Problems while changing from dual-boot (XP and Linux) to single boot (XP)

[Sairam]

Hello,

I used to run both Windows XP Media Centre and Linux on my computer
using the dual
-boot facility. By default, the computer would load Linux, unless
specified otherwise at the start.

About a couple of days back, I used the Windows Disk Management
utility and
formatted the portion of my hard disk that had Linux installed on it.
By mistake, instead
of allocating that hard disk portion for secondary/extended FAT32
partitions, I ended up
creating a new Primary NTFS partition. While everything seemed
allright then, the real
problem began once I restarted my computer. Since then, the computer
has not been loading Windows at all.

Should I reinstall Linux on the formatted disk space? Else, is there
any other means (except reinstalling Windows) by which I can access
Windows on my computer?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Sairam

 

[Pegasus]

You need to tell us what boot loader used to deliver
the previous multi-booting capability. Grub? The native
Windows boot loader? Another boot loader? Furthermore
you should report what you now get when you boot and
which of your partitions is active.

 

[Guest]

Why would you consider a FAT32 volume,xp uses NTFS by default.Either way,
install xp cd,boot to xp cd,recovery,select 1 For C: Press enter for
password,
type:Fixboot Agree,type:EXIT Let xp start.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

You may need to rebuild the Master Boot Record and likely the boot sector.

Pop your XP CD into the drive and restart the computer. Ensure that the
system is set to boot the CD-Rom before the hard drive (BIOS setting).
When prompted press a key to boot the CD. Let the XP CD boot to the screen
that asks if you want to setup Windows or use the Recovery Console to
Repair - press r.
Press "r". When the Recovery Console boots press 1 and enter a password if
you've used on with the Administrator account. If you have no password just
press the Enter Key. You should arrive at a prompt that says C:\Windows

1) Type the following and press Enter

fixmbr

When prompted type: y and then press Enter


2) Next type the following and press Enter

fixboot

When prompted type: y and then press Enter.

A new boot sector will then be written to the C: partition.

3) Finally type the following and press Enter

bootcfg /rebuild

allow it to scan for Windows Installations.
When prompted with "Add installation to boot list? (Yes/No/All):" Type: y
and then press Enter.

When asked "Enter Load Identifier:" Type: Windows XP Media Centre

When asked "Enter OS Load Options:" Type: /fastdetect and then press Enter.

This will then rebuild the boot configuration.



When finished remove the XP CD and type EXIT to reboot

 

[witan]

Hello,

I used to run both Windows XP Media Centre and Linux on my computer
using the dual
-boot facility. By default, the computer would load Linux, unless
specified otherwise at the start.

About a couple of days back, I used the Windows Disk Management
utility and
formatted the portion of my hard disk that had Linux installed on it.
By mistake, instead
of allocating that hard disk portion for secondary/extended FAT32
partitions, I ended up
creating a new Primary NTFS partition. While everything seemed
allright then, the real
problem began once I restarted my computer. Since then, the computer
has not been loading Windows at all.

Should I reinstall Linux on the formatted disk space? Else, is there
any other means (except reinstalling Windows) by which I can access
Windows on my computer?

Please advise.

Thanks,
Sairam

I hope you have managed to solve your problem using advice offered by
others. My comments are for the future, if needed.
*Before* using Windows Disk Management to format the volume on which
Linux was installed, one has to boot the computer with the Linux
installation CD, and remove the Linux installation. That would remove
the Grub or LiLo bootloader, which is usually on the Linux volume, and
make the computer boot directly into Windows. After that you can use
Windows Diskmanager to do whatever you like with the freed volume.