Need BIGTIME Computer HELP!!

[KoRn]

***NOTE***

My PC ran Linux great before what you are about to read.

I recently upgraded the BIOS on my PC. After I upgraded my BIOS I can't run Linux. When I power on, the message shows:

BIOS DATA CHECK OK, BOOTING KERNEL

---At this point the system reboots----

I tried reinstalling Linux, and the same thing happens when I run the install CD. I also tried running "Damn Small limux" from the install CD and the same thing happened, so I'm at a loss.

If anyone out there can offer any asistance, I would be forever in your debt, because I'm condemed to the world of Windows until I can resolve this matter.

PLEASE HELP!!!!

[Ex-Dem]

Did you try to reinstall LILO or GRUB or whatever you use as a bootloader? (btw, I've found that LinuxQuestions.com is pretty useful in cases like this...)

[birbear]

Buy a Mac.

[KoRn]

I had been using Lilo to dual boot(wife uses Windwos), but it won't even get that far.

[KoRn]

Mac is good, I won't deny, but I like my Mandrake 10.1

[spunkets]

"I had been using Lilo to dual boot...

Can you boot Windows?

[Ex-Dem]

Lol, is this you?

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=262562

Hopefully someone will be able to help you out.

[this_ol_patriot]

A stab is the dark..geometry mismatch? Upgrading BIOS can change hard disk geometry, did you check the BIOS settings?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=linux++geometry+mismatch+hard+disk

[birbear]

Actually I only said it because that seems to be the first response to any PC/Windows related question on FR.

I haven't had any problems (knock on wood) with Windows 98 or Windows XP. But then, I'm a pretty simple user running pretty standard applications and I don't tweak my system much if any.

If I was a techno-geek, I'd probably be more interested in Linux. I ran it on a laptop I had. It worked. I wasn't particularly wowed by it, but then I didn't mess with the guts of it much to really see what it could do.

As far as Macs go, the new iMac G5 looks pretty spiffy. If I had an extra $1500 and the room to do it justice I'd snag one.

[Ex-Dem]

Oh, btw, what's the version on that kernel you're using?

[KoRn]

ROFLMAO!!!

That was my post asking for help.

Good find.

[KoRn]

" Can you boot Windows?"

I can boot to Windows just fine, that tells me there's something about this BIOS upgrade Linux didn't like/

[JenB]

Any chance it's your hard drive that's fried? Mine died recently and the symptoms were kind of similar, though not quite the same.

[KoRn]

I will look into that! Thanks.

[KoRn]

I'm using Windows now on the same system right now, my HD is fine.

[JenB]

Heh, well, then that's good news, at least.

Sorry, I'm a computer geek but Linux is not my specialty. I'd try installing a different kernel but you said the boot cd doesn't work?

[KoRn]

I believe it is 2.6.8.1

[Ex-Dem]

Ok, now I'm confused. How are you getting it to boot into Windows if you said that Lilo isn't working? Are you getting to the Lilo screen, and then after you select Linux, it reboots?

[KoRn]

"but you said the boot cd doesn't work?"

Yeah, the CD's don't even work, that's what's so troubling...HAS to be an issue with the BIOS upgrade. I've learned a valuable lesson from this. Don't upgrade the BIOS unless YOU HAVE TO. If it aint broke don't fix it.....

[KoRn]

I reformatted the HD as a part of troubleshooting. I installed Windows on a partition like it was when things went wrong.