Deleted linux partition on a dual boot system...made mistake?

shahidsaab1 · 07-03-2006, 12:56 PM

Hey everyone,

I am new to linux. I think I made a mistake and now I am getting a GRUB LOADER Error 21. I had a dual boot system of winxp and ubuntu. On a single hdd, winxp had 80gig partition with linux 30gig partition. After many months, I decided I wanted to remove ubuntu and through partition magic in winxp I deleted the main linux partition, not noticing the smaller swap linux partition. Now I get the error 21. Can I salvage my system without having to reformat the entire drive? What should I do now? Thanks in advance for your help.

deroB · 07-03-2006, 01:11 PM

Hi,

The easiest way is to insert your WinXP disk, goto rescue mode and type "fixmbr".
This will fix your Master Boot Record (remove grub) and Windows should start.

good luck

ArthurDent · 07-03-2006, 01:12 PM

Well I don't think this is terminal... If I read your post right you have simply wiped Linux off your hard drive - and you want to go back to just Windows (strange but OK...)

Now I'm no expert on this and if this is wrong I hope someone else will step in...

All you need to do is to put back the MBR (Master Boot Record) that Windows had (and that Ubuntu replaced with Grub) the information that Grub needs to boot isn't there anymore - that was in your Linux partition.

As I understand it - and please check first - to restore the Windows MBR you need to put in a Windows rescue disk - or boot from the Windows CD and run the command fdisk /MBR which is supposed to recover the original boot record. I've not done it myself...

The other option would be to reinstall Ubuntu (or another Linux distro) which should find Windows and set up Grub all over again and allow you to dual-boot again.

Hope this helps...

Mark

ArthurDent · 07-03-2006, 01:14 PM

Damn! A quicker typist than me! (Not difficult)

Well done DeroB - got there first... (and a better reply)

Mark

raskin · 07-03-2006, 01:19 PM

Well, if you removed linux partition, GRUB will not work. Try booting from DOS (Windows) boot-cd and run fdisk /fixmbr (or simply mbr, I don't remember, must be mentioned in /?).

shahidsaab1 · 07-03-2006, 01:23 PM

Thanks for your speedy replies! Damn, the Linux community is fast.

shahidsaab1 · 07-06-2006, 12:38 AM

I was just able to try the fix...it worked beautifully. Thanks again!!!!