[paulanthony]

Im going to cry.

I downloaded a new version of Linux. Mint it was called. I ran the LiveCD, and decided to install it. Dual boot, it looks like fun I said.

Except it wasnt.

My machine refused to boot into GRUB. so no bootloader. No Linux. No Windows. Just the LiveCD. Can't find my Windows CD either. Bollocks.

Ok not a problem. Just fix the MBR somehow. Do a quick Google on the laptop, found a GRUBSuperCD that looked like it would do the job. Nada. Meanwhile I booted back into Linux with the LiveCD and tried to reinstall - thinkin it would fix the MBR. Asked me stuff about partitions. I messed around with said partitions until it would install again. I think ive just deleted my fucking Windows partition.

Now im freaking out.
The computer now blankly sits with GRUB _ flashing. Fuckery. The linux distro is so new, that the support forum is as empty as Jordan's knicker drawer.

Advice / Sympathy from anyone who cares please.

[freelancr]

Right, have you just deleted the windows partition or formatted/installed over it too? If you have just deleted the partition without writing any data where it was, then you may be able to recover it using some software from OnTrack. I accidently deleted the partition on my external hard drive when reinstalling windows, luckily I was able to recover it as deleting the partition doesn't destroy the data, just the index.

To do this I would recommend finding another desktop computer (or hard drive), and put the windows drive in as a slave/secondary drive. Install OnTrack on the primary drive (or other computer), and use it to scan the drive to see if it can recover it. Do not use this drive, as you probably will overwrite your data.

As far as Linux goes, I have tried dozens of different distributions (32 and 64 bit), and NOTHING has come close to the Ubuntu family. Because of the sheer popularity of it you will find answers to any problems you encounter as someone will have written a blog or wiki entry about it, it is probably the most compatible Linux distro for hardware driver support. I would avoid 64bit Linux distributions because things never work as well as 32bit, and such a small percentage of users bother with it, so things never get fixed. I prefer to download and install Kubuntu because I prefer the KDE desktop. The Gnome desktop is fucking useless if you have more than 3 windows open.

Also, the installation procedure is all GUI and quite smart so it won't let you accidentally wipe your windows partition unless you are a complete muppet.

[paulanthony]

I've just deleted the partition I think. Managed to find my Windows Disk. However because of the sata drivers, its being a cunto. I've managed to find the download I need, but my laptop has no floppy disk drive, so the program I've downloaded from Dell doesn't work.

Anyone care to do the needful and email me the files? Pretty please?

Drivers and Downloads

[freelancr]

Do not install anything on that drive, it will write over anything that could be recovered using OnTrack. The windows installation will not try to recover the files, nor will it be able to detect them as the partition you used to have no longer exists.

For your own sanity I would recommend plugging the drive into another computer, or installing windows on another drive then use OnTrack on the drive you need to restore.

What is your address, and why would e-mailing you the files achieve anything?

[freelancr]

I think there may be a live cd Linux Distro that has data recovery utilities on it, it may be able to restore the partition you deleted without writing any of its linux files to the drive.

[paulanthony]

im downloading "INSERT" as we speak...might do the trick. If not, i dont know if i can be fucked with it, might just do a fresh install.

Can you get me the floppy files freelancr?

[freelancr]

Originally Posted by paulanthony

Can you get me the floppy files freelancr?

whats your email address, and I don't understand how emailing them to you would be any different to you downloading them yourself?

[paulanthony]

Problem lies in me not having a floppy drive - the installer requires one. paul @ webdistortion.com please

[freelancr]

Originally Posted by paulanthony

Problem lies in me not having a floppy drive - the installer requires one. paul @ webdistortion.com please

Yes, so how on earth do you expect me to email you a floppy drive?

I am going to be downloading the file from my web browser, and sending it to you via email, for you to receive it in your inbox (instead of via your browser). I will send it anyway. Just fail to see the point? You wont be able to access the SATA driver from the windows installer unless you have a floppy drive, so the method of which you download it makes no difference.

[freelancr]

for fucks sake gmail won't let me send the .exe, so I zip it up, it wont let me send the zip, so I rename it, and it wont let me send that

fuck it I give up.

[paulanthony]

Originally Posted by freelancr

Yes, so how on earth do you expect me to email you a floppy drive?

I dont - I just thought maybe you could use your floppy drive to extract the files from the exe. Obviously I cant get access to the files I needed.

Just fail to see the point? You wont be able to access the SATA driver from the windows installer unless you have a floppy drive, so the method of which you download it makes no difference.

I have a floppy drive on the machine that is borked. Plan is to copy the files out of the archive, onto USB pen or CD-ROM, boot to DOS, write floppy disk from the borked machine.

Its ok. I phoned my cousin to do what I need. Thanks anyway.