MBR change

To see the new post, scroll down a bit...


Just a problem i'm having with Linux, which seems to be getting worse the more i find out about it.
Ok, here's the story:
Earlier this year, i got Mandrake 9.0, installed it on a separate partition. (Dual boot, with XP home)
Later, i realised i was only storing < 5mb of stuff on the Linux partition, and running out of space with windows one, so delete Linux partition, convert back to XP and start using it.
First problem was that the boot screen was still coming up asking whether i wanted to boot from the Linux partition...but that was ok, i always just selected NT.
However, more recently, whenever i boot, where the selectin screen should be, there's just an error: "L 99 99 99 99 99 99 ...". From what i've found, this is due to Lilo, but i don't know what lilo is, and don't really understand most of the suggested cures...

Any suggestions in a way an XP user can understand??? ta

fixmbr and fixboot with the Windows XP recovery prompt

OK, thanks. UNfortunately i couldn't find where to get to these....

Anyway, i installed another copy of XP, which wrote over the Linux boot screen, so now it takes me instead to an XP boot screen, which solves the problem...
However, i'm going to accept the space lost, not try uninstalling it and probably having to go through everything again....

Oh well, a good experience

Quote:

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Originally posted by sql_lall
OK, thanks. UNfortunately i couldn't find where to get to these....

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They are in the recovery prompt off of the CD

That is down to multiple bad partition tables on the same allocation on the hard disk.

I had the same fault when trying to overwrite LILO with Smoothwall. The HEX value at 0h was bloody HUGE! :p

Get a sector editor, and it'll be easier for you to re-install in the future. Also useful for deleting files... permenantly! :D

Whilst the program KillDisC would do it for you, you run the risk of wasting the MBR completely... so edit each address manually, and you'll be fine.

/Me realises it's christmas day and decides to get back 2 my drink. There's no blood in my alcohol system ocifer. :)

Ok, after installing a 2nd version of windows, most stuff works.

However, some things that were installed and registered under the former version don't work/can't be found with the new one. Unfortunately, i'm not sure even how to run the old version. Is there some way i could point the comp. in the right direction to load my old version? its still installed, i know the directory, just cant get it to load...

start--run fdisk /mbr