how do i restore the MBR

[magomago]

due to some circumstances, I had to install windows on my laptop for some job related programs that are Windows Only.

So I backed up all my Linux files and then popped in my "Asus Recovery CD" for my Aspire 3620.

It ran perfectly...but now when I restart I go straight to grub and get GRUB ERROR 17.

Welll that is wonderful...the restore CD didn't fix that important part!


Soooo...is there any free microsoft boot CD I can use to fixmbr? I have a recovery DVD and I don't have access to the windows recovery terminal or anything...just a gui that only allows me to "restore" the system to the original settings.

edit:

or if anyone knows how to directly access grub and edit the boot options (i don't have any access to my live cds right now so that hurts me) so I can just use grub to boot to windows that works well

 

[Robor]

Maybe boot with a Linux LiveCD, mount the drive in question, launch GParted, delete all of the partitions, then use the Aspire restore CD.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Download a bootdisk from bootdisk.com or whereever and format /mbr?

 

[minibubba]

idealy, you should get a normal Windows CD and boot into the recovery console to use 'fixmbr'

you can also get an old bootable DOS floppy and use fdisk to write a new mbr with "fdisk /mbr". IIRC this method isn't compatiable with XP, but it will wipe the MBR clean. If you use this method, you'll likley have to reinstall with your ASUS CD again.

As a side note, if you dont have a floppy drive, you can download a CD iso that will emulate those old DOS floppies.

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Download a bootdisk from bootdisk.com or whereever and format /mbr?

Get one of the Windows 98 boot disk, but the command is not format /mbr, it's fdisk /mbr

I remember back in college and upper classman Computer Science major had this same exact issue. I popped in a Win 95 boot disk (already made) typed "fdisk /mbr" and rebooted into Windows. He was like man, I've been trying to figure that out for a week!

 

[magomago]

i'll try that - i do have access to a Win2K recovery cd


btw the "use a live cd to delete everything on the hdd" didn't work now I get a "Error 22" from Grub...

 

[Brazen]

Originally posted by: magomago
i'll try that - i do have access to a Win2K recovery cd


btw the "use a live cd to delete everything on the hdd" didn't work now I get a "Error 22" from Grub...

What liveCD did you use? When I need to mess with harddrive setup, I use Gparted LiveCD. Not sure though if it can wipe out the mbr.

If you use a Windows 2000 cd, I believe the command is "fixmbr"

 

[magomago]

PCLINUX OS cd....oddly enough I had it laying around


awsome for the win2k command. Lets hope I can get XP to boot with the 2K boot loader..

 

[magomago]

now this is weird...

i did a restore again..

no luck

i did a restor once more...

no luck

i tried one last time for kicks


it works.


who would have thunk I guess 5 is the magic number?

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: magomago
Lets hope I can get XP to boot with the 2K boot loader..

MBR != boot loader.

The MBR code for Windows 2000 and XP is identical. And it's not even very much different than the MBR code used in Win9X. A Windows 98 boot disk should work just as well as an XP one in the vast majority of cases if all you're doing is an fdisk /mbr.

The boot loader code is different between 2000 and XP, but that code resides on the partition itself, not in the MBR or partition table.