can't access recovery partition

[insane_alien]

ok, i installed linux in a dual boot with the default XP that came with my R50e. and for a while it was good. then XP went and got tanked by a virus or something. i tried to access the recovery partition by using the "access IBM" and F11 buttons but i only got a little window asking me to select a boot device. i've looked around and i seen that it can be booted via GRUB(the bootloader that came with my distro of linux) so i tried that but i just get a black window which pretty much displays its menu.lst entry then stops. completely.

do you know of any way i can access the recovery partition?

it is still intact at the end of the HDD and has been accessed once before.

[Kyocera]

You need to fix your MBR. Click on the HD Clone link in my sig and read down toward the bottom of the document, repair the f11 function.

[insane_alien]

i've seen that site before and i tried the bootable CD method(twice).

it loaded up and a few lines flashed up on the screen then said some .ini file was missing and dropped to a DOS-prompt. i don't have a usb floppy drive. but i will see if i can pick one up somewhere.