Restoring the windows bootloader?

Psyk · 20 May 2006 at 13:59

Until recently I had Linux as well as XP on my machine. I used GRUB for my bootloader. Now I can't boot without a boot CD with GRUB on it (the boot partition that stored the GRUB files is gone). Is there a way I can restore the MBR so it uses the standard windows bootloader?

Ps. Please tell me if I'm talking absolute crap since I don't know exactly what I'm doing.

reddeathdrinker · 20 May 2006 at 14:27

You need to boot up using a Win98 boot disk that has FDISK on it.

the command you require is:

FDISK /MBR

Psyk · 20 May 2006 at 14:31

Why windows 98? I think my boot CD has fdisk on it so I guess it'll work with that.

reddeathdrinker · 20 May 2006 at 14:38

Also, apparently (not tested by me), you can boot up your XP install CD to the recovery console, and use the command "fixmbr"

|Ric| · 20 May 2006 at 16:28

i can confirm that fixmbr works from the xp recovery console as I used it

Slight catch is I can't remember whether I used fixboot or fixmbr. I think it was fixboot that finally fixed things (when I had grub from ubuntu) but I ran both on 2 different xp partitions with no adverse effects

You may want to read up on whether it is fixboot or fixmbr.

To get to recovery console put in windows cd, boot from it, press r to enter recovery console when it asks. you need your admin pass.

Psyk · 20 May 2006 at 16:57

|Ric| said:
To get to recovery console put in windows cd, boot from it, press r to enter recovery console when it asks. you need your admin pass.

Any way to do it without a disc since I don't have mine at hand at the moment?

|Ric| · 21 May 2006 at 12:32

I don't think so unfortunately, it is possible to install the revoery console on to your pc but you need to have access to it in the first place

Only other option is a windows 98 bootdisk and try fdisk - but I would personally recommend the xp tools simply as that is what they are designed for (fdisk will probably only do the equivalent to fixmbr and I am pretty sure it is fixboot you need)

daven1986 · 21 May 2006 at 13:48

i used fixmbr, however if that doesn't work try fixboot.

daven

Psyk · 21 May 2006 at 13:57

|Ric| said:
I don't think so unfortunately, it is possible to install the revoery console on to your pc but you need to have access to it in the first place

Only other option is a windows 98 bootdisk and try fdisk - but I would personally recommend the xp tools simply as that is what they are designed for (fdisk will probably only do the equivalent to fixmbr and I am pretty sure it is fixboot you need)

I found a copy of XP pro I had burnt to a disc (legal in case you ask

) and used that. Thanks for the help

Tosk · 21 May 2006 at 19:03

yea ive used the recovery console loads of times, and use the command "fixmbr" to fix many pcs, that have lost its bootup for xp