Master Boot Record?

[Guest ManyBeers]

If your XP SP3 computer has no WindowsXP cds but only factory Recovery CDs

with no Recovery Console how would one go about rewriting the MBR if it was

somehow damaged other than reinstalling Windows or an image of the Windows

drive?Aren't there floppy discs that can do this? My laptop has a floppy

drive.

[Guest Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Re: Master Boot Record?

 

 

"ManyBeers" <ManyBeers@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:DCC593F9-9568-4DA1-B481-D8874157BD54@microsoft.com...

> If your XP SP3 computer has no WindowsXP cds but only factory Recovery CDs

> with no Recovery Console how would one go about rewriting the MBR if it

> was

> somehow damaged other than reinstalling Windows or an image of the Windows

> drive?Aren't there floppy discs that can do this? My laptop has a floppy

> drive.

 

You can restore the MBR like so:

- Download a Win98 boot diskette from http://www.bootdisk.com.

- Boot the machine with this diskette.

- Type this command: fdisk /mbr

It works for WinXP machines and for NTFS partitions (because it replaces the

MBR and does not access the partitions).

[Guest ManyBeers]

Re: Master Boot Record?

 

 

 

"Pegasus (MVP)" wrote:

>

> "ManyBeers" <ManyBeers@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:DCC593F9-9568-4DA1-B481-D8874157BD54@microsoft.com...

> > If your XP SP3 computer has no WindowsXP cds but only factory Recovery CDs

> > with no Recovery Console how would one go about rewriting the MBR if it

> > was

> > somehow damaged other than reinstalling Windows or an image of the Windows

> > drive?Aren't there floppy discs that can do this? My laptop has a floppy

> > drive.

>

> You can restore the MBR like so:

> - Download a Win98 boot diskette from http://www.bootdisk.com.

> - Boot the machine with this diskette.

> - Type this command: fdisk /mbr

> It works for WinXP machines and for NTFS partitions (because it replaces the

> MBR and does not access the partitions).

>

 

Thanks Pegasus.

[Guest Stephen Harris]

Re: Master Boot Record?

 

ManyBeers wrote:

> If your XP SP3 computer has no WindowsXP cds but only factory Recovery CDs

> with no Recovery Console how would one go about rewriting the MBR if it was

> somehow damaged other than reinstalling Windows or an image of the Windows

> drive?Aren't there floppy discs that can do this? My laptop has a floppy

> drive.

 

I think you should alternatively create a Recovery Console even if

this problem is fixed. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=31844

Subject: Add "Recovery Console" to your Boot Menu -- Now!

[Guest ManyBeers]

Re: Master Boot Record?

 

 

 

"Stephen Harris" wrote:

> ManyBeers wrote:

> > If your XP SP3 computer has no WindowsXP cds but only factory Recovery CDs

> > with no Recovery Console how would one go about rewriting the MBR if it was

> > somehow damaged other than reinstalling Windows or an image of the Windows

> > drive?Aren't there floppy discs that can do this? My laptop has a floppy

> > drive.

>

> I think you should alternatively create a Recovery Console even if

> this problem is fixed. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=31844

> Subject: Add "Recovery Console" to your Boot Menu -- Now!

 

Thanks Steve but I have in fact already done so uses that very thread as a

guide.

The deal is I am thinking of dual-booting with linux Ubuntu 8.04 and ther

are basically 2 ways of going about it. When Ubuntu is installed it asks

where you want to install GRUB it's bootloader and if you install it in the

MBR it will overwrite Windows bootloader And make Ubuntu the default op

system to boot with Windows as an option. However according to a guy on

Ubuntu's support forum I would lose my Recovery Console entry. I don't like

that part.

A secondary method retains all of my boot options since it

uses Windows own bootloader and adds Ubuntu to boot.ini. This method is a

little riskier I think because at one point in the install there is a point

where neither OpSys can be booted but is relativelt easy to fix-at least

according to this

guide:http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2006/05/08/dual-boot-laptop.html?page=1

So I think letting Grub be my bootloader is probably eaier for me but my

concern is if I ever dump Ubuntu I want to make sure I can get my Windows

bootloader back. I have an image of my Windows C: partiton made with Image

For Windows(Terabyte) and looking at it's imaging parameters it does appear

that the image includes the MBR so I am probably covered there. What method

would you use if you were me?

[Guest Stephen Harris]

Re: Master Boot Record?

 

ManyBeers wrote:

>

> "Stephen Harris" wrote:

>

>> ManyBeers wrote:

>>> If your XP SP3 computer has no WindowsXP cds but only factory Recovery CDs

>>> with no Recovery Console how would one go about rewriting the MBR if it was

>>> somehow damaged other than reinstalling Windows or an image of the Windows

>>> drive?Aren't there floppy discs that can do this? My laptop has a floppy

>>> drive.

>> I think you should alternatively create a Recovery Console even if

>> this problem is fixed. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=31844

>> Subject: Add "Recovery Console" to your Boot Menu -- Now!

>

> Thanks Steve but I have in fact already done so uses that very thread as a

> guide.

> The deal is I am thinking of dual-booting with linux Ubuntu 8.04 and ther

> are basically 2 ways of going about it. When Ubuntu is installed it asks

> where you want to install GRUB it's bootloader and if you install it in the

> MBR it will overwrite Windows bootloader And make Ubuntu the default op

> system to boot with Windows as an option. However according to a guy on

> Ubuntu's support forum I would lose my Recovery Console entry. I don't like

> that part.

 

I am not sure you would lose it but wouldn't take the chance.

> A secondary method retains all of my boot options since it

> uses Windows own bootloader and adds Ubuntu to boot.ini. This method is a

> little riskier I think because at one point in the install there is a point

> where neither OpSys can be booted but is relativelt easy to fix-at least

> according to this

> guide:http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2006/05/08/dual-boot-laptop.html?page=1

 

This is the recommended way especially if you ever decide to use a

3rd party bootloader. I have never had a problem with it, where it

didn't boot to an OS, it proceeds automatically. The first method is

the default because a dual boot is not the default. Read how to get

to a 'use the first sector' boot screen option before you install

Ubuntu. I read your web link which is about Ubuntu 5.10, I'm not

sure his problem still exists. Check on the Ubuntu forum. Don't

forget to get a backup/restore MBR utility and backup the MBR, so

that you never lose Windows. One can edit the boot.ini to change

the default OS. I think in Linux its counterpart might be grub.conf

which can also change the default boot OS plus the timeout period.

> So I think letting Grub be my bootloader is probably eaier for me but my

> concern is if I ever dump Ubuntu I want to make sure I can get my Windows

> bootloader back. I have an image of my Windows C: partiton made with Image

> For Windows(Terabyte) and looking at it's imaging parameters it does appear

> that the image includes the MBR so I am probably covered there. What method

> would you use if you were me?

 

Not installing Ubuntu in the MBR. Use the XP boot.ini.

I think that is easier if you don't have to go through

those extra setting partition active steps. I know that

you don't have to do that using Redhat. Ask again in the

Ubuntu forum. I think you will be surprised about how

much you have to learn just to install a third party

utility like Flash player, using Ubuntu. Until you become

accomplished with Linux, don't risk what you know, XP.

[Guest Stephen Harris]

Re: Master Boot Record?

 

ManyBeers wrote:

>

> "Stephen Harris" wrote:

>

>> ManyBeers wrote:

>>> If your XP SP3 computer has no WindowsXP cds but only factory Recovery CDs

>>> with no Recovery Console how would one go about rewriting the MBR if it was

>>> somehow damaged other than reinstalling Windows or an image of the Windows

>>> drive?Aren't there floppy discs that can do this? My laptop has a floppy

>>> drive.

>> I think you should alternatively create a Recovery Console even if

>> this problem is fixed. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=31844

>> Subject: Add "Recovery Console" to your Boot Menu -- Now!

>

> Thanks Steve but I have in fact already done so uses that very thread as a

> guide.

> The deal is I am thinking of dual-booting with linux Ubuntu 8.04 and ther

> are basically 2 ways of going about it. When Ubuntu is installed it asks

> where you want to install GRUB it's bootloader and if you install it in the

> MBR it will overwrite Windows bootloader And make Ubuntu the default op

> system to boot with Windows as an option. However according to a guy on

> Ubuntu's support forum I would lose my Recovery Console entry. I don't like

> that part.

> A secondary method retains all of my boot options since it

> uses Windows own bootloader and adds Ubuntu to boot.ini. This method is a

> little riskier I think because at one point in the install there is a point

> where neither OpSys can be booted but is relativelt easy to fix-at least

> according to this

> guide:http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2006/05/08/dual-boot-laptop.html?page=1

> So I think letting Grub be my bootloader is probably eaier for me but my

> concern is if I ever dump Ubuntu I want to make sure I can get my Windows

> bootloader back. I have an image of my Windows C: partiton made with Image

> For Windows(Terabyte) and looking at it's imaging parameters it does appear

> that the image includes the MBR so I am probably covered there. What method

> would you use if you were me?

 

In my previous post I said the url you provided was out of date.

 

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

 

"If you have a problem with changing the MBR code, you might prefer to

just install the code for pointing to GRUB to the first sector of your

Ubuntu partition instead. If you do that during the Ubuntu installation

process, then Ubuntu won't boot until you configure some other boot

manager to point to Ubuntu's boot sector. Windows Vista no longer

utilizes boot.ini,..."

 

SH: Dual booting with XP is easier than with Vista. Since the boot code

is written to the first sector of the Ubuntu Partition, it shouldn't

mess with the MBR, which means it should just boot to Windows. One

should still have their backed up original MBR handy on a floppy disk

or USB stick ready to restore the original MBR just in case.

 

So in XP, which does still use boot.ini, just safely add the line

C:\ubuntu.bin="Ubuntu" to the boot.ini.

 

[boot loader]

timeout=5

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows XP

Professional" /fastdetect

C:\ubuntu.bin="Ubuntu"

 

SH: You can add this before installing Ubuntu. And maybe the

Ubuntu boot file information is menu.lst rather than grub.conf.

 

You can add ubuntu to the windows boot loader:

 

Boot from the LiveD.

 

Step 1) Install Ubuntu. On the last screen click on the "advanced"

button and replace (hd0) by /dev/sda3. (Here you need to replace sda3 by

whatever partition Ubuntu is on)

 

Don't reboot immediately. Instead stay on the LiveCD.

 

Step 2) Mount your Windows partition:

 

sudo mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda2 /windows

(Here replace sda2 by whatever partition Windows is on)

 

Step 3) Copy the first sector of the Ubuntu partition to a file on the

Windows partition:

 

sudo dd if=/dev/sda3 of=/windows/ubuntu.bin bs=512 count=1

(Be very careful when using "dd". Info on dd

(http://linuxreviews.org/man/dd/))

 

[alternative method]

Step 4) Add ubuntu to the windows boot loader:

 

Open "boot.ini" from the Windows partition via

sudo gedit /windows/boot.ini

 

Add this line to the end of the file:

c:\ubuntu.bin="Ubuntu"

 

Save the file.

 

Reboot and you get should get a menu with a Windows and Ubuntu choice."

 

SH: You should have a file named ubuntu.bin in your root directory,

C:\ , where the hidden file boot.ini resides. Just the reference to

the file ubuntu.bin is contained within boot.ini, C:\ubuntu.bin="Ubuntu"

 

One can often tell what is the right name for the partition

by looking at the size of the partition related to that name.

[Guest ManyBeers]

Re: Master Boot Record?

 

 

 

"Stephen Harris" wrote:

> ManyBeers wrote:

> >

> > "Stephen Harris" wrote:

> >

> >> ManyBeers wrote:

> >>> If your XP SP3 computer has no WindowsXP cds but only factory Recovery CDs

> >>> with no Recovery Console how would one go about rewriting the MBR if it was

> >>> somehow damaged other than reinstalling Windows or an image of the Windows

> >>> drive?Aren't there floppy discs that can do this? My laptop has a floppy

> >>> drive.

> >> I think you should alternatively create a Recovery Console even if

> >> this problem is fixed. http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=31844

> >> Subject: Add "Recovery Console" to your Boot Menu -- Now!

> >

> > Thanks Steve but I have in fact already done so uses that very thread as a

> > guide.

> > The deal is I am thinking of dual-booting with linux Ubuntu 8.04 and ther

> > are basically 2 ways of going about it. When Ubuntu is installed it asks

> > where you want to install GRUB it's bootloader and if you install it in the

> > MBR it will overwrite Windows bootloader And make Ubuntu the default op

> > system to boot with Windows as an option. However according to a guy on

> > Ubuntu's support forum I would lose my Recovery Console entry. I don't like

> > that part.

> > A secondary method retains all of my boot options since it

> > uses Windows own bootloader and adds Ubuntu to boot.ini. This method is a

> > little riskier I think because at one point in the install there is a point

> > where neither OpSys can be booted but is relativelt easy to fix-at least

> > according to this

> > guide:http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/pub/a/linux/2006/05/08/dual-boot-laptop.html?page=1

> > So I think letting Grub be my bootloader is probably eaier for me but my

> > concern is if I ever dump Ubuntu I want to make sure I can get my Windows

> > bootloader back. I have an image of my Windows C: partiton made with Image

> > For Windows(Terabyte) and looking at it's imaging parameters it does appear

> > that the image includes the MBR so I am probably covered there. What method

> > would you use if you were me?

>

> In my previous post I said the url you provided was out of date.

>

> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

>

> "If you have a problem with changing the MBR code, you might prefer to

> just install the code for pointing to GRUB to the first sector of your

> Ubuntu partition instead. If you do that during the Ubuntu installation

> process, then Ubuntu won't boot until you configure some other boot

> manager to point to Ubuntu's boot sector. Windows Vista no longer

> utilizes boot.ini,..."

>

> SH: Dual booting with XP is easier than with Vista. Since the boot code

> is written to the first sector of the Ubuntu Partition, it shouldn't

> mess with the MBR, which means it should just boot to Windows. One

> should still have their backed up original MBR handy on a floppy disk

> or USB stick ready to restore the original MBR just in case.

>

> So in XP, which does still use boot.ini, just safely add the line

> C:\ubuntu.bin="Ubuntu" to the boot.ini.

>

> [boot loader]

> timeout=5

> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT

> [operating systems]

> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows XP

> Professional" /fastdetect

> C:\ubuntu.bin="Ubuntu"

>

> SH: You can add this before installing Ubuntu. And maybe the

> Ubuntu boot file information is menu.lst rather than grub.conf.

>

> You can add ubuntu to the windows boot loader:

>

> Boot from the LiveD.

>

> Step 1) Install Ubuntu. On the last screen click on the "advanced"

> button and replace (hd0) by /dev/sda3. (Here you need to replace sda3 by

> whatever partition Ubuntu is on)

>

> Don't reboot immediately. Instead stay on the LiveCD.

>

> Step 2) Mount your Windows partition:

>

> sudo mount -t ntfs-3g /dev/sda2 /windows

> (Here replace sda2 by whatever partition Windows is on)

>

> Step 3) Copy the first sector of the Ubuntu partition to a file on the

> Windows partition:

>

> sudo dd if=/dev/sda3 of=/windows/ubuntu.bin bs=512 count=1

> (Be very careful when using "dd". Info on dd

> (http://linuxreviews.org/man/dd/))

>

> [alternative method]

> Step 4) Add ubuntu to the windows boot loader:

>

> Open "boot.ini" from the Windows partition via

> sudo gedit /windows/boot.ini

>

> Add this line to the end of the file:

> c:\ubuntu.bin="Ubuntu"

>

> Save the file.

>

> Reboot and you get should get a menu with a Windows and Ubuntu choice."

>

> SH: You should have a file named ubuntu.bin in your root directory,

> C:\ , where the hidden file boot.ini resides. Just the reference to

> the file ubuntu.bin is contained within boot.ini, C:\ubuntu.bin="Ubuntu"

>

> One can often tell what is the right name for the partition

> by looking at the size of the partition related to that name.

>

I agree with you that I will Not install Grub in my MBR and will install it

in Ubuntu's / and then make Ubuntu boot through XP's boot.ini. Somehow!

All that mounting stuff , command line stuff, is new and scary to me as I am

pretty much a "mouse only" type guy. But I will get it done.

[Guest Stephen Harris]

Re: Master Boot Record?

 

ManyBeers wrote:

>

> "Stephen Harris" wrote:

>

> I agree with you that I will Not install Grub in my MBR and will install it

> in Ubuntu's / and then make Ubuntu boot through XP's boot.ini. Somehow!

> All that mounting stuff , command line stuff, is new and scary to me as I am

> pretty much a "mouse only" type guy. But I will get it done.

>

 

You can use Thunderbird and Firefox on Windows as easily as on Ubuntu.

There is a learning curve for Linux that starts when you leave the

mouse clicks, and ability to ignore permissions, behind. You are going

to have to be innately geeky to suffer through the frustrations. You

will see what I mean when it comes to installing a free flash player

under Windows and then under Ubuntu. I mean why dual boot if you are

just going to stay at the same point and click level using both Os's?

Gimp and OpenOffice have been ported to Windows.

IMO, there is more enthusiasm in the (younger) Linux community.

 

Good Luck!