I installed (with difficulty) linux mandrake 8.2, the linux boot manager messed up w2000, which I re installed, eventually getting to the stage of ......., boot to linux boot manager, choose windows, get windows boot manager choice of w98 or w2000 all systems worked, but partition magic does'nt. I (upon advice) trashed lilo (fdisk /mbr) but since then I have only been able to get back into installation (boot disk do'nt work) & in installation I get so far & it says to make new boot disk, but then doesn't let me do or, or continue. I think I have to find a way to clear linux & get back to where I sarted, but how?

I understand you're unable to boot into your linux system at all? If that's the case, try this. I did that just today myself with the slackware install cd, cause I messed up my kernel image by accident. Boot some kind of linux system, for example your install prog. Try to get to a shell prompt (try ctrl-alt-f2/f3). Mount your linux root partition: mkdir /myroot mount /dev/hda3 /myroot Where hda3 is your root partition. Then chroot into that, to make sure you're using your real system's stuff: chroot /myroot If you need to mount any other partitions (say, /boot), you can run "mount -a". You now have access to your normal system and can attempt to repair it. If you don't know where to start, here's a quick start for creating a proper linux boot floppy: Create a new text file somewhere, as a lilo config file, for example /root/my.lilo.conf. Put the following files into it: boot = /dev/fd0 lba32 image = /boot/vmlinuz label = linux root = /dev/hda3 read-only Note 1: /boot/vmlinuz is the name of the kernel image you want to use. The name and/or location may differ on your system. Note 2: /dev/hda3 is the root partition to use, i.e. the same that you used above. Once the config file is saved and ready, put a blank floppy disk into your drive, and run: lilo -C /root/my.lilo.conf Note the upper case 'C'. Also use the right config file name (doh). After that, you should be able to properly boot into your linux sys from the floppy disk. Then you can attemt to set up more sophisticated boot methods. Before you reboot to try it out, make sure you unmount your root partition again: exit umount /myroot

thanks for the reply dfx. I'm totally new to Linux, so all's a bit strange at the moment, I have printed off your reply and will have another go tommorrow. will let you know the results. cheers, Vic

ok. got a # prompt at ctrl alt f2 following message... "mounting /dev/hda3 on /myroot as type ext2, options, running: fsck ext2-a /dev/hda3. fsck ext2: Attempt to read block from filesystem resulted in short read while trying to open /dev/hda3 Could this be a zero legth partition ? fsck failed with exit code 8 or signal 0 at /usr/bin/perl -install/fs.pm line 640" ----------------- when I try ctrl alt f3 "suceeded isofs. Linux Mandrake CD found. good news ! total memory 192 Mbs. mounting /dev/ram3 on tmp/stage2 as type ext2." after that a load of error messages, missing files, warnings etc. finishing with..., "starting step. select language."