Friday, March 21, 2008

Windows Boot file - no messing around!

Here is what I did -
1. Installed Vista.
2. Installed Linux ON TOP of Vista install - unceremoniously getting rid of Vista(well, I had reasons - my machine doesnt match the Vista system requirements :( ]
3. Chose to have Windows as the default OS on startup.

What I ended up with -
1. 3 layers of boot-loading screens!!!
1st screen was for choosing between Linux and Windows.
2nd screen was for choosing between Vista and "Older version of Windows"[even though Vista was not there anymore, but I think the bootloader file din get deleted:(]
3rd screen was to choose between Windows(default) and XP Professional.[This 3rd screen was actually my doing - initially there were only 2 screens; I had some keeda in my back-part and I decided to change boot.ini to get rid of the 2nd screen, but instead ended up with a 3rd one!]

Now, what I wanted to do next was to revert back to the previous configuration where I was getting only 2 screens. So I went back to boot loader file and changed back what I had edited. And just to check that everything was ok, I restarted the machine. That was the end of it! My windows partition wont start anymore. So, I look up online to see if there is a way to get around this problem - ofcourse there is - there is solution for every problem on this planet :).
SOlution was to insert the Windows recovery CD and then work thru the recovery menu that pops up. All things nice - I put my recovery cd in and got to the point where I had to go to the recovery menu. At this point, system asks for admin password! ADMIN PASSWORD!!! I dont ever recall having set an admin pwd, and even if I did, I had never used it...so basically, I didnt remember it!
Ok, more googling and checking with my personal Computer wikipedia - my brother - so it seems I can get in to my linux partition and then access windows file by mounting the windows partition and then change boot loader file back to how it was.
There is where I am stuck rite now...trying to get windows mounted on linux. Lets see how it goes.. :)

-Elf.

No comments: