sorry it was a root password problem

output from fdisk
dev/hda 40.0GB 40020664320
255 heads, 63 sectors/tracks 4865 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512= 8225280 bytes

boot start End Blocks Id
/dev/hda1 * 1 765 6144831 b Win95 FAT32
/dev/hda2 766 3571 22539195 f Win95 Etd (LBA)
.dev.hda5 766 3571 22539163+ b Win95 FAT32

Does this help?

I still can't see why I would get a "partition table inconsistent" warning.

I suspect that there will be a relatively simple work around but I would like to understand.

Thank you for the help so far - it is appreciated

Alan