iam so new to linux i really dont know which version iam using i some how install it by not able to log into my windows if someone could help me on it?.and iamtrying to install yahoo on linux OS i want to be able use yahoo globe chat also i guess its better install in yahoo messanger can i use globe chat ?.iam ssooooooooooooo new iam not able to do anything .i been navigating all over to know something atleast .please help me guys

When you say you are not able to log into your windows, do you mean getting a desktop in linux that looks somewhat like Microsoft Windows? If so, and you are stuck at a basic command line prompt, enter "startx".

If you mean that you have both Microsoft Windows and linux installed, and you cannot make use of Windows anymore, you have to select Windows during the boot process, assuming that you installed either lilo or grub to allow you to select which OS to start.

Here are some webpage tutorials which may help you learn:

http://www.linux.org/lessons/beginner/toc.html

http://www.linuxlinks.com/Beginners/

http://www.geocities.com/aboutlinux/

http://www.linux-directory.com/newbie/

http://www.linux.ie/newusers/beginners-linux-guide/

http://www.aboutdebian.com/

http://www.reallylinux.com/docs/consult.shtml

yes i had microsoft windows xp installed and i installed linux .now iam not able to see boot option to get into windows.but it asks me for few option when i restart like linux linux fore and onemore like safe**.how to install lilo when i installed linux bigdaddy9.3a .let me gve brief explanation of how i got messed up lol.i downloaded the bigdaddy9.3a.iso then write into cd made cd as my basic boot location and run it.then their was install on desktop i selected a drive change it to linux format from ntfs gave three \home,\root or say \ and swap .it copied and then asked me for user gave users then restarted only linux was found in boot.i used the userguide in the desktop of the live cd version to install.i saw the folder the winxp folders are intact so i guess not formatted also.when i restart iam able to load linux very smooth .but not windowsxp.how do i find what kind of linux i use heheheheeeee.i learn to use kopete and network seeting to connect internet.iam want yahoo to be installed but dont know how to run commands heheheeee.and use voice in yahoo cause other than people use voice to communicate or other wise i need to reset windowsxp.hell of my job messed up .hope someone of u guys can help meplzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

OK--the distribution that you have is "PCLinuxOS" (A good choice)

When you installed, the installer SHOULD have detected the windows installation and set up the bootloaded accordingly.

Do this, and we can help you set up the bootloader configuration to include Windows: Open a terminal, and do this:
Post the output of the last two commands here (copy and paste)

man the command dint display any output how to run this command do i have to copy and paste the command ????.iam new guys and iam so dum heheheeee

[root@localhost ~]# su (switches to root (super user) priveleges)
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `switches'
[root@localhost ~]# fdisk -l ("ell", not "one")
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
[root@localhost ~]# more /boot/grub/menu.lst
/boot/grub/menu.lst: No such file or directory
[root@localhost ~]#
[root@localhost ~]# su (switches to root (super user) priveleges)
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `switches'
[root@localhost ~]# fdisk -l ("ell", not "one")
bash: syntax error near unexpected token `('
[root@localhost ~]# more /boot/grub/menu.lst
/boot/grub/menu.lst: No such file or directory
[root@localhost ~]#

actually iam in root user login only heheheee

The text Pixellany put in parenthesis was not to be placed into the computer, that was just telling you what was going on. The pyhsical commands to put in are:

Since your machine reports that /boot/grub/menu.lst wasn't found, try doing Peace,
JimBass

man this one is working good heheheeee


Disk /dev/hda: 20.0 GB, 20020396032 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 2434 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 493 3959991 83 Linux
/dev/hda2 494 2434 15591082+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda5 494 540 377496 83 Linux
/dev/hda6 552 598 377496 83 Linux
/dev/hda7 610 1827 9783553+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/hda8 1828 2434 4875696 b W95 FAT32
/dev/hda9 599 609 88326 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/hda10 541 551 88326 82 Linux swap / Solaris

now what shall we do guys heheheheeee
help me

OK..
I re-read one of you posts and saw this:
This implies that you selected an ntfs partition and re-formatted it to use with Linus. If so, then Windows is gone.
But--looking at the fdisk output--we see an NTFS partition (#7). This suggests that somehow you changed the partition order....

Let's decode what fdisk is telling you:

#1: Primary partition, ~4GB, marked as bootable, Linux
#2: Extended partition--goes to the end of the disk
#5-10 are logical partitions..
#5 and 6: ~380K each, LInux
#7: ~9.8GB, Windows NTFS
#8: ~4.9GB, FAT32 (can be used by Windows or Linux)
#9 and 10: ~88MB each, Linux swap space

Looking at this, it hard to see how you would have started with Windows XP on the first partition, and then wound up with it on a logical partition.....My guess is that it is gone, but then I cannot visualize what steps you went thru to get here.

Because there are some errors here (eg swap is too small), I would suggest starting over:
Install XP first---tell the installer to create ONE NTFS partition of ~8GB. Leave the rest of the disk empty.
Then install Linux--during the install, create TWO new partitions in the empty space: ~7GB for / and ~1GB for swap. Leave the rest empty.
IF the installer gives you the option, put grub on a floppy. In this way, you will not disturb the windows installation.

If starting over does not appeal to you, then tell us more about how you got here so we can assess whether Windows MIGHT still be there. (And post the grub config file--menu.lst or grub.conf)

Nothing useful to add, sorry, hope everyone can work this out.

For all the posts/questions, etc, here on LQ, about installation problems, I think this is the first time I've saw someone post they have no idea how they installed a version of Linux.

Hopefully you didn't hose your Windows install(although I have my doubts)


IGF

I can empathize--the first time I installed Linux, I barely knew what a partition was--much less a bootloader.

At LQ, I have learned a LOT about how people think and how they react to directions---maybe I'll write a book...

Sorry to go off topic but I'd love to read that book

guys thz for all ur post .iam just trying to have my existing windows on boot thats all.other than that i am learning to use linux i will have too lol cause iam a enterprise solution to be insallted in linux by my hole self lol.

guessing your asking about this

root@localhost ~]# ls /boot/grub/
device.map install.sh* minix_stage1_5 ufs2_stage1_5
e2fs_stage1_5 iso9660_stage1_5 reiserfs_stage1_5 vstafs_stage1_5
fat_stage1_5 jfs_stage1_5 stage1 xfs_stage1_5
ffs_stage1_5 mdv-grub_splash.xpm.gz stage2


please let me know what else i should do .iam learning so gve me step by step process to information from my linux thank you.is my grub not work or installed or active whats the status since iam not able to recover the config file is their any search window for me to search for the file or maybe it uses lilo ? they gve me two choices for bootloader ?does it have something to do with it ?


"IndyGunFreak" dear friend iam learning but i did install without any error for the first time .iam proud of my self .iam trying to figure out the correct step so i can do it next time with out any error .thank you for your comments.

guys please help me pull the windows xp back on boot would be of great help .thank alot for your time guys

guys gve me some update over the issue

i vote you go the route pixellany drew you. windows isn't happy unless it's on the first partition.

You have not answered some of my questions....Specifically, it is hard to believe that Windows is on partition 7 (logical).

If I remember correctly, you said you could get into Linux. because there is no grub config file in /boot/grub, that must mean that you are running with lilo (Someone else will need to help you find the lilo config files....)

If you don't firmly believe that Windows in on hda7, then how about my idea to simply start over?