[linuxwannabee]

Scenario - Two Hard drives on our system - C: drive with Windows 98SE on it, D: drive with Windows 2000 (upgrade) on it.

Windows 2000 was having problems, but simply re-installing wasn't an option, wouldn't let me. Work around - in the root of the c: drive, when I made hidden and system files visible, I notice several files relating to the dual boot setup. I copied a number of files (can't remember all their names) to a floppy disc and moved the same files into a previously invisible folder called 'WUTemp' - I now realise this was a big mistake, this folder being 'windows update temp' folder, and apparently must be flushed - the files are no longer available.

What I can't understand, having right-clicked the same files and used the 'send to' floppy command, and having observed floppy noise and led activity, so presumably copied them, these too have disappeared!!

I needed to move these files from the root of the C: drive in order to be able to re-install windows 2000.

Why have these files disappeared from the floppy, were they even copied - more importantly, can I recreate the necessary files so that I am once again presented with two boot options at startup - Windows (98SE) or Windows 2000?

Even nicer - is it possible to get Windows 2000 to be the second option in the list, so if people don't do anything, the system will always boot into 98SE?

Help, help - I thought I was been clever working around, to re-install Windows 2000, but I hadn't bargained on my carefully thought out plan back firing by the files disappearing from the floppy disc or WUTemp folder

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I suspect bad floppy is the reason they didn't copy.

You can certainly adjust the boot order.

What I need to know is where are you now? DId you or did you not reinstall windows 2000

Why wouldn't it let you?

Why did you need to reinstall windows 2000?

I'm not sure what your current state is and what state you want to be in....

[gerryf]

I suspect bad floppy is the reason they didn't copy.

You can certainly adjust the boot order.

What I need to know is where are you now? DId you or did you not reinstall windows 2000

Why wouldn't it let you?

Why did you need to reinstall windows 2000?

I'm not sure what your current state is and what state you want to be in....

[linuxwannabee]

Hi there Gerryf


thanks for the reply. Infact, subsequent to posting this topic I sussed it out. I hadn't realised Win2k also had an option for viewing 'invisible' files as well as system and hidden files (as in Win98). My files were there, believe it or not simply adding the line:

c:\='Microsoft Windows'

at the bottom of the bootloader file, rendered the Win98 installation useable once again.

Simple when you know how, perplexing when you don't.

Meanwhile, another pro has reared it's ugly head - my precious linux partition has been damaged, I think by Norton Disk Doctor, within Symantec Systemworks 2002. I ran it and it reported that there was a problem with the partitioning info on the disk - my suse linux was installed on the unpartitioned space of the d: drive. I instructed Norton to ignore this - but I suspect the damage has been done, because I cannot boot up my linux partition from my floppy, repair my linux installation nor re-install it.

Running FDisk confirmed that Norton has done something - what should have shown up as a non-dos partition, is now being reported as an extended dos partition ... d*** Norton disk doctor for that!

I will be posting this query - how to avoid Norton messing with linux partitions, on the relevant forum area, but if you have any ideas ... GREAT!

Meanwhile, I'll look at Symantec's web site to see what they have to say for themselves

Seems we have to surrender to the will of Windows, all attempts to load other operating systems will be futile

Cheers

LinuxWannabee