Need help screwing with partitions

I had three partitions on my computer:

a Windows 2000 partition       (ntfs) (hda1)
a Kubuntu partition            (ext3) (hda2)
a Kubuntu swap partition       (swap) (hda3)
{}  (blank)                    (n/a ) (hda4)
 L and a Windows XP partition  (ntfs) (hda5)

I Booted into a Kubuntu LiveDVD so that I could use GParted to erase the Windows 2000 partition and use it as a media partition.

I reformatted the win 2000 partion (hda1) into ntfs, but it was set as the active partition. I thought that if I used GParted to set the active partition to the Windows XP one (hda5), then I could boot into windows xp and move over all my media to the now-blank partition.

But when I get into the boot screen and I try to boot into windows I get an error message saying "Some systemfiles are missing, insert a system diskette to continue". Or something to that effect.

I can still boot into Kubuntu just fine, I just want to be able to boot into windows XP.

Which species of Windows bootloader were you unwisely relying on, in the first place?

I installed Win 2000 first, then XP, then Kubuntu, so I guess I'm using the one that comes with Kubuntu. Does that help?

I don't know which bootloader K uses; however, it may be confused when you moved the active partition.  Check its config and get back with us.

You erased the bootloader from the first partition while you were at it. I don't know what Kubuntu uses but it's likely grub.

Boot with your live cd, mount hda2 and look around in the boot/ directory on that partition. There should still be a config file named grub.conf or menu.lst, possibly in a subdirectory called boot/grub/.

Read up on how grub works and then

a) remove the Windows 2000 entry from its config file (since you erased it, you no longer need it in the boot menu) and
b) reinstall grub in the master boot record of hda.

I don't think you should tell Linux that you're fucking around with Windows.

>>6
Well I am not 'fucking around with windows.' You have no right to address me in such a rude, impolite, and unacceptable manner. I will be calling the site admins to request disciplinary action on you guys. The one named 'RedCream' is the worst, he is always annoying me and being rude and insulting. This rudeness is intolerable, and it simply will not be tolerated.

>>5
I'm having some trouble reinstalling Grub to the master boot record.

(´^ิω＾ิ)

I tried to follow the instructions here (http://www.sorgonet.com/linux/grubrestore/), but this is what I get:


grub> root (hd0,1)

Error 22: No such partition

grub> find /boot/grub/stage1

Error 15: File not found

grub> setup (hd0)

Error 12: Invalid device requested

grub>

>>7
Hahaha, oh wow.

>>10
I'm just taking an educated guess but it looks like your partition table might be corrupt.

Start 'fdisk /dev/hda' and on the following prompt press p and enter. Post the output here. Exit fdisk with q and enter.

XXXXXXXXXX@XXXXXXXX-desktop:~$ fdisk /dev/hda

Unable to open /dev/hda


This is what I get when I enter the command in my knoppix livecd and in kubuntu.

>>12

Lrn2linux

Either your hard drive is not an IDE drive (SATA?) or you got a problem.