Screwed boot partition using fdisk

[Mathieu]

I've delete partition info using fdisk and now I can't boot anymore. This
is a triple boot system (on the same drive): RedHat Linux, Win98 (C, WinXP
(D. I didn't do format or delete any other files on those drives.

Here is the info left from Fdisk after deleting...

Partition Type Mbytes Usage

1 EXT DOS 20607 72%

If I go in "Do you want to display the logical drive info (Y/N)"...it says
"No logical drives defined.

----------

If I boot using PartitionMagic Pro 7

Partition Type Size Used
Unused Status Pri/Log

*: Unallocated 8,016 0 0
None Primary
*: Extended 20,606 4,612 15,994
None Primary
*: Unallocated 15,994 0 0
None Logical
*: Linux Ext2 4,118 4,118 0
None Logical
*:SWAPSPACE2 Linux Swap 494 0 494 None
Logical


Can I safely use the fdisk /mbr without screwing even further my partition
info? Is it useful is this situation?

I basically need a free utility or fdisk switch to revert what I've done.

thank you

 

[Richard]

Bummer Dude: Do you know how to reformat and re-install?

 

[Martin Ortiz]

check if PartitionMagic Pro 7, will allow you to set the boot partition
which partition did you remove? the Linux, Win98, or WinXP?

 

[Mathieu]

yes Richard, but that is the last thing I want to try!

 

[Mathieu]

I deleted all partition that I could delete from fdisk.
There are kind of all shown in PartitionMagic, but fdisk just sees the
Extended partition.

 

[CS]

The partition you deleted can be undeleted provided you haven't
written over it or reformatted the drive. There are several utilities
which can undelete a partition.

Here's one that you can buy: http://www.partition-recovery.com/

Here's another that's shareware and will run from a bootable floppy
disk. Fully functional 30 day trial:

www.terabyteunlimited.com Look for BootIt Next Generation 1.61E

Since you deleted your primary active partition and along with it all
boot information for your three operating systems, it's going to be
touch and go trying to get everything back in working order. I
suggest you try to undelete that partition before doing anything else.

Good luck.

 

[Martin Ortiz]

why did you delete them all??
If you're trying to remove an unwanted or unused partition, then
PartitionMagic (from what I've read) can do partioning and removal of
unwanted partitions dynamically. Why did you use fdisk to do it??

 

[NobodyMan]

why did you delete them all??
If you're trying to remove an unwanted or unused partition, then
PartitionMagic (from what I've read) can do partioning and removal of
unwanted partitions dynamically. Why did you use fdisk to do it??

There's nothing more dangerous than a resourceful idiot.
-Dilbert

 

[Mathieu]

The why is not important here.
If you want to know out of curiosity... I've got two HD in my system, I
switch the IDE. I forgot to switch the cable!

Now, don't ask me why I manually switch the IDE HD connectors!

 

[Mathieu]

There's nothing more dangerous than a resourceful idiot.
-Dilbert

GOOD SAYING... but not very constructive!

 

[Richard Harris]

Boot from a boot disk from www.bootdisk.com - i'd recommend the Windows 98
one with no RAM disk - then type in fdisk /mbr

This should sort out your master boot record, you will then be able to run
fdisk and repartition your drive again.

Rich

 

[Mathieu]

I won't have to reinstall the OS if I do that?

Boot from a boot disk from www.bootdisk.com - i'd recommend the Windows 98
one with no RAM disk - then type in fdisk /mbr

This should sort out your master boot record, you will then be able to run
fdisk and repartition your drive again.

Rich

 

[Martin Ortiz]

he doesn't want to repartition again, he can do that now, he wants to try
and retrieve his data.

 

[Mathieu]

I tried BootIt Next Generation 1.61E...could'nt figure out what to do.
I think that I'm going to try to restore the important files that I had on
those drive and reinstall everything ;(

 

[Mathieu]

Finally, I could undelete and boot from Windows 98. At least I'll be able
to restore the files on that partition.
I still cannot start from Linux or XP.
Still...It is a step forward!

thank you