Master Boot Record repair

[theonetruewill]

I need to fix the Master Boot Record on my PC. The PC won't go further than the Verify the DMI Data Pool. It then locks unless I use a floppy. The CD/DVD drive refuses to operate as well, rendering my XP disk useless. The disk's MBR has corrupted but I can't fix it atm because I can't use the XP disk and thus can't use the repair installation or fdisk utility in the Recovery console.

Any help is really appreciated!

Problem Solved

 

[theonetruewill]

bump- I've been without my proper PC for 3 days!

 

[L|NK|N]

Can you make a Dos disk and do the command?

 

[zekrahminator]

Hold on a second.

I don't think your XP disk has been rendered useless. BIOS/Setup is telling the computer to boot onto the hard drive before booting onto the CD. Go into BIOS/Setup, tell it to boot from the CD, and then stick the XP disk in and reboot.

Once you have the XP disk running, I'm pretty sure you know what to do from there. If not, I can post a quick guide for you.

 

[theonetruewill]

Hold on a second.

I don't think your XP disk has been rendered useless. BIOS/Setup is telling the computer to boot onto the hard drive before booting onto the CD. Go into BIOS/Setup, tell it to boot from the CD, and then stick the XP disk in and reboot.

Once you have the XP disk running, I'm pretty sure you know what to do from there. If not, I can post a quick guide for you.

No it refuses to boot when I made the CD as first priority. It hangs when it says Boot from CD/DVD. It seems to only boot from floppy. Don't worry, I'm not that dense! How do I make a DOS disk?

 

[zekrahminator]

Sorry .

 

[theonetruewill]

Sorry .

I wasn't offended don't worry. I know the best solution is normally the simplest one!

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

This is my solution to the problem. I have had this happen MANY times. When this happens I say, "fuck it time to reformat." Now if you have files you need to keep the partition of windows and get those so now make a new partition of xxxx gbs you need, and then move the files, and reinstall windows on the partition. Now the MBR is really not fun to work with so I recommend you kill that, kill linux (backup files there too) and then reinstall both windows and linux.

 

[theonetruewill]

This is my solution to the problem. I have had this happen MANY times. When this happens I say, "fuck it time to reformat." Now if you have files you need to keep the partition of windows and get those so now make a new partition of xxxx gbs you need, and then move the files, and reinstall windows on the partition. Now the MBR is really not fun to work with so I recommend you kill that, kill linux (backup files there too) and then reinstall both windows and linux.

There's a problem though- I can't boot from CD either! Help, also I don't have Linux yet- I will as soon as I get this fixed. I really want to get into it''''oddly enough more so than playing a game!

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Boot from a floppy, or a thumb drive. You do have floppy right... *shakes head*

 

[theonetruewill]

Boot from a floppy, or a thumb drive. You do have floppy right... *shakes head*

Yes I do-of course I do, but how do I boot from it? How do I make a DOS disk?

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Yes I do-of course I do, but how do I boot from it? How do I make a DOS disk?

Don't make a fucking dos disk, get Gparted and make another partition.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/index.php

Edit: See liveusb?!?!? Click it for happy.

 

[theonetruewill]

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/index.php

Edit: See liveusb?!?!? Click it for happy.

Can you come on MSN?

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Gladly.

 

[Jonnycat]

If you can't access CD drive, you have more problems than a borked MBR (assuming you have already found all of the BIOS switches for alternate boot device, boot alternate device enable, et cetera).

A few things to try:

Disconnect all IDE devices and see what happens.

Connect only one IDE device and see what happens (either a CD-ROM or a different IDE HDD than you have now).

Reset the BIOS.

Try an add-on PCI IDE card and see if you can get that to boot.

With the information gleaned from the above procedures, you will have a clearer picture of what your problem is. It could be something as simple as a cable that has gone funky or intermittent, but without getting more information, there is no way to know.

 

[theonetruewill]

If you can't access CD drive, you have more problems than a borked MBR (assuming you have already found all of the BIOS switches for alternate boot device, boot alternate device enable, et cetera).

A few things to try:

Disconnect all IDE devices and see what happens.

Connect only one IDE device and see what happens (either a CD-ROM or a different IDE HDD than you have now).

Reset the BIOS.

Try an add-on PCI IDE card and see if you can get that to boot.

With the information gleaned from the above procedures, you will have a clearer picture of what your problem is. It could be something as simple as a cable that has gone funky or intermittent, but without getting more information, there is no way to know.

I have replaced all SATA cables. I will try and fit my other CD drive.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Ok fyi, it could be all nothing, but if you unplug all your components then you can make sure the DVD drive is not messin with the comp. I have had an optical drive mess with the boot before. Good point jcat.

Edit: Truewill thank Jcat, not me, he came up with t3h idea that gave me the idea.

 

[theonetruewill]

Ok fyi, it could be all nothing, but if you unplug all your components then you can make sure the DVD drive is not messin with the comp. I have had an optical drive mess with the boot before. Good point jcat.

Will do now

 

[theonetruewill]

Wasn't the Optical drive- no change.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

K remember the what OS are you? Well I got slax and if you understand how people consider me insane this is why. My solutions might feel like they take longer but they are obviously easier and don't need you to have a CD drive cause I'm too 1337 for that.

So thumb drive it up and first get Gparted thumb drive, steal some windoze partition, make a backup of the files you want and then you get the thumb drive, and put DSL on there, then boot to that from the USB drive, then with your magical powerz, put all the windoze files which hopefully dsl can see onto the the newly created backup partion. End rant.

 

[theonetruewill]

K remember the what OS are you? Well I got slax and if you understand how people consider me insane this is why. My solutions might feel like they take longer but they are obviously easier and don't need you to have a CD drive cause I'm too 1337 for that.

So thumb drive it up and first get Gparted thumb drive, steal some windoze partition, make a backup of the files you want and then you get the thumb drive, and put DSL on there, then boot to that from the USB drive, then with your magical powerz, put all the windoze files which hopefully dsl can see onto the the newly created backup partion. End rant.

MSN again?!

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

MSN again?!

I keep losing internet and during the wootoff of all times! Ya be there.

 

[theonetruewill]

Fixed! Using Windows 95 via floppy disk installation. Windows 95 FTW!

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Fixed! Using Windows 95 via floppy disk installation. Windows 95 FTW!

Nice job!