Comments on: Fixing a Broken MBR

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 06:49:54 +0000

Hi Mahmoud, since this method is deprecated could you please post a link (non-Vista) that works the same/similar (perhaps a forum post with steps) because I don’t want to install or use Vista and EasyBCD seems to be Vista oriented. I just want to fix the current XP related issue and the only way to do that is by following the above steps but I too have no floppy drive in my laptop.

Thanks.

By: Mak

Mak — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:58:54 +0000

In step 4 where can I download Linux that ships with Grub.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:28:48 +0000

ok, I run into a stumbling block with step 2. I do not have a floppy drive. Is there any way to create a bootable CD-ROM with xfdisk?

Thanks!

By: Darclear

Darclear — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:40:32 +0000

I am having the issue mentioned in part 1 of this article. But in trying different software to recover the data, I lost my partition tables. “Testdisk” says MBR and backup are bad and do not match. Wouldnt repartitioning for the linux install corrupt all the data? And yes, I am still running xp. My machine isnt powerful enough for vista.

By: Mahmoud Al-Qudsi

Mahmoud Al-Qudsi — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:08:28 +0000

This entire method is more-or-less deprecated.

The new method: http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Repairing+the+Windows+Vista+Bootloader

By: VJ

VJ — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:45:30 +0000

Hmmm… for Linux installation i went to http://www.gentoo.org but which one do i get?

By the way is this sort of inactive now (i mean the forum)?

By: VJ

VJ — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:57:41 +0000

Haha fixed that too… MBR rewritten completely now.

Any change for the installation… alternatives?

By: VJ

VJ — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:40:26 +0000

Ok… edit to the second point i can boot Xfdisk from a CD however which version were you using.
Since i see no Enter and then rewrite MBR option or anything???

Any help?

By: VJ

VJ — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:14:39 +0000

Nice… going to try it… however do i have to do a repair installation, since i had an expert install drivers etc etc and fix my computer just before. I don’t want to replace C:\Windows with a repair installation literally dumping all that work. Are there any alternatives?

Also can Xfdisk be booted from a CD since my laptop doesn’t have a floppy drive?

By: Hen3ry

Hen3ry — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:09:22 +0000

System: 1 x 80 GB (WinXP + sundry documents)
1 x 80 GB (empty)
1 x 500 GB (various documents, .jpgs, .mp3s, etc., etc.)
Problem: Computer froze, refused to load on re-boot, beyond WindowsXP splash screen. (probably a Boot Sector virus)
Solution: Install WinXP onto second 80GB
Current system: 1 x 80 GB (WinXP + all progs, documents)
Further problem: Computer, now working fine, refuses to read 500 GB, claiming it to be unformatted. Computer *will* read first 80 GB, for pulling off data, files, although some of these have been damaged. Virus scan (avg v. 7) of first 80 GB reports negative.
It looks like the Boot Sector of the 500 GB has been damaged, but how do I repair this without affecting the Boot Sector of the current 80 GB?
Simple terms: I am a layman with a little knowledge.

By: Gentoo Forums :: View topic - Failed Install of Win2k Renders Gentoo Unbootable

Gentoo Forums :: View topic - Failed Install of Win2k Renders Gentoo Unbootable — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 17:29:51 +0000

[...] more trickeration: http://neosmart.net/blog/2005/repairing-a-fubard-master-boot-record/ http://neosmart.net/blog/2005/fixing-a-broken-mbr/ If this doesn’t work, I’d back up my data, then take darkphader’s advice and zero out the MBR [...]

By: chamroeun

chamroeun — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:01:52 +0000

Hello everyone!
i have problems with my Hard Disk(SATA 80GB). i can’t boot into windows.i try to boot from xp’s cd,but after xp’s cd shows configuration hardware, it’s not work,no sth show on my screen. i try to use other program like Active@ partition,fixMBR,…it still not work!
anyone can help me?
thanks

By: Jan from BE

Jan from BE — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 20:19:03 +0000

Eternal thanks for the fdisk /mbr trick !

By: rewrite mbr w2k - Web - WebCrawler

rewrite mbr w2k - Web - WebCrawler — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 05:50:08 +0000

[...] [Found on Yahoo! Search, MSN Search] 2. Fixing a Broken MBR at The NeoSmart Files Press [enter] to rewrite the MBR. … I had a W2K installation running out of disk space, with [...]

By: Computer Guru

Computer Guru — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 16:19:47 +0000

What error do you get?