how to remove mandrake linux from winxp machine?

[shapeshifter]

Im unable to completely remove mandrake linux 10.3 from my machine. I've
deleted nearly everything--there's essentially no linux remaining -- but
when the machine boots it initiates the linux boot loader. I've removed all
the boot choices except WinXP so its not too much of an issue since it
always boots to windows after the time out period but nevertheless id like
to remove it completely. any ideas?

ss

 

[Gordon]

Im unable to completely remove mandrake linux 10.3 from my machine. I've
deleted nearly everything--there's essentially no linux remaining -- but
when the machine boots it initiates the linux boot loader. I've removed all
the boot choices except WinXP so its not too much of an issue since it
always boots to windows after the time out period but nevertheless id like
to remove it completely. any ideas?

ss

Boot from a W98 floppy, and at the C: prompt type "Fdisk /mbr" (without the
quotes). That will repair the MBR so that GRUB (or is it LILO with
Mandrake?) will disappear.

HTH

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

How to Remove Linux and Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/d­efault.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;3144­58

How to Remove the Linux LILO Boot Manager
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;315224&Product=winxp

Clean Install Windows XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/windowsxp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| Im unable to completely remove mandrake linux 10.3 from my machine. I've
| deleted nearly everything--there's essentially no linux remaining -- but
| when the machine boots it initiates the linux boot loader. I've removed all
| the boot choices except WinXP so its not too much of an issue since it
| always boots to windows after the time out period but nevertheless id like
| to remove it completely. any ideas?
|
| ss

 

[neil]

Don't boot from a win98 disk and use FDISK that may only cock up your system
even more.

Use the XP CD to boot from and use the recovery console, then type FIXBOOT
at the prompt.

Neil

 

[neil]

Sorry I meant FIXMBR

Neil

Don't boot from a win98 disk and use FDISK that may only cock up your
system even more.

Use the XP CD to boot from and use the recovery console, then type FIXBOOT
at the prompt.

Neil

 

[Gordon]

Don't boot from a win98 disk and use FDISK that may only cock up your system
even more.

Well I've done that many times and it didn't cock mine up!

 

[neil]

Not a good idea though, if your disk is NTFS then the win98 boot disk wont
even see the hard drive. You can use a win98 disk for a hard drive formatted
in FAT32 but it not the right way to do it and it can make a mess of the
boot sector.

Neil

 

[Gordon]

Not a good idea though, if your disk is NTFS then the win98 boot disk wont
even see the hard drive.

Seems funny how it always worked for me then, and yes my Windows XP
partition has always been NTFS......

 

[neil]

Even stranger then. Still I still think booting the XP CD is the best way to
go.

All the best
Neil

 

[neil]

I have just read your solution on a MS website, so I stand corrected.
Although there is a disclaimer about possible loss of data but it seems they
offer that as a method for recovering from a Linux installation.

Eating humble pie.....
Neil

 

[Enkidu]

Boot from a W98 floppy, and at the C: prompt type "Fdisk /mbr" (without the
quotes). That will repair the MBR so that GRUB (or is it LILO with
Mandrake?) will disappear.

That may work, but most people don't have a Win98 disk lying
around. You could download one I guess, but the best way is
to boot the XP CD and use the recovery console.

Cheers,

Cliff