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Thread: operating systems (aka windows) nightmare

  1. #1
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    operating systems (aka windows) nightmare

    I thought I would tell my story, in order to assist anyone who has similar problems in the future. Thankfully, it has all been fixed now.

    Original setup:
    1 disk, with 3 partitions - NTFS boot / NTFS storage area / EXT3 LINUX
    I used grub as a boot manager.

    What happened:
    My windows XP install needed a re-install (about 2 years old, and I didn't have an up to date image to use), so in goes the XP disk and it only gives me the option to install to drive D:, as it has moved the 2nd partition (Storage) to disk c:.
    I think, 'oh well' and install away, assuming that this would be temporary - OH NOES!

    Next step:
    After much looking on the internet and MS articles, i try to reassign the drive letter from D to C. This is basically impossible - even editing the registry remotely using a networked pc. There do not appear to be any utilities capable of such a feat - so dont bother!

    I decide to reinstall again:
    But of course, the same option - only drive D:

    I did manage to fix this:
    1) use win98 boot disk and "fdisk /mbr"
    2) boot into linux using ubuntu rescue / boot disk
    3) use linux Fdisk to do the following:
    toggle boot flag on 2nd partition
    create new partition
    re-order partitions (this is in expert menu 'x' i believe)

    Finally, reinstall windows - YEY!

    It sounds so simple when the steps are given, but honestly this took 6 hours

  2. Received thanks from:

    Zak33 (09-07-2007)

  3. #2
    Pedandic mo-fo IAmATeaf's Avatar
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    • IAmATeaf's system
      • Motherboard:
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    I normally either hide the extra partitions on the HD or remove any extra HDs to avoid exactly the same type of issues you've encountered. I remember the headache of trying to figure out a few years ago why XP insisted on renaming my C: as H:

  4. #3
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    yup, i would have removed the disk, but it was 2 partitions on the same disk.
    how do you hide them?

  5. #4
    HEXUS.timelord. Zak33's Avatar
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    aeronic.....thank you for sharing it, because thats EXACTLY what this forum is about

    You suffered, but you solved it and now you're sharing

    Cheers bud

    Quote Originally Posted by Advice Trinity by Knoxville
    "The second you aren't paying attention to the tool you're using, it will take your fingers from you. It does not know sympathy." |
    "If you don't gaffer it, it will gaffer you" | "Belt and braces"

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