Lilo and my MBR

Jaws · 11-09-2003, 12:54 PM

I have a dual-boot system running XP on one partition and Linux (Mandrake 9.0, I believe) on the other.

Originally I was just running XP. Then I partitioned using PartitionMagic 8.0, which came with BootMagic 8.0. BootMagic required me to use up another primary partition, but I got it all set up and all was good. I installed Linux onto my second partition, and the next time I booted up, BootMagic was gone and Lilo in its place.

Not a big deal at first--I like Lilo just fine, (or at least would if I weren't too lazy to configure it properly). But BootMagic took its replacement pretty hard I guess (;)) and now I can't even open it in Windows or uninstall it (maybe because half of it is sitting on its own partition?)

I've been ignoring the problem rather successfully for what must be months now, but lately I've been thinking I'd like to try another Linux distro. If I uninstall Mandrake, though, it'll uninstall Lilo with it and I'll have nothing in my MBR. I fear the chaos that will follow so before I uninstall Mandrake I'd like to get BootMagic working again, or even just the Windows default (although I honestly can't find any Windows start disks with fdisk on them lying around).

Not sure if this is the appropriate forum for this, but I figure there's some other folks dual booting around here that might be able to help me out. If not let me know and I'll repost elsewhere.

Thanks in advance!

Doctor Beg · 11-09-2003, 06:01 PM

i will probably raise a few cringes in this forum, but the last time i had linux and windows on the same drive, to get rid of lilo, i just ran fdisk /mbr from the dos window from within windows, sorry it wasnt WinXP, dunno if that has its own boot loader (NTLDR?) to take in consideration or not

Ricky · 11-14-2003, 10:42 PM

Win xp has also its boot loader called windoz flexiboot loader.
If u want to try another linux distro .. just install that over existing and it will automaitically configure itself to boot to windoz or linux..

I think u would like to give a look at the following ...link..
http://www.linuxsolved.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17

I think i hv given u a link abt asking linux questions..

**gotissues68** · 11-15-2003, 01:45 AM

If you uninstall Mandrake and go with a different distro you won't lose LILO in the process. The bootloader stays even if you move to a different distro, in fact it'll install LILO again or Grub whatever bootloader ships with it as the default. As was mentioned you can fdisk /mbr from a DOS boot disk even with XP and it'll re-write the proper master boot record for you, if you don't have a boot disk you can grab one at www.bootdisk.com ... you can find a custom one with fdisk on it :)

owlbirdptdd · 11-15-2003, 08:19 AM

Use Partition Table Doctor: automatically checks and repairs partition table error

htttp://www.ptdd.com

11-09-2003, 12:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jaws Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Midwest US Posts: 1 OS: Windows XP/Mandrake Linux (Dual Boot)	Lilo and my MBR I have a dual-boot system running XP on one partition and Linux (Mandrake 9.0, I believe) on the other. Originally I was just running XP. Then I partitioned using PartitionMagic 8.0, which came with BootMagic 8.0. BootMagic required me to use up another primary partition, but I got it all set up and all was good. I installed Linux onto my second partition, and the next time I booted up, BootMagic was gone and Lilo in its place. Not a big deal at first--I like Lilo just fine, (or at least would if I weren't too lazy to configure it properly). But BootMagic took its replacement pretty hard I guess (;)) and now I can't even open it in Windows or uninstall it (maybe because half of it is sitting on its own partition?) I've been ignoring the problem rather successfully for what must be months now, but lately I've been thinking I'd like to try another Linux distro. If I uninstall Mandrake, though, it'll uninstall Lilo with it and I'll have nothing in my MBR. I fear the chaos that will follow so before I uninstall Mandrake I'd like to get BootMagic working again, or even just the Windows default (although I honestly can't find any Windows start disks with fdisk on them lying around). Not sure if this is the appropriate forum for this, but I figure there's some other folks dual booting around here that might be able to help me out. If not let me know and I'll repost elsewhere. Thanks in advance! __________________ -- Jaws <

11-14-2003, 10:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ricky Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 9 OS: LInux/winXP/	Win xp has also its boot loader called windoz flexiboot loader. If u want to try another linux distro .. just install that over existing and it will automaitically configure itself to boot to windoz or linux.. I think u would like to give a look at the following ...link.. http://www.linuxsolved.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17 I think i hv given u a link abt asking linux questions.. __________________ Linux Help?? www.LinuxSolved.com

11-15-2003, 01:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
gotissues68 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Vancouver Washington, Mountain View CA and Atlanta GA you pick the week! Posts: 716 OS: Linux/FreeBSD	If you uninstall Mandrake and go with a different distro you won't lose LILO in the process. The bootloader stays even if you move to a different distro, in fact it'll install LILO again or Grub whatever bootloader ships with it as the default. As was mentioned you can fdisk /mbr from a DOS boot disk even with XP and it'll re-write the proper master boot record for you, if you don't have a boot disk you can grab one at www.bootdisk.com ... you can find a custom one with fdisk on it :) __________________

11-15-2003, 08:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
owlbirdptdd Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3 OS: win98	Use partition tabe doctor Use Partition Table Doctor: automatically checks and repairs partition table error htttp://www.ptdd.com Last edited by owlbirdptdd : 11-15-2003 at 08:22 AM.

11-09-2003, 06:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Doctor Beg Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 77 OS: all	i will probably raise a few cringes in this forum, but the last time i had linux and windows on the same drive, to get rid of lilo, i just ran fdisk /mbr from the dos window from within windows, sorry it wasnt WinXP, dunno if that has its own boot loader (NTLDR?) to take in consideration or not