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Topic: fatal error with cfdisk

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boogaloo

Group: Members
Posts: 20
Joined: Dec. 2004

Posted: Mar. 21 2005,14:32

I have the latest version of damn small linux. Without being root, cfdisk can't open the partition table. Trying results in a fatal error. If I am root, I can see the partition table. So with root, I repartitioned according to hard drive installation instructions, but when I run the hd install something weird happens and it just quits with no explanation. Then when I try to boot I get "error loading operating system". Any suggestions? thanks in advance.

clivesay

Group: Guests
Posts: 935
Joined: Dec. 2003

Posted: Mar. 21 2005,14:45

My experience is that it is best to create the partitions, format them, reboot and then do your installation. A reboot is sometimes necessary so the partition table can be re-read. You will see that reminder sometimes in cfdisk after you have written your new partition table.

I make my partitions and write the new table then format the partitions like mke2fs /dev/hda1 and make your swap if you have one mkswap /dev/hda5 or whatever the drive number is. I am usually working on very low ram machines so I have to do this procedure to get a clean installation.

Chris

boogaloo

Group: Members
Posts: 20
Joined: Dec. 2004

Posted: Mar. 21 2005,18:46

Is this in any way related to my MBR? Because I'm kinda afraid of that. I actually reinstalled windowsxp to try and fix the MBR, although I dont know if that will fix it. thanks for the help

clivesay

Group: Guests
Posts: 935
Joined: Dec. 2003

Posted: Mar. 21 2005,19:03

Not sure about the mbr question. There is no need to re-install XP just to fix the mbr. If the mbr gets hosed, just spin up your XP cd and hit 'R' to go into the recovery console. Choose your windows install, probably on c:\. Enter your admin password if required. At the prompt, just type fixmbr and hit enter. That should restore it. I have done this many times on my XP Pro install.

Good luck

Chris