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Old 06-20-2007, 03:21 AM   #1
Planet-Zhar
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Screen goes to "grub>" black screen after trying to merge 2 drives


Hi all,

I really need help in this area. Previously, I've installed Fedora Core 6 on my Dell laptop. Prior to that, I've partitioned the disks into 2 using Partition Magic 8.0. If I remembered correctly, I chose install another OS. There were no problems. For FC6, I chose Linux Ext2 instead of FAT32. After I created this space, I installed FC6 and made the GRUB bootloader to load WinXP as my default. Thus everytime I switched on my computer, the GRUB bootloader would display "Loading WinXP in 5.. 4.. 3.. 2.. 1.."
However, since I seldom use FC6, and since I needed more disk space, I tried to merge back the Linux disk space into my C:\ (WinXP) using the Partition Magic software. I chose the option Merge Partitions after I formatted the Linux Ext2 to be FAT32, as this option can only merge partitions of FAT or FAT32 type. However, this operation went horribly wrong and now I'm stuck at the black screen which only shows me a black screen with the following display:

GNU GRUB version 0.97 (638K lower / 260544K upper memory)

[ Minimal BASH-like line editing is supported. For the first word, TAB lists possible command completions. Anywhere else TAB lists the possible completions of a device/filename.]

grub>

When I typed "root (hd0,0)", I got "Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0xce".
However, when I typed "root (hd0,1)", I got "Filesystem type is fat, partition type 0x1c".
Also, when I typed "find /vmlinuz", the display read "Error 15: File not found"

Is there a way I can save this situation?

Many thanks in advace.
 
Old 06-20-2007, 03:48 AM   #2
saikee
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Task B1 or B2 of my last link of the signature refers.
 
Old 06-20-2007, 04:03 AM   #3
Planet-Zhar
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Erm, sorry, I really have no idea what you are talking about. Care to elaborate what signature and what task B1 or B2 you're referring to? Thanks in advance.
 
Old 06-20-2007, 04:05 AM   #4
Planet-Zhar
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My apologies. I swear your signature didn't turn up before I posted my reply. Only after I posted it did the link appear. =(
 
Old 06-20-2007, 04:46 AM   #5
saikee
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Basically you have nuked Fedora and destroyed the residence of Grub. Under the normal circumstance Grub will not be able to operate.

However you are using Partition Tragic and have not formatted the Fedora space yet. Therefore the "hardcoded" hard disk address of Grub's stage2 can still be accessed to allow Grub interpret your command at the Grub prompt.

As you no longer use Linux and has no home for Grub then the logical step is to overwrite Grub with a Wndows MBR. Up to Vista all Windows and Dos share the same MBR and so a Dos floppy can also be used to restore the MBR of a XP.

Actually your Grub can still boot XP by commands
Code:
root (hd0,0)
chailoader +1
boot
I am assuming your XP is in the first partition which is usually the case.

Your Grub will eventually die when the partition is filled thereby the new data will overwrite Grub's stage2 file.
 
  


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