Stuck in Windows

[Feldar]

I have a dual boot system with Windows 2000 and Fedora 4. I had not used Windows on it since I installed Linux, but when I tried to upgrade to Fedora 5 Windows 2000 loaded. Now it is stuck there. When I restart, I can't get to a boot menu or even the BIOS setup. In the startup and recovery screen the only recognized operating system is Windows, and I have tried changing the active partition to the linux partition. How can I get back to Linux or boot from a cd?

[pavlo_7]

At this point it's not clear whether Linux partition is still on the hard drive. It would be helpful if you could boot from Knoppix Live CD and post the results of:

/sbin/fdisk -l

here.
Edit: if you know that partition still exists, then try reinstalling grub bootloader as described here:
http://www.fedoraforum.org/forum/sho...d.php?t=112260


or here:
http://fedoraforum.org/forum/showthr...t=put+grub+mbr

[devils casper]

When I restart, I can't get to a boot menu or even the BIOS setup.

upgrade has nothing to do with BIOS. did you try different key combination to enter in BIOS setup ? Del, Esc, or Ctrl+S etc.

boot up from FC DVD/CD and execute this code to re-install GRUB.

linux rescue
chroot /mnt/sysimage
grub-install /dev/hda

casper

[Feldar]

pavlo: The linux partition is still there, but windows doesn't think it is formatted. I downloaded grub, but when I tried to boot it from the linux partition, it said that it wasn't a FAT partition.

devils_casper:I can't boot from a CD. Whenever I try, it doesn't open any operating system, and I just get a flashing cursor on the screen.

[devils casper]

is windows booting up?




casper

[Feldar]

not when I have a boot disc in, but it does otherwise.

[devils casper]

if i understand correctly, you are not able to enter in BIOS setup, CDs are not booting up and you Can boot up windows normally ( from harddisk, without CD). right?
which boot loader were you using earlier?




casper

[Feldar]

Yeah, that's my situation. I don't know what bootloader I'm using, I never used the Windows, I installed everything in a class, and I used whatever was on the Fedora 4 Install Discs. Sorry for my newbishness.

[devils casper]

okkk... Fedora uses GRUB as boot loader. switch on machine and press Delete key continuously. in case, it dosn't work, try with Esc key. in BIOS, select CDROM as First Boot Device.

and I have tried changing the active partition to the linux partition.

how did you do that?



casper

[Feldar]

I was able to open the bios, the DVD drive was already set as the primary boot device. I changed the active partition through windows, by going to control panel->administrative tools -> Computer Management -> Disc Management and right clicked on the linux partition and selected make partion active.