes together!
