XP unable to update the MBR

[ted]

My computer BSD'd recently and upon a reboot I was told the system32/config/system file was corrupt. The recovery console also would not let me in because of the same error. Bummer.



OK, so it's time for a clean XP install. I go to reinstall the OS and I get IRQ_less_than or ntfs.dll blue screens. OK, let's try reformatting the disc. All goes well until the last step and I get an error that the MBR could not be updated. Not good.



I install XP on another disk and it goes OK until it has to write the boot sector. "Unable to update the MBR". This is a different disc and a different disk controller.



I boot from a DOS 6.22 disc, fdisk and format /s the original hard disc. No problems and I can boot from it.



Disc 1 is a 60GB deskstar and disk 2 is a 180GB deskstar

The BIOS is the latest and it supports large discs.

I see no BIOS or motherboard setting to lock the MBR.



Ideas?



Thanks



Ted

 

[Steve Nielsen]

I see no BIOS or motherboard setting to lock the MBR.

Is there a boot sector virus protection feature in BIOS? That can lock
the MBR. I don't know if that's what you meant or not.

Steve

 

[The Unknown P]

When booting you should have been able to tap the f8 key
until you get a selection screen and then choose safemode
with network and then go>start\run and type in msconfig
and then the boot.ini tab and then the check all boot
paths button. See if that then gives you the choice to
rewrite a Master Boot Record. Have fun.