Plz help Windows Xp Gone after installing Ubuntu 7.10

[saurabh kakkar]

Hi
I Have just installed Ubuntu 7.10 on my pata Hdd which already contained windows Xp and Windows 98 i.e I tried to tipple boot My sys I had successfully Done this earlies But Now My Windows Xp is not Working though my windows 98 and ubuntu is working perfectly .
My windows Xp is Giving this error :
Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

I know this can be rectified by this method :
Booingt using Windows Setup CD and enter into "Recovery Console" by pressing "R". Now Log into windows installation and enter admin password. Now give following commands at prompt:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
Del C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot

But the problem is that whenever i try to boot the sys using windows Xp Cd
After showing the folloing msg black screens apperars :
Windows is scanning ur sys hardware configuration

Can someone suggest me How can i recover my windows Xp ?

[techtronic]

Go to cd /boot/grub/menu.lst and check whether there is an entry for Windows XP SP 2.If its not available add it ;)

[amitava82]

There might me some problem with ur XP CD. Try other CD.

[T159]

But the problem is that whenever i try to boot the sys using windows Xp Cd
After showing the folloing msg black screens apperars :


u messed up with system volume (where boot.ini and other system files were installed)

[saurabh kakkar]

^^ Oks if My system volume is messed plz help me to rectify this

[shady_inc]

This is a common error if you installed ubuntu on a primary partition.Fortunately the solution is very easy.Just need to edit your boot.iniwhich you can find in C:\.Can you post it's contents here.?

[MetalheadGautham]

or just try repairing the MBR using win xp cd, then fix the OS, then reinstall grub to detect all three OSes.

[praka123]

in xp,start menu>run :run "cmd" inside.once dos CLI is available run below command.
notepad C:\boot.ini
post the o/p here.

[T159]

or just try repairing the MBR using win xp cd, then fix the OS, then reinstall grub to detect all three OSes.
yup

in xp,start menu>run :run "cmd" inside.once dos CLI is available run below command.
notepad C:\boot.inipost the o/p here.
most probably he's missing one

[shady_inc]

most probably he's missing one
Even I had faced the same error after installing Ubuntu.But changing the partition no. of XP in boot.ini from 0 to 1 worked for me.

@ saurabh kakkar: Here's a great solution to your problem::p
[boot loader]
timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(5)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP" /fastdetect

Just paste this code in your boot.ini replacing the old content.At start-up you will see 5 instences of WinXP.One of them will certainly work.After you get to boot in XP, clear out the invalid boot paths from msconfig.:D

[praka123]

^very logical one! :D

[T159]

yep, nifty soultion :D

[saurabh kakkar]

Even I had faced the same error after installing Ubuntu.But changing the partition no. of XP in boot.ini from 0 to 1 worked for me.

@ saurabh kakkar: Here's a great solution to your problem::p
[boot loader]
timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(5)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP" /fastdetect

Just paste this code in your boot.ini replacing the old content.At start-up you will see 5 instences of WinXP.One of them will certainly work.After you get to boot in XP, clear out the invalid boot paths from msconfig.:D

thanks man this method has rectified my problem :)

regards
saurabh kakkar

[Ross]

......But the problem is that whenever i try to boot the sys using windows Xp Cd After showing the folloing msg black screens apperars...... Hi, i had the same problem. what to do when this happens..(i mean then how can we reach 'Recovery Console'..??)??? does anybody know why this happens???