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Old 11-16-2004, 10:27 PM   #1
vimut
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Registered: Nov 2004
Location: Hanoi
Posts: 2

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unable to reinstall Win after installing Linux


Hi everybody, did anyone have the same problems?
After installing Linux RH 9 dual boot with win2k on 40GB hard disk, I can't boot into Windows. Only somthing like: "...(hd0,0)..." on the screen.

I tried to reinstall Win2k but I couldn't finish the install process. I couldn't jump into Win at the first time restart. I did reformat MBR (fdisk /mbr) to clear LILO from it but still can't install Win, only mes:"missing operating system" at the first time boot.

I used partition magic and found alot of errors on the hard disk, some thing wrong with LBA. Partition Magic can't format harddisk (error mes:"bad MBR").

Fdisk can detect only 6GB from 40GB hard disk.
What happened to my hard disk? Why the Win2k install process didn't rewrite MBR?

can someone plz help me.

thanks alot.

Vimut.
 
Old 11-16-2004, 10:50 PM   #2
egkenny
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Registered: Aug 2003
Posts: 10

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fdisk /mbr should not be used with Windows 2000. Boot with the Windows 2000 disk and select R to go to the recovery console. To restore the mbr from the command line type the command:
FIXMBR

If you can't remove the linux partitions with Windows 2000 then boot with the RH9 disk.

When you get to the command prompt type the command:
ls /mnt

You should see a directory something lilke sysimage there

Switch the root / to that path by typing:
chroot /mnt/sysimage

Run fdisk on the first drive by typing:
fdisk /dev/hda

Fdisk commands:
m - list menu
p - list partitions
d - delete partitions
w- write new partition information

You should be able to delete all the partitions on the drive this way and start with a blank drive. Make sure you write the changes to the drive when you are done.

NOTE: I am giving this information from memory so it may not be 100% accurate. You should be able to figure out any missing details. If you have any more questions please asks.

If all this seems intimidating then you can always download a utility from the hard drive manufacturer's web site and do a "low level format" which writes all zeros to the drive. There will be nothing left on the drive then.
 
Old 11-17-2004, 02:20 AM   #3
vimut
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Registered: Nov 2004
Location: Hanoi
Posts: 2

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thanks egkenny alot! I fixed it by fdisk on FC2. It is totally useful.


You are right, fdisk /mbr didn't work in this situation.
 
  


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