Ixthusdan

For clarity, the installer is not detecting the sata drive after you have made the changes? Despite being "ide", the drive will still be "sdx" in its form, rather then "hdx." Try mounting the drive. "mount /dev/sda /mnt/windows" where root has created a mount point in /mnt called "windows." Syntax for /etc/fstab may be something like "/dev/sda /mnt/windows ntfs auto 0 0" if you have plugged into sata0 on your board. If not, then sata1 would probably be sdb, sata 2 would be sdc, and so on.

Set your bios to identify the sata drives as ide. It may indicate something like turn on raid but have individual control of the sata drives.

Windows: If you are fussy, make a partition for the os and page file(10G). The page file always needs space in order for Windows to work. People frequently do not know why they have trouble when they still have x space left. They have crowded the page file. Make a second partition for everything else, including the documents folder and programs. (50 or more G) This way you could improve security and also not have the system stop working if you fill the drive. Always use ntfs for these two partitions. Linux: I use ext3 or Reiser. Any journaling file system is best. I do not use varied fs for different partitions. (Why?) Mandriva does not need a /boot. Not many do anymore. I have a /, /home. and /usr. / is 6G. /home is 20G, and /usr is 30G. I use vfat for trading data, although I have not experienced anything bad using ntfs tools for looking at windows. I never look at Linux from windows. With windows, what is not known is always a danger. I use Linux to look at windows. Oh, the swap on my system is 512MB and is never ever used for anything. I have 2G of RAM.

Before you begin, back up your data. Anytime you mess with partitions, the most common result is lost data. It can work, but do not under-estimate the risk. In order to move data, or change a file system, there should be a usable free space. Partitioning tools can do it sometimes, but it is not safe. (back up your data) There is no reason to renumber partitions. If you created one in between other existing partitions, that would have renumbered them. I am not certain the software did anything unusual. I recommend you buy another drive, or buy a 1G flash drive. Then you can move your data and replace it as you need. What does it do when you say, "windows does not boot"? Would you post your /etc/fstab?

Choose one system to be the master for the boot loader. I usually use Mandriva. Then I write the lines I need to boot the system, whether grub or lilo. You can look at the sample grub record in the /boot directory of the non-master system, if you are unsure of their syntax. But this is how I boot as many as 5 os's on the same machine.

Two things: 1) there should be a menu.lst. The example one is not the running menu list. If it does not exist, there is a problem. 2) My best guess is that your grub entry should be (hd0, 2) everywhere it says (hd0,4) You should make sure that the running file says this. You could edit the example, and rename it. Rememebr to be the ropot user in order to make these edits.

Thanks. What does your hard drive look like in windows? How many letters show up?

To mount the partition every time, add an entry into /etc/fstab dev/devicelocation /mnt/foldername ntfs defaults 0 0

No questions are silly. When I first started fiddling with Linux, I did not find this sight for many months, and I almost tossed it out of frustration! :lol: Please tell me more abut your hardware. What is the motherboard? What are your devices?

No, it's something I should have spotted 2 days ago when I responded to it. :P

Please do not call people names in any of our forums. Express your opnion without personal attackes upon other members.

Please stick to the topic of this help forum. If you have resolved your problem, then thank those who helped you. If you still have a problem with your system, then state what you have tried and ask for further assistance. If you wish to make commentary about your preferences for windows, please post in the thread I started for you in Everything Linux. Do not post such opinion in the help sections of the board. And please edit your remarks here and post them in the appropriate forum. Here is a link in case you need help finding it.

Please post your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.

I am a bit ambivalent when it comes to the stuff that Ubuntu is doing. On the one hand, it puts Linux in the spot light; but on the other hand, Ubuntu is using some slightly dishonest tactics. I don't think that Linux should emulate the Microsoft business model.

I'm sorry, but your description is too short and I do not understand. Please state step-by-step what the error is and what you are doing to fix it. Also, what is your hardware? Wireless keyboard?

I wanted to explain to all of you that this thread originated in a help forum. I inadvertently fed it. I apologized for going off-topic in that forum, split the thread, and moved the non-help portion here for all to enjoy. :P

Whether or not you are impressed with "whizzing posts" is your own problem. I do not have your experience and can only speak from my years of servicing the product that you admire, Windows. Don't get me wrong; as long as Microsoft keeps producing their buggy software, I have a business servicing it. So I say "go for it." But as far as comparisons to Linux, you clearly are over your head. How else can anyone explain an hourglass which you can't figure out proving the superiority of Windows? Uhhhh, how can facts be insults? They are just facts, yes?

I apologize to all for responding to a help topic inappropriately. I have split the posts that do not belong and started a "Windows is better than Linux" thread in Everything Linux. The help forums should be kept clean of such opinion bashing, as I should know.

Safe computing is next, where only MS software is "safe."

Microsoft software is buggy, buggy, buggy. Your impression is orchestrated by the money they spend in PR, and money that they do not spend on development. Even in a comparison with Linux, Microsoft only comes out ahead after eliminating many bugs as "not significant." Microsoft has not developed a new concept in 10 years. They have taken much from others, including open source. Frankly, I would trade an hourglass for reinstalling due to virus or failure any day. ;) Let's see, paid developers. Well, I guess they could do a good job if they were actually allowed to develop! You see, they develop the product in secret enclaves with forbidden communication among each other. The reason Vista took more the 2 years longer to release (and it is still busted) is that every time they tried to put it all together, it would not run. Sounds like any development, doesn't it? Any development except that they release the product, collect the cash, and still try to fix it. No, I don't see the slump that you see. I do see Linux attempting to promote a standard that is not found at Redmond, WA. As far as their QA, again, I disagree that they are anything to emulate. What they do have is an enormous fortune to spend on PR. Windows is buggy, prone to failure, and not something to count on in computing.

Yes, but if the kernel were all the fault then it seems both would have similar errors. At any rate, it is not a show stopper, but it is annoying.

I can see both sides to this, but if Grub is not at fault, why does lilo not have the same problem? Something is different. At any rate, none of it is unsolvable; and it makes it fun, doesn't it?? :D

With wireless, if the native Linux driver does nothing, you can always use ndiswrapper, which utilizes the windows driver. DWL-122: According to what I read briefly, ndiswrapper will work with this device.

You must install the boot loader onto the MBR (Master Boot Record) of your primary drive. This is usually the drive that contains the windows partition and is the first boot device. You probably installed it onto he Linux "root" partition, which will not get you anywhere. Put your disk back in, boot to the recovery console (it is a menu option) and install the boot loader to the MBR. Then you will be able to choose which you want to boot. Welcome to MUB and welcome to Linux!

With newer setups, including PCIe and duo-core cpu's, the power supply is critical. I recommend replacing that, rather than risking damage to the new equipment. On the other hand, a good power supply performs above its minimum rating.