gcc, kernel-headers and "OS not found"

[HedAche]

Hey all,

I run dual boot with RH8 and XP Pro. I wanted to install some software last nite in RH. Downloaded the software, tried to install and found that I had no version of gcc installed. So off I go and get gcc and all required dependencies (glibc-devel, kernel-headers etc) (all latest stable versions)

The installs all go ok and I was smiling - this wasnt as bad as last time I tried to install some software, I thought. Must be growing out of my n00b stage....

Then I turn off the pc. Turn it on about an hour later and before GRUB boot loader appears I get a message from the pc saying "Operating System not found".

Eventually sorted the problem out by using boot disc to get in and then uninstalled the relevant bits.

Does anybody have a clue as to what might have happened? My suspicion is that the kernel-headers package I downloaded was the wrong version or something (can't remember what version it was exactly). Could this explain what went wrong?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[mdwatts]

"Operating System not found" indicates that either the boot record is missing or the incorrect partition has been set as active.

Any other changes you made that could have overwritten the boot record etc.?

[HedAche]

the only changes made were the ones i described -

i tried to install gcc, installed the dependencies (glibc-devel & kernel-headers), then gcc. they were the only things i did at the command line apart until i turned the pc off.

at no stage did i screw around with the boot record or /etc/fstab or anything like that. which i why im :confused:

[mdwatts]

Sorry as I have no idea unless one of the kernel related packages you installed changed something in the boot loader config.