Two HDDs, one with XP and other with Linux.
I appear to have overwritten the boot stuff on the XP with Linux code.
How can I recover?

Dirk

Dirk Bruere wrote:

> Two HDDs, one with XP and other with Linux.
> I appear to have overwritten the boot stuff on the XP with Linux code.
> How can I recover?
>
> Dirk

Can you not use the Linux bootloader? If you remove it you won't be able
to boot Linux.

Steve

If I remember correct if you make a boot disk for it. You don't have to use
the bootloader on the MBR for it. The bootdisk ie "floppy" will be the MBR
for that.

Then you can use the XP bootloader on the MBR but you just have to insert
the floppy anytime you want to use SuSE.

John

"Steve N." <Steve_N@nunya.biz.nes> wrote in message
news:eHFOldK4FHA.3948@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Dirk Bruere wrote:
>
>> Two HDDs, one with XP and other with Linux.
>> I appear to have overwritten the boot stuff on the XP with Linux code.
>> How can I recover?
>>
>> Dirk
>
> Can you not use the Linux bootloader? If you remove it you won't be able
> to boot Linux.
>
> Steve

John Bell wrote:

> If I remember correct if you make a boot disk for it. You don't have to use
> the bootloader on the MBR for it. The bootdisk ie "floppy" will be the MBR
> for that.
>
> Then you can use the XP bootloader on the MBR but you just have to insert
> the floppy anytime you want to use SuSE.
>
> John

That is true _if_ you made the bootdisk at installation of Linux. There
are other ways, too, but the OP has XP and Suse presumably dual booting
from the Linux bootloader, why change it? If they re-write an MS MBR on
the drive Suse will not boot from the drive.

Steve

>
> "Steve N." <Steve_N@nunya.biz.nes> wrote in message
> news:eHFOldK4FHA.3948@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>
>>Dirk Bruere wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Two HDDs, one with XP and other with Linux.
>>>I appear to have overwritten the boot stuff on the XP with Linux code.
>>>How can I recover?
>>>
>>>Dirk
>>
>>Can you not use the Linux bootloader? If you remove it you won't be able
>>to boot Linux.
>>
>>Steve
>
>
>

Steve N. wrote:
> John Bell wrote:
>
>> If I remember correct if you make a boot disk for it. You don't have
>> to use the bootloader on the MBR for it. The bootdisk ie "floppy" will
>> be the MBR for that.
>>
>> Then you can use the XP bootloader on the MBR but you just have to
>> insert the floppy anytime you want to use SuSE.
>>
>> John
>
>
> That is true _if_ you made the bootdisk at installation of Linux. There
> are other ways, too, but the OP has XP and Suse presumably dual booting
> from the Linux bootloader, why change it? If they re-write an MS MBR on
> the drive Suse will not boot from the drive.

XP and Linux are on separate disk drives.
I have no problem booting Linux from the installation disk even if I
screw up its boot loader. The problem is I've screwed up the boot secor
on the XP drive.

Dirk

Dirk Bruere wrote:
> Steve N. wrote:
>
>> John Bell wrote:
>>
>>> If I remember correct if you make a boot disk for it. You don't have
>>> to use the bootloader on the MBR for it. The bootdisk ie "floppy"
>>> will be the MBR for that.
>>>
>>> Then you can use the XP bootloader on the MBR but you just have to
>>> insert the floppy anytime you want to use SuSE.
>>>
>>> John
>>
>>
>>
>> That is true _if_ you made the bootdisk at installation of Linux.
>> There are other ways, too, but the OP has XP and Suse presumably dual
>> booting from the Linux bootloader, why change it? If they re-write an
>> MS MBR on the drive Suse will not boot from the drive.
>
>
> XP and Linux are on separate disk drives.

Disk0 and disk1 respectively, I presume.

> I have no problem booting Linux from the installation disk even if I
> screw up its boot loader. The problem is I've screwed up the boot secor
> on the XP drive.
>
> Dirk

You can try re-writing the MBR on disk0 in a couple different ways.

Boot a Win98 floppy and run fdisk /mbr
Boot a WinXP CD, enter Recovery Console and run fixmbr

Steve

Steve N. wrote:
> Dirk Bruere wrote:
>
>> Steve N. wrote:
>>
>>> John Bell wrote:
>>>
>>>> If I remember correct if you make a boot disk for it. You don't have
>>>> to use the bootloader on the MBR for it. The bootdisk ie "floppy"
>>>> will be the MBR for that.
>>>>
>>>> Then you can use the XP bootloader on the MBR but you just have to
>>>> insert the floppy anytime you want to use SuSE.
>>>>
>>>> John
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> That is true _if_ you made the bootdisk at installation of Linux.
>>> There are other ways, too, but the OP has XP and Suse presumably dual
>>> booting from the Linux bootloader, why change it? If they re-write an
>>> MS MBR on the drive Suse will not boot from the drive.
>>
>>
>>
>> XP and Linux are on separate disk drives.
>
>
> Disk0 and disk1 respectively, I presume.

Other way around due to cabling problems in the PC


>> I have no problem booting Linux from the installation disk even if I
>> screw up its boot loader. The problem is I've screwed up the boot
>> secor on the XP drive.
>>
>> Dirk
>
>
> You can try re-writing the MBR on disk0 in a couple different ways.
>
> Boot a Win98 floppy and run fdisk /mbr

I don't have a FDD or a Win98 floppy

> Boot a WinXP CD, enter Recovery Console and run fixmbr

Can't do it because it demands an admin password that I don't know.

Dirk

Dirk Bruere wrote:


>> You can try re-writing the MBR on disk0 in a couple different ways.
>>
>> Boot a Win98 floppy and run fdisk /mbr
>
> I don't have a FDD or a Win98 floppy
>
>> Boot a WinXP CD, enter Recovery Console and run fixmbr
>
> Can't do it because it demands an admin password that I don't know.
>

Unless you set it differently, the default password for Recovery Console
is a blank. Other things you can try:

1. Have a knowledgeable friend or professional fix the issue for you.
2. Borrow a usb floppy drive and get a Win98 boot drive from
bootdisk.com.
3. Try leaving the password blank for Recovery Console and do fixmbr.

After you fix your XP boot files, if you want to use Grub then boot with
the SuSE CD/DVD and repair Grub. If you aren't resourceful about this,
you're going to have a really hard time using Linux.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Dirk Bruere wrote:

> Steve N. wrote:
>
>> Dirk Bruere wrote:
>>
>>> Steve N. wrote:
>>>
>>>> John Bell wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> If I remember correct if you make a boot disk for it. You don't
>>>>> have to use the bootloader on the MBR for it. The bootdisk ie
>>>>> "floppy" will be the MBR for that.
>>>>>
>>>>> Then you can use the XP bootloader on the MBR but you just have to
>>>>> insert the floppy anytime you want to use SuSE.
>>>>>
>>>>> John
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> That is true _if_ you made the bootdisk at installation of Linux.
>>>> There are other ways, too, but the OP has XP and Suse presumably
>>>> dual booting from the Linux bootloader, why change it? If they
>>>> re-write an MS MBR on the drive Suse will not boot from the drive.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> XP and Linux are on separate disk drives.
>>
>>
>>
>> Disk0 and disk1 respectively, I presume.
>
>
> Other way around due to cabling problems in the PC

It doesn't matter, the 1st physical HDD holds the MBR the system uses,
no matter what OS. But obviously you're dealing with other problems,
what are the cabling problems?

>
>
>>> I have no problem booting Linux from the installation disk even if I
>>> screw up its boot loader. The problem is I've screwed up the boot
>>> secor on the XP drive.
>>>
>>> Dirk
>>
>>
>>
>> You can try re-writing the MBR on disk0 in a couple different ways.
>>
>> Boot a Win98 floppy and run fdisk /mbr
>
>
> I don't have a FDD or a Win98 floppy

Get a floppy drive for $10 or less. Get a Win98se boot disk from
www.bootdisk.com.

>
>> Boot a WinXP CD, enter Recovery Console and run fixmbr
>
>
> Can't do it because it demands an admin password that I don't know.
>
> Dirk

Who's computer is this? Yours? You don't know what the Administrator
password is? There are ways to reset it:

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Steve

"Dirk Bruere" <dirk.bruere@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3sv05dFqcaj8U2@individual.net...
> Two HDDs, one with XP and other with Linux.
> I appear to have overwritten the boot stuff on the XP with Linux code.
> How can I recover?
>
> Dirk

In SUSE from a root terminal:
#install-grub --recheck /dev/fd0 (this will place the boot loader on a
floppy)

Using an XP install CDROM boot to recovery console.
administrator password
fixmbr
fixboot

Malke wrote:
> Dirk Bruere wrote:
>
>
>
>>>You can try re-writing the MBR on disk0 in a couple different ways.
>>>
>>>Boot a Win98 floppy and run fdisk /mbr
>>
>>I don't have a FDD or a Win98 floppy
>>
>>
>>>Boot a WinXP CD, enter Recovery Console and run fixmbr
>>
>>Can't do it because it demands an admin password that I don't know.
>>
>
>
> Unless you set it differently, the default password for Recovery Console
> is a blank. Other things you can try:

Now it works

> 1. Have a knowledgeable friend or professional fix the issue for you.
> 2. Borrow a usb floppy drive and get a Win98 boot drive from
> bootdisk.com.
> 3. Try leaving the password blank for Recovery Console and do fixmbr.
>
> After you fix your XP boot files, if you want to use Grub then boot with
> the SuSE CD/DVD and repair Grub. If you aren't resourceful about this,
> you're going to have a really hard time using Linux.

I get c:/windows come up
Used fixmbr which it said it had done.
However, it seems to have wiped the Linux bootup this time? Xp still not
available
XP is on HDD1, and Linux on HDD0. Does that make a difference?

Dirk

Check out this link it may help you a little.
http://enterprise.linux.com/enterpri...tid=129&tid=49

Basically you have to edit the boot.ini through msconfig in windows but 1st
you have to get the bootsex.lnx file to point the NT Loader to the disk with
the linux partition on it.

John


"Dirk Bruere" <dirk.bruere@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3t1jjeFqr612U1@individual.net...
> Malke wrote:
>> Dirk Bruere wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>>You can try re-writing the MBR on disk0 in a couple different ways.
>>>>
>>>>Boot a Win98 floppy and run fdisk /mbr
>>>
>>>I don't have a FDD or a Win98 floppy
>>>
>>>
>>>>Boot a WinXP CD, enter Recovery Console and run fixmbr
>>>
>>>Can't do it because it demands an admin password that I don't know.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Unless you set it differently, the default password for Recovery Console
>> is a blank. Other things you can try:
>
> Now it works
>
>> 1. Have a knowledgeable friend or professional fix the issue for you.
>> 2. Borrow a usb floppy drive and get a Win98 boot drive from
>> bootdisk.com.
>> 3. Try leaving the password blank for Recovery Console and do fixmbr.
>>
>> After you fix your XP boot files, if you want to use Grub then boot with
>> the SuSE CD/DVD and repair Grub. If you aren't resourceful about this,
>> you're going to have a really hard time using Linux.
>
> I get c:/windows come up
> Used fixmbr which it said it had done.
> However, it seems to have wiped the Linux bootup this time? Xp still not
> available
> XP is on HDD1, and Linux on HDD0. Does that make a difference?
>
> Dirk

Dirk Bruere wrote:

> Malke wrote:
>> Dirk Bruere wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>>You can try re-writing the MBR on disk0 in a couple different ways.
>>>>
>>>>Boot a Win98 floppy and run fdisk /mbr
>>>
>>>I don't have a FDD or a Win98 floppy
>>>
>>>
>>>>Boot a WinXP CD, enter Recovery Console and run fixmbr
>>>
>>>Can't do it because it demands an admin password that I don't know.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Unless you set it differently, the default password for Recovery
>> Console is a blank. Other things you can try:
>
> Now it works
>
>> 1. Have a knowledgeable friend or professional fix the issue for you.
>> 2. Borrow a usb floppy drive and get a Win98 boot drive from
>> bootdisk.com.
>> 3. Try leaving the password blank for Recovery Console and do fixmbr.
>>
>> After you fix your XP boot files, if you want to use Grub then boot
>> with the SuSE CD/DVD and repair Grub. If you aren't resourceful about
>> this, you're going to have a really hard time using Linux.
>
> I get c:/windows come up
> Used fixmbr which it said it had done.
> However, it seems to have wiped the Linux bootup this time? Xp still
> not available
> XP is on HDD1, and Linux on HDD0. Does that make a difference?
>
> Dirk

What part of "boot with SuSE and repair Grub" didn't you get? XP's boot
files are on Drive 0 (we don't use "HDD" terminology in Linux; if you
have two hard drives you have hda and hdb and partitions in each). If
you installed Grub into the mbr, it is also on Drive 0. After you
repair Grub, you should be able to boot into either operating system
from the Grub menu.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Malke wrote:
> Dirk Bruere wrote:
>
>
>>Malke wrote:
>>
>>>Dirk Bruere wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>>You can try re-writing the MBR on disk0 in a couple different ways.
>>>>>
>>>>>Boot a Win98 floppy and run fdisk /mbr
>>>>
>>>>I don't have a FDD or a Win98 floppy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Boot a WinXP CD, enter Recovery Console and run fixmbr
>>>>
>>>>Can't do it because it demands an admin password that I don't know.
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Unless you set it differently, the default password for Recovery
>>>Console is a blank. Other things you can try:
>>
>>Now it works
>>
>>
>>>1. Have a knowledgeable friend or professional fix the issue for you.
>>>2. Borrow a usb floppy drive and get a Win98 boot drive from
>>>bootdisk.com.
>>>3. Try leaving the password blank for Recovery Console and do fixmbr.
>>>
>>>After you fix your XP boot files, if you want to use Grub then boot
>>>with the SuSE CD/DVD and repair Grub. If you aren't resourceful about
>>>this, you're going to have a really hard time using Linux.
>>
>>I get c:/windows come up
>>Used fixmbr which it said it had done.
>>However, it seems to have wiped the Linux bootup this time? Xp still
>>not available
>>XP is on HDD1, and Linux on HDD0. Does that make a difference?
>>
>>Dirk
>
>
> What part of "boot with SuSE and repair Grub" didn't you get? XP's boot
> files are on Drive 0 (we don't use "HDD" terminology in Linux; if you
> have two hard drives you have hda and hdb and partitions in each). If
> you installed Grub into the mbr, it is also on Drive 0. After you
> repair Grub, you should be able to boot into either operating system
> from the Grub menu.

You mean that I'll get a screen which offers me options:

Windows
Suse Linux
Suse Linux Safe

However, if I choose Windows I get this:

root (hd1,0)
Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7
chainloader +1
makeactive

followed by a black screen and zilch.

Dirk

Dirk Bruere wrote:

> You mean that I'll get a screen which offers me options:
>
> Windows
> Suse Linux
> Suse Linux Safe
>
> However, if I choose Windows I get this:
>
> root (hd1,0)
> Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7
> chainloader +1
> makeactive
>
> followed by a black screen and zilch.
>
> Dirk

Is this what you get after repairing the boot sector with Grub? Or are
you just speculating? Have you repaired XP's boot files and have you
then repaired Grub? And what did you do to your original XP
installation to mess it up anyway? Sounds like the XP partition has
been damaged and not just the boot files.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Malke wrote:
> Dirk Bruere wrote:
>
>
>>You mean that I'll get a screen which offers me options:
>>
>>Windows
>>Suse Linux
>>Suse Linux Safe
>>
>>However, if I choose Windows I get this:
>>
>>root (hd1,0)
>>Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7
>>chainloader +1
>>makeactive
>>
>>followed by a black screen and zilch.
>>
>>Dirk
>
>
> Is this what you get after repairing the boot sector with Grub? Or are

That's what I get after playing around with YsST, system, boot loader
configuration

> you just speculating? Have you repaired XP's boot files and have you

I've no idea. How can I tell, since it won't boot?

> then repaired Grub? And what did you do to your original XP
> installation to mess it up anyway? Sounds like the XP partition has

No idea

> been damaged and not just the boot files.

Maybe, but I can still read all the XP files from Linux
Bear in mind I know *nothing* about Linux. This is the first time I have
ever looked at a Linux screen. That's why I'm here asking questions.

Dirk

"Dirk Bruere" <dirk.bruere@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3sv05dFqcaj8U2@individual.net...
> Two HDDs, one with XP and other with Linux.
> I appear to have overwritten the boot stuff on the XP with Linux code.
> How can I recover?
>
> Dirk

You may get more help in a Linux newsgroup. It should be up to Linux users
to clear up Linux messes.

H

John Bell wrote:
> Check out this link it may help you a little.
> http://enterprise.linux.com/enterpri...tid=129&tid=49
>
> Basically you have to edit the boot.ini through msconfig in windows but 1st
> you have to get the bootsex.lnx file to point the NT Loader to the disk with
> the linux partition on it.
>

I think I'll have to physically swap the disks over so that XP is again on 0
At least that might cut down the number of variables.

Dirk

Want my honest opinion on this. If its possible reinstall windows on the 1st
drive just as your normally would. Then when you are finished with that
install. Install SuSe on the hdb drive when installing SuSe. It will ask
what boot loader you want to use and where you want to put it. Use the Grub
bootloader (I find it easier to use). Then make sure you have it so that it
can boot to windows. Have the boot loader installed on the HDA HDA HDA drive
or this won't work at all. Once that is installed it should give you the
GRUB bootloader menu when your computer boots up. And give choices of
Windows or Linux.
At least thats what mine has always done and I've used about 20 different
distributions doing it and never had a problem.

The key is to install Windows 1st and Linux 2nd.

John

"Dirk Bruere" <dirk.bruere@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:3t1nj4Fqhp47U1@individual.net...
> Malke wrote:
>> Dirk Bruere wrote:
>>
>>
>>>You mean that I'll get a screen which offers me options:
>>>
>>>Windows
>>>Suse Linux
>>>Suse Linux Safe
>>>
>>>However, if I choose Windows I get this:
>>>
>>>root (hd1,0)
>>>Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0x7
>>>chainloader +1
>>>makeactive
>>>
>>>followed by a black screen and zilch.
>>>
>>>Dirk
>>
>>
>> Is this what you get after repairing the boot sector with Grub? Or are
>
> That's what I get after playing around with YsST, system, boot loader
> configuration
>
>> you just speculating? Have you repaired XP's boot files and have you
>
> I've no idea. How can I tell, since it won't boot?
>
>> then repaired Grub? And what did you do to your original XP
>> installation to mess it up anyway? Sounds like the XP partition has
>
> No idea
>
>> been damaged and not just the boot files.
>
> Maybe, but I can still read all the XP files from Linux
> Bear in mind I know *nothing* about Linux. This is the first time I have
> ever looked at a Linux screen. That's why I'm here asking questions.
>
> Dirk

Hermit wrote:

> "Dirk Bruere" <dirk.bruere@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:3sv05dFqcaj8U2@individual.net...
>
>>Two HDDs, one with XP and other with Linux.
>>I appear to have overwritten the boot stuff on the XP with Linux code.
>>How can I recover?
>>
>>Dirk
>
>
> You may get more help in a Linux newsgroup. It should be up to Linux users
> to clear up Linux messes.
>
> H
>
>

Some of us here are Linux users and since it involves restoring an XP
MBR this is an appropiate newsgroup to ask in.

Steve