Format MBR?

[chrisrodgerson]

Hi All,

After dual-booting WinXP/Linux for a while, I recently removed my Linux
installation by deleting and merging the Linux partitions with my XP
Partition.

My problem now is that the Linux bootloader (GRUB) is still attempting
to run at startup. I gather that I have to format my MBR to allow
Windows to start normally. Problem is that I don't know the
Administrator password for XP (I know, I know - schoolboy error), so I
can't use the recovery console from my WinXP Installation CD. Also,
it's a laptop without a floppy drive, so can't use emergency boot
disks.

Any other ideas on how to do this? Would "fdisk /mbr" work if I somehow
made a bootable CD containing fdisk?

Thanks in advance,
Chris

 

[Uwe Sieber]

Any other ideas on how to do this? Would "fdisk /mbr" work if I somehow
made a bootable CD containing fdisk?

Yes, that should work. But ensure that your Windows
partition is marked as active (boot flag set).

fdisk /mbr from DOS would overwrite the disk signature,
so XP will reassign your drive letters.

Greetings from Germany

Uwe

 

[crod]

Great, thanks for the help!
Chris

 

[Kerry Brown]

Hi All,

After dual-booting WinXP/Linux for a while, I recently removed my
Linux installation by deleting and merging the Linux partitions with
my XP Partition.

My problem now is that the Linux bootloader (GRUB) is still attempting
to run at startup. I gather that I have to format my MBR to allow
Windows to start normally. Problem is that I don't know the
Administrator password for XP (I know, I know - schoolboy error), so I
can't use the recovery console from my WinXP Installation CD. Also,
it's a laptop without a floppy drive, so can't use emergency boot
disks.

Any other ideas on how to do this? Would "fdisk /mbr" work if I
somehow made a bootable CD containing fdisk?

Thanks in advance,
Chris

Start ==> Run ===> compmgmt.msc

This will run the computer management console. Expand Local Users and
Groups. Click on Users. In the right hand pane right click on Administrator
and pick Set password. You should now be able to use the new password with
the recovery console.

Note: If you have used EFS (file encryption) do not change the password by
this method or you may permanently lose access to the encrypted files.

Kerry

 

[crod]

Hi Kerry,

I couldn't boot into Windows, that was the problem, so I was unable to
run the Management Console.

I did fix the problem however, using a tool on "Ultimate Boot CD"
(http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/).

Thanks for your help all,
Chris

 

[Kerry Brown]

Hi Kerry,

I couldn't boot into Windows, that was the problem, so I was unable to
run the Management Console.

I did fix the problem however, using a tool on "Ultimate Boot CD"
(http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/).

Thanks for your help all,
Chris

It was early this morning. Guess I missed that The ultimatebootcd.com
would have been my next suggestion. Many excellent utilities on that CD.

Kerry