Remove Linux - what's the safest way to restore MBR

[cipherxy]

I have Windows XP on my PC and have just installed Linux.

Linux is loading up fine but XP is not booting.....

I've tried pretty much everything and the problem still persists......

Anyway, I've given up and just want to get things back the way it was before.

Anyone know that's the safest way to remove Linux and get my boot record to the way it was before Linux is installed?

I don't want to risk loosing any data that's in Windows right now. What are the steps that I should take to prevent possible data lose?

I have PartitionMagic but I can't boot into windows to use BootMagic... I tried to delet the Linux partition altogether... but the MBR is not fixed... so I had to undelete that partition...

How about [Fixmbr], would I be risking loosing data in windows if I run that?

Please help ~~~

[ilja]

http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;314458
microsoft is your friend and helper in this kind of issues

[ewdi]

Okay, this is the safest way

Boot on Windows XP CD
Go to init setup and select Windows Recovery

You will be taken to c prompt (you will have to choose your windows installation by number and type in your windows password before you will be taken to c prompt, if you do not have admin pass you can just press enter)

once on c prompt type

FIXMBR

You wont lose any of your data

[imdeemvp]

OR fdisk /mbr

since you have partition magic can you see if your bootsector is in RED (=damaged)?

why can you boot into windows? the cursor blinking?

possible fix ......enter your bios and in the hard drive are change from AUTO detection to LBA this fixed my problem...did you install mandrake or FC? because mandrake 10 community release has this bug....and non fixable...but apperantley fixable in FC.

btw make sure your ntfs partions are visible or not hidding (it says hide in partition commander and you have to unhide them)

if you have a spare hard drive you might want to use to save your important data by transfering those files.....to be honest sometimes you can not recover windows if your boot sector is in RED color = damaged and not repairable the only way out is to wipe out your hd complety using tools from maxtor or seagate or wd....i use maxtor power tools to do a quick low level format (= writing your hd to zeros again) quick and easy to use.

[cipherxy]

Originally Posted by imdeemvp

OR fdisk /mbr

since you have partition magic can you see if your bootsector is in RED (=damaged)?

-> I don't have a bootsector, just 4 partitions, and nothing is in red.
FYI: My Linux is installed on 1 partition, no swap and no boot partition...

why can you boot into windows? the cursor blinking?

-> Yes, after chainloader +1 the cursor just blinks....

possible fix ......enter your bios and in the hard drive are change from AUTO detection to LBA this fixed my problem...did you install mandrake or FC? because mandrake 10 community release has this bug....and non fixable...but apperantley fixable in FC.

-> I don't see the LBA option in my BIOS

btw make sure your ntfs partions are visible or not hidding (it says hide in partition commander and you have to unhide them)

-> how do I know if it's not hiden?

if you have a spare hard drive you might want to use to save your important data by transfering those files.....to be honest sometimes you can not recover windows if your boot sector is in RED color = damaged and not repairable the only way out is to wipe out your hd complety using tools from maxtor or seagate or wd....i use maxtor power tools to do a quick low level format (= writing your hd to zeros again) quick and easy to use.

-> .....sounds scary.... I'll try backing up as many file as I can then!

Thanks...............!

[imdeemvp]

when you are in the bios it tells you how to do selections such using the "+" or "-" or press enter to do a selection...same way when changing your bios clock!

what type of bios do you have?....Award....pheonix....Ameri Trends.....etc?

which linux distro did you install?

[cipherxy]

I installed Fedora Core 1.... I'll check the BIOS type when I get home...
I'm using a AMD processor

[imdeemvp]

1. enter bios

2. enter to Standard & CMOS Features

3. you will see your hard drive listed under IDE Primary : Your hard drive brand

4. hit enter

5. you will see ACCESS MODE and here is where you make the change from Auto to LBA and then f10 to save bios settings.....

99% of today Bios are standard .....good luck!

processor has nothing to do with it! AMD fan here

[cipherxy]

Hi,
I've changed my access mode to LBA but nothing changed. Oh well, I'll just have wipe out Linux and try another version I guess.

Questions:

1. Do I need to delete Linux (say using partition magic) before running FIXMBR?

2. Is there a tool out there that allows the user to copy an entire partition to another hard drive?

--- I have another PC with Windows XP running (HD1)
--- I'm going to connect the HD2 (XP not booting) as the secondary master on that PC
--- I want to copy over the entire partition with XP on it to HD1 (bit by bit)

Any software name comes to mind?

[imdeemvp]

a third party software such as partition magic should let you do that with no problems....i use partition commander to copy a partition but it takes a long time depending on the partition size
i also believe that the latest version of partition magic should give you the option too.

as i said i use partition commander it has more utilities than partition magic and it is about $25 less

[imdeemvp]

Originally Posted by cipherxy

I installed Fedora Core 1.... I'll check the BIOS type when I get home...
I'm using a AMD processor

this is weird fc1 does not have this bug...??? only mdk 10 and it could happen with fc2 so i dont get it...

[cipherxy]

Ok, I've removed Linux, root into Windows recovery and typed in [FIXMBR]... took 2 seconds, and window is now backing working....

I was soooo happy when I see the icons on my desktop showing up for the first time in weeks

Thanks so much for the help guys!