Need to erase MBR

  • Thread starter Thread starter ralf
  • Start date Start date
R

ralf

How do I erase an MBR partition? I want to re-install XP pro, but it keeps
coming up with something like NTLR not found. I did re-format my C drive.
Forgot about hidden partitions. Need to find.
Thanks
 
How do I erase an MBR partition? I want to re-install XP pro, but it keeps
coming up with something like NTLR not found. I did re-format my C drive.
Forgot about hidden partitions. Need to find.
Thanks
Click to expand...

You can use the repair console IIRC,
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repair_xp.htm
How to repair boot sector.
HTH :)



--
Free Windows/PC help,
http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/trouble.html
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This re-format and re-install caught me by surprise. Not easy. Well I'm
watching a little closer now so I can give better error info as I go thruogh
this.

Thanks Shep for the reply. I used FDISK on my HD. Then set my primary dos
partition to the full size of my HD (6.4 gigs). Then inserted my Winxp pro
disk, and it formated (fat32 quick), and loaded a bunch of files and
rebooted. Then got this 2 line message after the reboot...

Couldn't open drive multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)
NTLDR: Couldn't open drive multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)

And there I sit. Can't go nowhere else. Help?
 
How do I erase an MBR partition? I want to re-install XP pro, but it keeps
coming up with something like NTLR not found. I did re-format my C drive.
Forgot about hidden partitions. Need to find.
Thanks
Click to expand...

There is no such thing as a MBR partition.

How are you doing the install? You should be booting with the XP CD
and doing the partitioning and formatting from there. If you need
special drive controller drivers, there is a prompt where you can load
them from floppies.
 
This re-format and re-install caught me by surprise. Not easy. Well I'm
watching a little closer now so I can give better error info as I go thruogh
this.

Thanks Shep for the reply. I used FDISK on my HD. Then set my primary dos
partition to the full size of my HD (6.4 gigs). Then inserted my Winxp pro
disk, and it formated (fat32 quick), and loaded a bunch of files and
rebooted. Then got this 2 line message after the reboot...

Couldn't open drive multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)
NTLDR: Couldn't open drive multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)

And there I sit. Can't go nowhere else. Help?
Click to expand...

First, throw away fdisk. Use the partitioning functions of the
bootable XP CD. Either that or pay more attention to the drive
letters that XP is using when it formats the drive.

1. Boot with the XP CD.
2. Delete all the partitions
3. Create a single partition and format it (NTFS strongly advisable).
4. Let it finish installation. Unless you need special HDD
Controller drivers, there should be no problem.
 
This re-format and re-install caught me by surprise. Not easy. Well I'm
watching a little closer now so I can give better error info as I go thruogh
this.

Thanks Shep for the reply. I used FDISK on my HD. Then set my primary dos
partition to the full size of my HD (6.4 gigs). Then inserted my Winxp pro
disk, and it formated (fat32 quick), and loaded a bunch of files and
rebooted. Then got this 2 line message after the reboot...

Couldn't open drive multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)
NTLDR: Couldn't open drive multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)

And there I sit. Can't go nowhere else. Help?
Click to expand...

Download and make this ISO into a bootable CDR,
http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/bootd.zip
readme included.
Boot to it and issue the command
aefdisk /delall
and press Enter.
This will remove ALL partitions.
Re-boot to XP disk and re-partition and re-format and install.
HTH :)



--
Free Windows/PC help,
http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/trouble.html
It's a G not a J in gmx for email
Free songs download,
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/nomessiahsmusic.htm
 
How do I erase an MBR partition? I want to re-install XP pro, but it keeps
coming up with something like NTLR not found. I did re-format my C drive.
Forgot about hidden partitions. Need to find.
Thanks
Click to expand...

fdisk /mbr
 
My fix: Get a boot disk from win98. Get to "A" propmt. Type "fdisk". A
question will popup asking to set your HD to large size, say "NO". Then
Fdisk all partitions. Get back to "A" propmt. Type "fdisk /mbr". Done. Pull
diskette and Put in XP cd and reboot. Fixed.

Why is it fixed? Because I typed in "Yes" for enlarged hard drive in fdisk
and I deleted all aprtitions in fdisk then set my HD up as one partition in
fdisk. That was a no no. Let windows xp do it when I get over there. And
don't use quick format. No short cuts. Thanks Guys for your help.
 
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