Me changing partitions messed up everything...

[sfa ok]

I was deleting and creating some partitions in Partitionmagic. After it was finished, everything was screwed up. In Linux, it can't find the kernel image, and in Windows it says that its paging file is too small or doesn't exist, but won't let me get far enough to change it. I'm using Mandrake 8.1's graphical boot loader (I'm pretty sure it uses LILO). Help me fix either one, I need to boot into something!

[sfa ok]

Correction and addition....Linux can't mount the root FS, and I don't have a floppy drive, so I'd like solutions that don't require one. Thanks!!

[turd]

what windows, can you boot to a recovery panel (RC)? or to a command prompt? for your mandrake are u getting a stop or kernal panic? need more info. you could sure use a drive, about now

[RedDeathDrinker]

Floppy drive >$10 these days. Sure would make your life a lot easier........

Even if you don't have it plugged in normally, it's a good idea to have one lying about to plug in when you need to.....like now.

If you can't rcover from the command prompt, your best bet is a re-format and re-partition.

The moral of the story is: Never mess about with partitions unless you want to re-install.....no matter what claims your partitioning software makes.....

[Amedeo602]

if you have a spare hard drive just hook it up as a master to this one (which should be slave) boot from hard drive #2 and format #1, making partitions as necessary...

[sfa ok]

OK, I got into a linux CLC from the Mandrake CD, and figured out that it wasn't LILO. It's a kernel panic.

As for the Win2000, I would have reformatted by now, but there's lots of data (read: downloads I don't want to do again) that I want. I'm new to using NTFS, can I stick my drive in another NTFS computer and yoink the data off?

Sorry about not giving enough information, a school paper that I needed was on there, so I was pretty paniced. :eek: But I was able to get the paper.

[turd]

try these things first: boot into the Recovery Console (RC) from your 2k CD, just goahead and type at your prompt "Fixboot" then "Exit"

also try "Fixmbr" Exit see what happens. you can also attempt to manage your partitions with "Diskpart" all from the RC

You can try and remove your page file and let windows recreate one by going to the RC and typing: "cd C:\winnt32" and finding a txt file (like help.txt) to copy/rename/delete type:
"copy help.txt pagefile.sys"
"delete pagefile.sys"
"Exit" this is assuming that your pagefile is at winnt32 which it should be but may be in C:\ and that is the problem

Recover your system hive assuming it is damaged/corrupted type:

"cd \winnt\system32\config"
"rename system system.org"
"copy system.org system"

[turd]

ops just to let u know the reason to rename a txt file and copy over as pagefile.sys is twofold one it will overwrite the corrupted pagefile that exists, but that the RC wont recognize (but will overwrite) two once u delete u will have no pagefile which 2k will recognize and create a new good one during the process. try to do this in both your C:/ and winnt32 because like said it should be in 32 but can be in C.

How to start your RC? boot the CD let 2k setup start(press enter to continue when prompted) Press R then C when prompted for choices. good luck

[sfa ok]

I'll be trying that later, but as for now, I reinstalled Linux and it's working, so I'm content.