Windows startup diskette so that I can run FDISK

[billurie]

Symantec gave me their Document 2001022709560139
to create a Windows startup disk. I need it for
XP/SP2.

They also sent me Microsoft Q69013,
"FDISK /MBR rewrites the Master Boot Record".

Following instructions, I created the floppy.

When I booted using that floppy, it gave ma
a DOS-looking prompt to the A-drive. At that
point, when I tried fdisk /mbr, I was told that

"Fdisk is not recognized as an internal or external
command, operable program, or batch file".

Help!

 

[philo]

Symantec gave me their Document 2001022709560139
to create a Windows startup disk. I need it for
XP/SP2.

They also sent me Microsoft Q69013,
"FDISK /MBR rewrites the Master Boot Record".

Following instructions, I created the floppy.

When I booted using that floppy, it gave ma
a DOS-looking prompt to the A-drive. At that
point, when I tried fdisk /mbr, I was told that

You can run fdisk /mbr with any win98 boot floppy
see www.bootdisk.com


What makes you thin you need to re-write the bootsector?

The preferred method for XP repair is from the recovery console

 

[billurie]

You can run fdisk /mbr with any win98 boot floppy
see www.bootdisk.com


What makes you thin you need to re-write the bootsector?

The preferred method for XP repair is from the recovery console

Thanks for the info, Philo.
To answer your question, I am following exactly the
instructions I got from Symantec Tech Support. Using
the GHOST-10 that is in their Norton System Works 2006.
I made a copy of my hard drive, which boots only as
far as the light-blue Windows logo screen. The WELCOME
or Loading Personal Settings doesn't appear.

Their advice was to repair the damaged MBR, and they
told me to do as I 'splained above...I created the
Windows XP Startup disk and so on.

Perhaps you are correct, that I can run fdisk /mbr from
a 98 boot floppy.......but shouldn't I be able to run
it from an XP boot floppy? And are their instructions
actually incorrect, or did I do something wrong?

 

[LVTravel]

No::::: because # 1 that reference is for Win 9X versions only (see the note
in Applies to at the bottom of Q69013.)

# 2. Fdisk.exe is a program that must be installed on the floppy. XP
doesn't have Fdisk.exe available on either the install CD or on the hard
drive. You need a 98, 98SE or ME system boot disk (which is created by
using the create system boot disk feature of the format command in those
OSs.)

If you have a Win 98 CD the program is located in the BASE5.CAB file (I
can't find my Win 98 SE cd right now but I believe it is in the same CAB
file.

If you have a ME CD the program is located in the BASE2.CAB file

Using the boot disk created from the 9X version that you have, copy the
fdisk program (after extracting from CD) to the floppy. Boot to the A:
drive and then type fdisk and press enter. The program will start.

Make sure you are absolutely positive you know what you are doing since the
KB article doesn't reference XP in any way. From the KB article "Some
dual-boot programs have a special MBR that asks you at startup which
operating system you want to use. The fdisk /mbr command erases this
program. Dual-boot systems that boot whichever partition is marked Active
are not affected by the fdisk /mbr command. "

 

[philo]

Thanks for the info, Philo.
To answer your question, I am following exactly the
instructions I got from Symantec Tech Support. Using
the GHOST-10 that is in their Norton System Works 2006.
I made a copy of my hard drive, which boots only as
far as the light-blue Windows logo screen. The WELCOME
or Loading Personal Settings doesn't appear.

Their advice was to repair the damaged MBR, and they
told me to do as I 'splained above...I created the
Windows XP Startup disk and so on.

Perhaps you are correct, that I can run fdisk /mbr from
a 98 boot floppy.......but shouldn't I be able to run
it from an XP boot floppy? And are their instructions
actually incorrect, or did I do something wrong?

there are two ways to fix the bootsector XP.

you need to boot off the CD and enter the repair console


from there there are two commands that are of use


fixmbr or fixboot

 

[billurie]

there are two ways to fix the bootsector XP.

you need to boot off the CD and enter the repair console


from there there are two commands that are of use


fixmbr or fixboot

Yes, I'm sure that's correct, and that I'll end up fixing it
that way. But I want Symantec to accept the responsibility
of giving me a regimen to fix what they sold me that doesn't
work, needs fixing, and after they give up, I'll go back to
using the RC.

 

[philo]

Yes, I'm sure that's correct, and that I'll end up fixing it
that way. But I want Symantec to accept the responsibility
of giving me a regimen to fix what they sold me that doesn't
work, needs fixing, and after they give up, I'll go back to
using the RC.

Well I understand that Symantec "Ain't what it used to be"

 

[billurie]

Well I understand that Symantec "Ain't what it used to be"

Surprisingly, in the past year I have found Symantec
quicker at responding to technical inquiries, and
more thorough; of course they are still just as
paranoid about 'activation', but that's another matter.