Handtops, UMPC - From Linux to GRUB

03/30/06 + anthonyb

I hope that someone can help me here.

I installed RedHat however could never get it to boot. I waned the 9Gig I set aside for Linux back so in Windows using Partition Magic I deleted all Linux stuff and now I have my single C: drive back.

All was fine until I decided to reboot. Now I only receive the GRUB prompt. Ideally there would be a way to just type "boot dos" but no such luck.

Also, my CDROM will not boot anymore. It will not even be recognized when in Windows so it think its f_____.

Does anyone know what I can do.

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edited: Mar 30 2006 + fil

Boot using a DOS CD or Floppy.

fdisk /mbr
Should clear the Grub boot loader, assuming that you didn't move the partition number that XP boots from.

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03/31/06 + werner

Before messing with external boot media and if GRUB is still functional,
you may want to have a look at "info grub" on a Linux system, and follow
the instructions under Booting::General boot methods::Chain-loading,
and maybe also have a glance at the node "DOS/Windows" underneath
that.

- Werner

03/31/06 + victorgv

there is no fdisk /mbr in winxp .You can boot using provided winxp chose recovery consol and run fixboot and or fixmbr.
Or
-----------------------
grub > root (hd0,0)
grub > chainloader +1
grub> boot
-----------------------
and it should start your windows

edited: Mar 31 2006 + fil

Try a DOS boot disk from here: link

They are self-extracting DOS boot disks.
You can also take Roxio and create a boot CD from this floppy.

fdisk comes with these disks. I use the "DOS/Windows9X/Me/NT/2K/XP Excellent" disks.

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03/31/06 + alcuin

If you have a floppy drive attached to your machine, XP can make DOS boot disks.

Place diskette in the computer.
Open My Computer, right click the A: drive and click Format.
In the Format window, check Create an MS-DOS startup disk.
Click Start

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04/03/06 + anthonyb

victorgv, you are a linux/grub god. You are "The Man". Actually, I love all Handtops.com memebers. Every Handtops.com member is "The Man" to me I am just a huge victorgv fan today.

I was in Vegas over the weekend and was hoping that someone would come through for me. Thanks everyone.

victorgv, since this is a "workaround" solution allowing me to boot windows and requiring that I always enter these commands, even out of hibernation, should my next step be to run fixboot and or fixmbr ? These should get rid of GRUB altogether correct ?

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04/03/06 + anthonyb

fil, bootdisk.com is very, very cool. I bookmarked this one.

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04/03/06 + victorgv

fixmbr should do it.

04/16/06 + anthonyb

I don't remember what if anything I did however now when I boot I receive the GRUB prompt and nothing is enterable at all.

I cannot get a usb cdrom to be recognized therefore I got a usb floppy and downloaaded the six set floppys with the idea that rather than install windows it gives you an option to go into recovery orrestore.

When the 1st floppy ask me to press f2 for Automated System Recovery however doesnt this recover from a backup ? I do not have a backup.

During a previous install I remembered getting a restore option after the 6th flopppy is inserted and just before new install starts. Anyway, this never happened since it crashed with "UNMOUNTABLE HARD DISK" error.

Lastly, the boot disk does work however I only get an A: prompt and cannot find fixmbr.

Any ideas on what I can do next.

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04/16/06 + anthonyb

UPDATE.

I got windows up by using xpquick.zip on bootdisk.com. Its so nice to hold my working oqo after weeks of focusing on other problems.

It just boots from the floppy and windows comes alive. However, when I restart I am back to where I started. I am doing a search for boot.ini to replace it if I find it.

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04/16/06 + anthonyb

Where in gods name is boot.ini ? Can anyone tell me. I did a hidden files search a nothing came up.

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04/16/06 + anthonyb

I found boot.ini.

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edited: Apr 17 2006 + fil

Did you fix it?

If not, my assumption above perhaps wasn't addressed.

C:boot.ini should look like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

When I've removed Linux on systems and I've move paritions around, somtimes XP's boot.ini needs to get repointed to the right partition.

You'll need a bootable floppy or CD and play with disk partition:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)

or

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(0)

HTH

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