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acmurphy1 · Xplorer Joined: 18 Nov 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Bowie, MD

I was using Xandros 3 Deluxe, but decided to upgrade to get the latest version of Skype. My original hard disk also has Windows XP installed. Since that disk was getting low on space, I bought and installed a 320 GB hard disk, made a partition for Windows (for new downloads and programs) and partitions for a new Xandros (4.5 OCE, the SDK-2008.03.03 version) and swap file. I downloaded the ISO file from geek connection, burned it to DVD and installed it on the new hard disk. This was all uneventful, and the installation was successful. I was able to boot to Xandros 4.5 and also to Windows XP on the original hard disk and go back and forth between them. The trouble came when I booted into Xandros 3 on the original hard disk to retrieve some settings for my HP Photosmart printer, that I had forgotten to write down. I couldn't get back to Xandros 4.5. My suspicion is that LILO took over and 4.5 needs GRUB. I had to re-install 4.5 to get it to boot.
What do I do now? I'm not a Linux expert, just an old lady (71) trying to get away from Windows bloatware and non-security. How do I fix things so I can boot to both Xandros 4.5 and Xandros 3, if necessary, and get back to 4.5 afterward? Ironically, there is no problem booting to Windows XP from either LILO or GRUB. The problem, really, seems to be with the earlier version of Xandros.
By the way, my computer is a Dell Dimension 4700, 5 years old, with 2 SATA hard drives, 80 and 320 GB, CD/RW, DVD-ROM, and integrated video and ethernet and external DVD/RW, and backup hard drives.
Thanks for any help you can give me on this problem (in plain English please). Step-by-step directions would be much appreciated.
Thanks again,
Angela C. Murphy

onsa1 · Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2010 1:15 pm Post subject:

When you are running 4.5 you should be able to access 3.0 with Xandros file manager.

onsa
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acmurphy1 · Xplorer Joined: 18 Nov 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Bowie, MD

Did that, but couldn't find the file where the settings I wanted were stored, so I thought I'd just boot in to 3, go to Control Center to find the settings, then go back to 4.5. After all, Xandros 3 Deluxe is on the GRUB boot menu. Yes, I could boot to Xandros 3, but I couldn't get back to 4.5 afterward, and I didn't know what to do short of reinstalling 4.5.
Later, I did use Xandros 4.5 file manager to retrieve some files for my husband and import our Firefox bookmarks from 3.
One other reason to know how to go back and forth: since Xandros 3 Deluxe is on the boot menu, I'm worried that one of us will choose that option accidentally, which would really mess things up.
Angela C. Murphy

mhwelsh · Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2010 8:43 am Post subject: Puss in Boots

An old man's cure to an old ladies problem.
Assuming that your bios is set to look for a CD start before a hdd start.

Put the Xandros disk that you want to boot from in the appropriate drive.
As soon as the CD starts you will see a fleeting legend telling you to hit the shift key I think. Do so and you will get a list of actions to choose from.
Select Restore.
Eventually you will be given a choice of which Xandros you want to restore by partition addresses.
Choose the one you want, answer the questions, they are not all yes, and restore.
With luck and a following wind you will be up and running again.

As a matter of interest Xandros has a sometimes nasty habit of restoring the boot loader of the System that you are using. So if you have been using X3 it may well have restored X3 MBR even though you selected X3 from X4's bootloader. Providing you are aware of this and the restore trick works it is just a nuisance.

martin welsh

acmurphy1 · Xplorer Joined: 18 Nov 2009 Posts: 6 Location: Bowie, MD