Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Software For Writing / Re-writing MBR . . .

  • 26-05-2007 1:40pm
    #1
    tak
    Closed Accounts Posts: 394 ✭✭


    Folks,

    Presently I have Linux OS on the second drive and Windows XP on the first (primary/master) drive.

    Now I want to clear the second drive and make it a complete back-up for my XP system, programs and data. Then swop disks as the present disk 1 is getting on a bit.

    But - as the whole booting process involves both an MBR on disk 1 and a boot reference point read from a file on disk 2 (dual booting with Grub) - I can't just delete and re-partition.

    I must first put a new MBR on disk 1 that references only the mount point of the XP OS on disk 1.

    And I have no means of doing this.

    Is there software to do this process without losing any data or programs on disk 1 ?

    Any ideas on solving this Siamese disks problem ?

    Regards,

    Tak.


Comments

  • #2
    tak
    Closed Accounts Posts: 394 ✭✭tak


    Vir7ual,

    Stop trying to answer questions like this today.
    You aren't even clear on the problem. We'll put that down to election result depression !;)

    The Siamese relationship between the 2 disks at present means that both are needed for the PC to work.
    I cannot send one disk to you or anyone as I need it HOURLY.
    Nor would I !

    I have Ubuntu 6.06 on the 2nd drive.

    When installing that - and the Grub loader also - one had no say in the MBR writing process. All one could do was to specify partition sizes and locations for the Ubuntu and its swap space.
    All the MBR writing was done by the installation procedure without user input.


    That's beside the main question anyhow.

    There are MBR writing programs out there.
    There is even supposed to be a procedure withing each Windows OS called fixmbr for returning the MBR to its original state on installation, although getting it needs the use of the Recovery Console and some pri*k lost my XP reinstallation CD . . .

    Fixmbr should return the system to a single boot (to XP) and thereby free my 2nd drive for reformatting.

    Tak.


Advertisement