Re: Restoring WinXP bootloader?

[Norman B. Robinson]

To restore the master boot record (MBR):
1. Boot from the Windows XP CD, press the key "R" in the setup in order 
to start the restoration console.
2. Select your Windows XP installation from the list, and enter the 
administrator password.
3. Enter the command "FIXMBR" at the input prompt and confirm the next 
question with "y".
4. Finally, use "exit" to restore the computer.

If you aren't going to go ahead and install the OS for your friend, but 
what them to not run into any problems you can also boot to a 
DOS/Windows bootable floppy and run 'fdisk /mbr'.

You can also remove the bootloader using the 'dd' command:
For a disk or extended partition:`dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda1 bs=446 
count=1'
For a primary or logical partition: `dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda1 bs=512 
count=1'
and probably of use:
To save a bootsector: `dd if=/dev/hda of=bootsec bs=446 count=1'
To write it back to the disk: `dd if=bootsec of=/dev/hda bs=446 count=1'

Enjoy,

Norman


address@hidden wrote:

> I'm returning a laptop to a friend and I need to remove Linux + restore
> the WinXP bootloader. WinXP has no copy of FDISK installed that I can
> find. How do I restore the WinXP bootloader?
>
> Note: I've already removed the linux partitions (was that a mistake?).
>
> Thank you,
>
> R.
>
>
>
>
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