[ltp] Restore WinXP MBR?

[Tim Prince]

On Sunday 23 November 2003 16:52, Szakacsits Szabolcs wrote:
> On Fri, 21 Nov 2003, Jordan Benjamin wrote:
> > So, while trying to get my partitions set up properly I installed grub
> > into the mbr for the whole disk of my T40. Although this is not a
> > problem for linux, I can't boot Windows anymore (this is required
> > sometimes for me).
>
> Something you shold have missed. grub/lilo can boot Win fine from MBR, most
> distro set it up default at install time.
Until recently, some required the Windows boot files be on FAT32 filesystem.   
OP's failure to mention versions involved encouraged many irrelevant 
responses.
>
> > I went ahead and got the recovery CDs from IBM (for which I was charged
> > $40 since I've had the machine over 30 days...I hate computer
> > companies). They restored everything but the MBR.
>
> Windows Recovery Console: fixmbr and/or fixboot.
>
Requires possession of retail installation CD.  In the case of Win2K, user 
would require the forethought to install RC before undertaking linux.  Turned 
out the question was on XP, in spite of all the efforts to divert to 98 and 
the like.
> > I don't have a floppy drive; any suggestions? Would I be able to use any
> > usb floppy drive to boot my ThinkPad (to use a windows boot floppy to
> > fix the mbr)?
>
> No need for floppy to boot dos floppies. 
You're still allowing the OP's mixture of comments to distract you.  Unless 
the OP had made a recovery floppy (is there such for XP?), as well as having 
Recovery Console available, the floppy drive has no role to play.  Still 
might not, as Windows doesn't appear to have a working floppy driver for my 
T40.