overwritten my MBR

  • Thread starter Thread starter dave the second
  • Start date Start date
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dave the second

It crashed when I tried to post this the first time, if so just ignore this
one.

I was installing linux to a second hard disk (don't ask why) alongside the
one with windows xp. the problem being that it overwrote the MBR on my
windows disk instead, so when I try to boot windows normally, it instead
boots from the linux partition on the other disk bringing up the lilo
bootloader. so I can still boot from my windows partition, but would rather
not boot this way, as the linux installation didn't even work right.

i am under the impression I can fix this in the recovery console using
'fixmbr' but would like to if this is a bad idea and if so, what should/can I
do. but if this is right, can I safely install the recovery console from the
cd copy in my pre-installed copy on windows.

if it matters, there are 3 partitions on my windows disk, windows being on
the second, I have no idea what the other two are.

any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
It crashed when I tried to post this the first time, if so just ignore this
one.

I was installing linux to a second hard disk (don't ask why) alongside the
one with windows xp. the problem being that it overwrote the MBR on my
windows disk instead, so when I try to boot windows normally, it instead
boots from the linux partition on the other disk bringing up the lilo
bootloader. so I can still boot from my windows partition, but would rather
not boot this way, as the linux installation didn't even work right.

i am under the impression I can fix this in the recovery console using
'fixmbr' but would like to if this is a bad idea and if so, what should/can I
do. but if this is right, can I safely install the recovery console from the
cd copy in my pre-installed copy on windows.

if it matters, there are 3 partitions on my windows disk, windows being on
the second, I have no idea what the other two are.

any help would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

As with most Linuxes, the install process will install a boot manager
in the MBR and should add the previous XP installed MBR as a
selectable option in the boot menu. Two possible Linux boot menu
systems can be LILO or grub.
 
and when you uninstall Linux..because it does not work right...the lilo
bootloader gets uninstalled as well and your back to a normal boot
routine.........at least it did for me last year
peter
 
and when you uninstall Linux..because it does not work right...the lilo
bootloader gets uninstalled as well and your back to a normal boot
routine.........at least it did for me last year
peter

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Click to expand...

During the removal of Linux, "lilo' or "grub' would be remove but it
is not "garrantied" that the boot record fpr XP will be returned to
its place. Boot the XP install CD and access the Recovery console so
as the access the tools to fix MBR and boot.
 
The quickest way to fix this is to boot from DOS and do 'fdisk /mbr'

You can also use 'fixmbr' in the Recovery Console.

Unfortunately, Vista is at this game of modifying the MBR too, both OS's
seem to think they 'pwn' the computer! At least most Linuxes can be told NOT
to do this. Vista cannot.
 
my windows were pre-installed by dell, and previously when booting a big dell
advert appeared. now when the lilo bootloader appears it just gives a choice
of partitions, and when I boot it just comes up 'loading WIN XP/NT'
(referring to the filesystem). so I assume the old MBR has just been purely
overwritten.
also, if I boot straight from the linux disk it brings up a grub bootloader
with a "grub>" prompt which I just couldn't figure out.
 
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