Well zeph I tried your method, I got as far as PRINT is not a command, therefore i got stuck there.Secondly nchellzz, I tried to make the windows partition active by entering the recovery console using the XP cs..i got as far as DISKPART. It wouldn't allow me to list disk, it would only give me the option to either delete or create a partition.So looks like I'm shit out of luck.THX for all your help guys, I don't know what to do next.