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General discussion

Dual Boot Problem with MBR

Mar 20, 2005 11:35AM PST

Installing XP Pro Upgrade onto a dual boot system with Linux. Removed Linux but when XP reboots on screen is only the prompt for GRUB (a boot loader embedded in the Master Boot Record looking for linux as the default). How do I change the order in the MBR by way of GRUB so I can have a functioning XP OS (after which I will run Partition Magic and reinstall the Linux OS)?

Discussion is locked

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Be more specific !!!
Mar 20, 2005 12:02PM PST

So you had Windows<??> and dual booted with <??>Linux.
You installed XP THEN deleted Linux

Is this all right?

If so, then you probably removed the bootloader. Install
<??>Linux and the bootload should work again. Just don't remove Windows.

* Just hope that <??>Linux has a partition resizer or you left space for <??>Linux when installing XP.

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More specific
Mar 20, 2005 7:34PM PST

Had an XP Home/Fedora Ver 3 dual boot. Tried to update XP to Professional but problems doing so do to dual boot. Reinstalled XP Home eliminating Fedora on assumption MBR would update. Ended up booting into Grub prompt and not into XP. thanks

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Three ways to do this.
Mar 20, 2005 3:37PM PST

1. Bootup with a windows bootdisk; at the dos prompt just type in FDISK/MBR then enter.

2. With an XP cd, bootup with system recovery; at the c:/> type in FIXMBR

3. With an linux bootdisk (don't know which disto you have but this will work with Mandrake). Bootup to system recovery. At the prompt, type in RESCUE; a menu will be displayed and one of the selection is "restore windows bootloader". good luck.

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Fedora Ver 3
Mar 20, 2005 7:29PM PST

Appreciate the information. To the extent relevant Disto is Fedora Ver 3

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Clarification
Mar 21, 2005 9:22AM PST

Pardon my ignorance but I assume that FIXMBR should be run before the Windows reinstall and that the install will boot from the CD with the change to the MBR.

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Wait
Mar 22, 2005 9:35AM PST

If you deleted ALL partitions, then reinstalled XP Home, you should not have any bootloader (GRUB).

Also, I think XP Pro Upgrd. gives you the option to install if an available Windows Cd is present. (not sure)

Did you delete all partitions, THEN install XP Home?