Resetting boot after uninstalling Linux

[Robin]

I installed Mandriva Linux and it installed a boot menu. A boot
restore program was included on the Linux disc, but it didn't work.

I Googled and found how to run FIXMBR from the XP setup disc.

When I tried to run this procedure I got an error message:

"This computer appears to have a non-standard or invalid master boot
record.
FIXMBR may damage your partition tables if you proceed.
This could cause all the partitions on the current hard disk to become
inaccessible.
If you are not having problems with your accessing your drive do not
continue.
Are you sure you want to write a new MBR?"

I then came to this group and by chance found a post on the problem

<quoted post>

You can do that using the Recovery Console and just a few
commands.
Check the Mskb Article below
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;314058
You
are primarily interested in the Bootcfg, Fixboot
and Fixmbr commands. Safe, all I can say is that I have done it
many
times going back and forth with Linux and Windows
and never had any data loss.

Here's my situation ... my PC has 2 disks ... it was setup with a boot
manager on disk1 .. disk1 has linux... disk2 is my Win XP disk .... my
question is can I safely write a boot block on disk2 and not loose data
..
like the XP CD warns you about ??? I'm not using Linux on disk1 anymore
...
but I need the boot manager to boot XP on disk2 ... so the question is how
safe is it to use the XP CD and fix/create a boot record on disk2??? Are
there any issues??? I really don't want to restore because of the software
is
already working....

thanks in advance

Dale G

<end quoted post>

I now recall that when I did this several years ago (having since
forgotten how I did it!) I think I had a similar message, and
following on advice received, went ahead anyway. But that warning is
prettty scary.

What should I do?


TIA

Rob

 

[Kerry Brown]

I installed Mandriva Linux and it installed a boot menu. A boot
restore program was included on the Linux disc, but it didn't work.

I Googled and found how to run FIXMBR from the XP setup disc.

When I tried to run this procedure I got an error message:

"This computer appears to have a non-standard or invalid master boot
record.
FIXMBR may damage your partition tables if you proceed.
This could cause all the partitions on the current hard disk to become
inaccessible.
If you are not having problems with your accessing your drive do not
continue.
Are you sure you want to write a new MBR?"


I now recall that when I did this several years ago (having since
forgotten how I did it!) I think I had a similar message, and
following on advice received, went ahead anyway. But that warning is
prettty scary.

What should I do?

Make sure you have your important data backed up then run fixmbr and answer
yes to the question. The mbr currently is non-Windows (non-standard) because
you still have the Linux boot manager installed. The backup is just in case.
You should always backup before doing something that alters crucial areas of
the hard disk.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315224

 

[Robin]

Make sure you have your important data backed up then run fixmbr and answer
yes to the question. The mbr currently is non-Windows (non-standard) because
you still have the Linux boot manager installed. The backup is just in case.
You should always backup before doing something that alters crucial areas of
the hard disk.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315224

Thanks. I bit the bullet and all was well.

 

[Kerry Brown]

Thanks. I bit the bullet and all was well.

Your welcome