I'm new to linux and changing code to boot new OS. I have inspiron 4150, <2ghz intel, 30gb hdd. I have XP on hdd as well and do not have any partitions that I know of. I'm trying to use the frugal install instructions on puppylinux.org to make this work. I read other similar threads on LQ.org to try and fix problem first but no luck. I have a folder (C\boot) that contains:
grubinstall
menu
stage1
stage2

my psubdir (mylupu) contains:
boot.cat
initrd
isolinux (BIN file)
lsolinux.cfg
logo.16
lupu_511.sfs
vmlunuz

My menu.lst currently reads:

# Boot menu configuration file
# Boot automatically after 10 seconds

timeout 10

default 0

title mylupu 5.1.1 (on /dev/hda1)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /mylupu/vmlinuz psubdir=mylupu pkeys=us
initrd /mylupu/initrd

When starting laptop i have choice to select XP or puppy. I select puppy and have choice on next black and white screen to select mylupu 5.1.1. I select mylupu 5.1.1 and get:

Booting 'mylupu 5.1.1 (on /dev/hda1)'
root (hd0,0)
Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0xde
kernel/mylupu/vmlinuz psubdir=mylupu pkeys=us
Error 17: cannot mount selected partition

Do I have to partition my hard drive to get this to work? Can I provide more information to give you a better idea of what's going on? Assistance is much appreciated.

The grub that you install is it the grub dos version that works with windows? And where is the root files system for your linux distro? I've never used puppy linux how ever I would still recommend creating a dedicated partition for your linux distro. If windows is taking up the whole harddrive then you will have to resize it. Also is your harddrive a ide or sata? if it is sata then you should be using /dev/sda1

Hi dasjr7

I googled partition type 0xde and came up with "Dell Diagnostic partition" whatever that is.
As I don't have a Dell computer I can't have anything more than a guess to the layout of your disk, there may be other partitions than the one used by XP.
Can you try running puppy from a CD or memory stick (the way it was designed for) and get the output of "fdisk -l" (lower case L)

Martin