How to Fix bootloader using Compaq recovery cd

[Napoleon]

Hello,
I have a compaq presario system and as you all know HP/Compaq do not supply actual windows cd apart from the recovery cds. Well I want to dual boot windowsxp home and linux. Because of problem with installing the linux boot loader on my compaq -due to that recovery partition, I will use the windows boot loader.

However after making changes to the boot.ini file, i need to rebuild the bootloader with the command bootcfg /rebuild. Trouble is it requires the windows install cd which I don't have. I only have the recovery cd. Is it possible to acheive the result i want using the recovery cd? Because otherwise i have to buy a windows cd just for that! Which i don't even want to contemplate because the mere thought send my blood pressure rising.

Thanks for your help.

[Ramesh Pakkath]

Hi Napoleon,

If it prompts for a Windows CD, re direct the location to C:\I386. This has all the Windows installation files.

Ramesh Pakkath.

[Peeyush]

hey

u want to use linux and windows(shipped with ur computer). and u cant installed linux boot loader(grub/lilo)due to recovery partition

did i get it right ?


if yes......u need loadlin
while installing linux u dont have to load its bootload or dont have to write MBR instead u have to modify boot.ini and then u can select ur OS to boot(advanced startup option)

The Loadlin+Win95/98/ME mini-HOWTO
http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-mini/Loadlin+Win95-98-ME.html
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Loadlin+Win95-98-ME.html

http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/debian/chapter/book/appd_04.html
http://www.geocities.com/epark/linux/grub-w2k-HOWTO.html
u can also find how-to in linux installation disk

Regards
Peeyush
http://geocities.com/peeyush_maurya/

[Napoleon]

Thank you to every one who answered my question. I am happy to say that I have succesfully set up dual boot windows/linux on my compaq and it is working very fine indeed. I used the windows boot loader and it starts linux without any problems.

[Peeyush]

congratulation napoleon

how had u done it?

[Napoleon]

I will put together a shot note with the links and downloads that helped me and I'll post it here.