1

I have a computer witch cannot be boot from CD or USB. I have Debian and Windows XP with dual boot via GRUB. Now I want to uninstall Debian and GRUB and restore the Windows MBR.

I can enter boot Debian and Windows OSes, but no boot from CD or USB for recovery. How can I remove GRUb and restore MBR from within Windows XP or Debian?

NOTE: I asked this question before, but after accepting the answer, I found that Windows XP does not have fdisk command. However, I think it is too late to continue the discussion there; thus, I asked this brand new question.

Community
  • 1
Googlebot
  • 1,032
  • 3
  • 17
  • 34
  • Honestly the easiest fix is to shell out $10 bucks for an IDE CD-ROM and replace the broken drive. Then just boot into repair mode from an XP install disk. – Lee Harrison Jan 21 '13 at 21:56
  • @LeeHarrison I agree with you, but I doubt if the whole machine values $10 :D I just want to fix it for a friend. – Googlebot Jan 21 '13 at 22:03

2 Answers2

1

Recovery console has fixmbr which will do that for you. Found instructions how "Recovery console" can be started without CD. Repair MBR without CD I cannot test the procedure as I don't have XP anymore.

Quick steps:
Run "C:\Windows\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons"
Restart and select "Recovery console" during boot-up
Run "fixmbr"
Kride
  • 1,139
  • 8
  • 12
1

Restart the pc, using the installation CD, boot it, then click repair, then choose the command line option. Then type this:

bootrec/fixboot
bootrec/fixmbr

then download and use EasyBCD to edit boot.

Braiam
  • 4,709
  • 3
  • 26
  • 57
James
  • 11
  • 1