Boot loader... does't recognize kernals

[Eric]

I have an AthlonXP processor computer @ 1.6GHz multi-
booted w/ Mandrake Linux 9.1, RedHat Linux 8.0, Windows
2000 Professional, and Windows 2000 Server. I use the
linux boot loader to choose my OS, but I still have to use
the Windows bootloader to choose 2k Pro or 2k Server.
There seems to be a conflict here, though, because every
now and then the Windows boot loader ("OS choices menu")
says that one or the other of the 2k kernals
(/WINNT/system32/NTOSKRNL) has been deleted. This is not
the case, but it seems to think so. I've dealt with this
in the past by reinstalling the unaccessable OS until it
decides to work. (Often I end up with two choices for the
same one, because it fails to delete the choice before it
adds the choice with the reinstallation and reformatting,
if you follow me) But the point is, I'm tired of
reinstalling my OS's, and the OS choices menu isn't
functioning properly (Like it ever did), and I need help.
And tips?
Cheers,
ES

 

[Michael McCartney [MSFT]]

The partition numbers are being rendered invalid because they are being
dynamically altered. The error telling you that you are missing an ntoskrnl
is actually quite misleading. The most common cause is that the boot.ini
for that os is no longer pointing to a valid partition. The microsoft boot
loader (ntldr) was designed to be the only owner of the root partition
table. If the partition table becomes altered by another loader then you
will see this. The problem has been a common one with third party boot
loaders but most third party loaders like partition magic and system
commander jump through flaming magical hoops to keep the ms partition
numbers consistent or to update them. The setback is that LILO (the linux
boot loader) does not. If you use LILO to alter the partitions then you
will find this to happen every time. If you know what the partition number
LILO shifted the existing partitions to is you can simply modify the
boot.ini for the MS OS to point to that partition numbers. If not then you
will have to change the partition number via eenie-meenie-mineee-moe.