Linux Boot-Loader Removal

[Matt]

I have a system with two hard-drives, a 40GB Master drive
with Windows XP and a 10GB Slave drive with Linux on it.
I want to remove the Slave drive, but the Linux boot-
loaser always check to make sure that both hard drives
are still there before it will let me start up Windows or
Linux. The Linux installation is corrupted, so it would
have to be a Windows XP method that I use. I have
researched it a bit and I think it might have something
to do wuith formatting and restoring the master boot
record.
Thanks

 

[Matt]

I have found a Master Boot Record restoration tool made
by Compaq (the oem of this computer) but when I run it, I
get the following Windows error message:
An application has attempted to directly access the hard
disk, which cannot be supported.
How do I allow the program to access the hard drive
without Windows intervening?

 

[Honjo]

There are two ways to fix it. Probably simplest way is to boot to
DOS(Use W9x Start Up FD) and execute FDISK /MBR at DOS prompt and
reboot. You will no longer see Windows/Linux selection screen.

Kaz

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Matt,

How to Remove the Linux LILO Boot Manager [Q315224]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315224

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have a system with two hard-drives, a 40GB Master drive
with Windows XP and a 10GB Slave drive with Linux on it.
I want to remove the Slave drive, but the Linux boot-
loaser always check to make sure that both hard drives
are still there before it will let me start up Windows or
Linux. The Linux installation is corrupted, so it would
have to be a Windows XP method that I use. I have
researched it a bit and I think it might have something
to do wuith formatting and restoring the master boot
record.

It is not necessary to format to do that. Two ways are possible

If you have a Win98/ME startup floppy, boot that, and give
FDISK /MBR
Also then run
FDISK
and use it to set the XP partition to be the Active one.

Or

Set the BIOS to boot CD before Hard Disk. Boot the XP CD and, instead
of Setup, take the immediate R for Repair. Assume any password
requested is blank, and TAB over. Give

FixMBR

then to set the correct partition active give

diskpart

and in that the sub-commands

list partitions
to find the number n for the XP one.
select partition n
active
exit