Fix the MBR in Windows XP

[Big Booger]

It's odd that this procedure doesn't work. Everytime I have had an MBR issue the fix I posted above worked.


You could try a few things...


Run a repair install
Reinstall over the existing installation

Or using the XP disk, make a new partition, and install XP that way. Then you'll be all set.

[master_rigel2]

It's odd that this procedure doesn't work. Everytime I have had an MBR issue the fix I posted above worked.


You could try a few things...

Run a repair install
Reinstall over the existing installation

Or using the XP disk, make a new partition, and install XP that way. Then you'll be all set.

Would it not be possible to simply
* Insert Windows XP CD
* enter recovery console
* copy command.com and fixmbr.(com, exe) to corrupted HDD
* Go to drive in question
* Type command.com (will effectively create a command session generating the appearance of system drive?)
* Type FixMBR


As I read in a Windows XP support page, FIXMBR only operates on the system drive! So if you boot from the CD, it'll try to re-write the MBR on the CD.

This should work, assuming the Windows XP kernel respects the command interpereter. Each time you run command it creates a new session inside the first one, most of the environment variables should be moved over to the HDD.


Rigel

[Big Booger]

Would it not be possible to simply
* Insert Windows XP CD
* enter recovery console
* copy command.com and fixmbr.(com, exe) to corrupted HDD
* Go to drive in question
* Type command.com (will effectively create a command session generating the appearance of system drive?)
* Type FixMBR

This would likely work, but how many people even know how to use the command line to copy files today? Or even to switch directories for that matter?

But this will not work if the hard drive is dead..

I was trying to make the process as simple as possible for someone who is uncomfortable with command line procedures.

FIXMBR is about as simple as it gets...

As I read in a Windows XP support page, FIXMBR only operates on the system drive! So if you boot from the CD, it'll try to re-write the MBR on the CD.

The system drive was the drive you are trying to fix the MBR on... not the CD... I don't know what you are talking about when you say "So if you boot from the CD, it'll try to re-write the MBR on the CD."

You use the CD to boot to the recovery console. That puts you at a command prompt. YOu type FIXMBR and it repairs the master boot record of the system drive. The system drive being the drive that holds your windows XP installation...

[GeesRiK]

HELP!

After reading this thread (found it doing a Google!) I think you might be able to help... I have a very similar problem.. (this might be long winded.. but I really need to get this drive back as it has photos of my son on it and I never back it up... )

The drive in Question is set up as my Primary Slave and was just a spare drive to store work, Gen' stuff on and the odd program

I noticed one day that some icons on my desktop had the default Windows logo, and not there actually ones. I went to check the programs that I had installed on to this drive (happens to be D:\) and when I double clicked to open it, it said that the drive wasn't formatted and did I want to format it now... HELL NO I said...

Well, I booted up the PC with a Partition Magic 8 Bootable CD and it said that Drive 1 and 3 were fine (they showed the right size and usage) but drive 2 (the problem drive) wasn't active. I set it to active. but still not joy in windows. I checked in Disk Management and it shows all 3 HDD, but D:\ doesn't have a File system like the other two. (both NTFS like D:\ used to be.)

So.. .if anyone can help... I'd owe them many a Beer... (not sure how I'd get the beer to them... but I'd try my damn'est!...

[Big Booger]

HELP!

After reading this thread (found it doing a Google!) I think you might be able to help... I have a very similar problem.. (this might be long winded.. but I really need to get this drive back as it has photos of my son on it and I never back it up... )

The drive in Question is set up as my Primary Slave and was just a spare drive to store work, Gen' stuff on and the odd program

I noticed one day that some icons on my desktop had the default Windows logo, and not there actually ones. I went to check the programs that I had installed on to this drive (happens to be D:\) and when I double clicked to open it, it said that the drive wasn't formatted and did I want to format it now... HELL NO I said...

Well, I booted up the PC with a Partition Magic 8 Bootable CD and it said that Drive 1 and 3 were fine (they showed the right size and usage) but drive 2 (the problem drive) wasn't active. I set it to active. but still not joy in windows. I checked in Disk Management and it shows all 3 HDD, but D:\ doesn't have a File system like the other two. (both NTFS like D:\ used to be.)

So.. .if anyone can help... I'd owe them many a Beer... (not sure how I'd get the beer to them... but I'd try my damn'est!...

First I'd check the cables, power etc.... unplug then plug it back it. Boot and see if you can read the drive.

If not, check here:

http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/comp/hdd...ruption-c.html

I'd be careful. If you value the data, then you might just want to use some other tooks to retrieve the data.

Another option would be to use a Linux Live CD and see if you can access it from there. The live CD should make no changes to the disk, and might be able to access it.. but I dunno for sure.

[badpapajj]

I need some info on fdisk /mbr. Do you type it on the win98>. I am not getting any fix or any response when I type it in, it just goes back to the prompt. I am running XP Home, upgrade version from 98SE. My cd does not boot, it is an upgrade. My 98SE cd will boot. Thanks, be as detailed as you can please.

I am running XP Home. Two days ago it would take forever to boot. It will take over a minute on the black Windows screen, then take another two minuts on a blank screen before it takes you to user password screen, then everything works kind of normal. It does not do this in safe mode. I tried last known config, restoring to an earlier time when this didnot happen but nothing changes same problem. I tried all my anti virus, spyware, malware software and it looks clean. Hijackthis looks clean. I cannot get it to boot from a cd because the boot won't give me that option on boot up. It is configured to boot from cd first but it won't. Help please. The whole boot process takes betwwen 5 and 6 minutes to get to the welcome screen. Correction, it will let me boot to cd but this cd is an upgrade to XP from 98. It will recognize the 98 cd but not the XP upgrade. I was trying to fix MBR to see if that will work. Any ideas.

[Big Booger]

I need some info on fdisk /mbr. Do you type it on the win98>. I am not getting any fix or any response when I type it in, it just goes back to the prompt. I am running XP Home, upgrade version from 98SE. My cd does not boot, it is an upgrade. My 98SE cd will boot. Thanks, be as detailed as you can please.

I am running XP Home. Two days ago it would take forever to boot. It will take over a minute on the black Windows screen, then take another two minuts on a blank screen before it takes you to user password screen, then everything works kind of normal. It does not do this in safe mode. I tried last known config, restoring to an earlier time when this didnot happen but nothing changes same problem. I tried all my anti virus, spyware, malware software and it looks clean. Hijackthis looks clean. I cannot get it to boot from a cd because the boot won't give me that option on boot up. It is configured to boot from cd first but it won't. Help please. The whole boot process takes betwwen 5 and 6 minutes to get to the welcome screen. Correction, it will let me boot to cd but this cd is an upgrade to XP from 98. It will recognize the 98 cd but not the XP upgrade. I was trying to fix MBR to see if that will work. Any ideas.

You either have a virus, spyware, adware, or something else like that. If your computer will boot (even slowly), your MBR is fine AFAIK.

http://www.techzonez.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9739

Check that thread out on the double time! Move it soldier. Be all that you can be, get an edge on life in the spyware thread!

http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/photos00/00254b.jpg

Also something else that might slow up your booting times:

Do you have a boot time defragger installed? Have you isntalled any software recently? Have you tried messing in the MSCONFIG settings under the startup tab * go there and remove any unnecessary crap*.

Honestly you should do a clean install, instead of an upgrade from windows 98.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase...p_sg_clean.asp

that site will walk you through the process.