After I installed linux on a hardrive with windows xp (i wanted to have a multiboot system, so linux was added in another partition, along with XP), linux would prevent booting from either system. I did have to install, on another hardrive, another XP windows, so that is OK. BUT, The problem is I have data I want to rescue from this first hardrive with the booting (I Think is GRU from Linux)before I format it. I wanted to try another operating system because XP is so unstable, with bugs, etc., crashed often, and is so slow when you even just copy one file to another partition on your system. Please help because I don't know anything aboub LINUX. I have OPENSUSE. DANIELE COHEN

What file system is the partition on which you want to rescue data from? Easiest option may just be to use a live cd distro like knoppix and copy the data over or burn a cd/dvd with that.

Thank you for answering. Well, It was first WINDOWS XP, then I wanted to add the linux OPENSUSE, and then that was when I got stocked. The boot didn't install correctly, and then the hardrive could not be accessed from either operating system. I know the data is still there. I need to destroy the boot or the systems in this hardrive to access the data. But I don't know how. Thanks again for helping me. DANIELE COHEN

Have you tried to boot from your Windows XP cd? You can then enter the repair console and use the FIXMBR command! Or, you can use a DOS boot disc and type in fdisk /mbr.

If Stache post does not work, more infor would be helpful. (DOS boot disc= Win98 www.bootdisk.com) 1) hdd size , size of the two partitions ? 2) on the XP partition- is it NTFS or FAT32 file system ? (if you do not know -use a Win98 boot diskette and run FDISK -yes to large disk support- select option #4 post results)