Aaron Veteran Posted March 3, 2005 Veteran Share Posted March 3, 2005 If for some reason you find the need to get back to your Windows XP bootloader instead of the one installed by your Linux distro, simply follow these instructions: 1. Boot up with your Windows XP disc. 2. Select the option Recovery Console. 3. At the prompt, type "fdisk /mbr" (without the quotes of course) 4. Restart your computer. Edited with correct info from the following posts... Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Veteran Posted March 4, 2005 Author Veteran Share Posted March 4, 2005 Jeez, leave it to me to have a typo in my very first HOW TO. Mark, fix that would ya? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585566188 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Candyman Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 For me and some others you might need to type "fdisk /mbr" instead of "fixmbr" just thought I'd add that before people start saying it doesn't work Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585566261 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurmoth Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 Thanks for the info :D This might come in handy Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585566272 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 Which if you still need linux you better have a boot disk. you can also type "fixboot" (without the quotes) to get it fixed. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585566292 Share on other sites More sharing options...
acerr Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 is there a way to recover the winlogin.exe Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585566297 Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuarterSwede Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 (edited) For me and some others you might need to type "fdisk /mbr" instead of "fixmbr"just thought I'd add that before people start saying it doesn't work 585566261[/snapback] Hahaha, you beat me to it! Yeah, Fixmbr and Fixboot both don't work. I know, I've tried several times. All they do is jack up the NTLoader. Edited March 4, 2005 by Jstphish Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585566400 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Help Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 Nice how to, might be useful one day. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585566411 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Dick C. Normous Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 (edited) is there a way to recover the winlogin.exe 585566297[/snapback] Of course there is :) Boot into the recovery console and use this command. expand d:\i386\winlogon.ex_ c:\windows\system32\winlogon.exe D: = drive Xp cd is in C: = drive Xp is installed on Edited March 4, 2005 by Mr. Dick C. Normous Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585566425 Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted March 4, 2005 Veteran Share Posted March 4, 2005 Jeez, leave it to me to have a typo in my very first HOW TO. Mark, fix that would ya? 585566188[/snapback] Not a problem. Done. You should always be able to go back and edit your first post. All members are able to do this. At least that is how I understand it to work. :unsure: And, by the way, thanks for the quick write-up! This gets asked an awful lot. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585568976 Share on other sites More sharing options...
butterflychoke Posted March 4, 2005 Share Posted March 4, 2005 What if you do not have an XP cd, just recovery discs? Are you out of luck? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585569154 Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted March 4, 2005 Veteran Share Posted March 4, 2005 What if you do not have an XP cd, just recovery discs? Are you out of luck? 585569154[/snapback] I would think that borrowing a friend's XP CD would be a good solution. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585569176 Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR_Candyman Posted March 5, 2005 Share Posted March 5, 2005 I like using the windows 98/me boot discs the best. You can freely download them from the net Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585570750 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krpano Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 Hahaha, you beat me to it!Yeah, Fixmbr and Fixboot both don't work. I know, I've tried several times. All they do is jack up the NTLoader. 585566400[/snapback] Agreed with that. It always mess with the NTLoader.....arghhhhhh...gotta hate windows. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585655770 Share on other sites More sharing options...
glasscleaner Posted March 25, 2005 Share Posted March 25, 2005 fdisk /mbr work well too :) Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585672021 Share on other sites More sharing options...
DjmUK Posted April 24, 2005 Share Posted April 24, 2005 fdisk /mbr does not work for me. I've even ran a search on my XP box for 'fdisk'...and it's not on here. Is there a way that actually works? shall I try the 'fixmbr' command and see if that works - because I really don't wanna' mess up my system. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585823046 Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted April 26, 2005 Veteran Share Posted April 26, 2005 fdisk /mbr does not work for me. I've even ran a search on my XP box for 'fdisk'...and it's not on here.Is there a way that actually works? shall I try the 'fixmbr' command and see if that works - because I really don't wanna' mess up my system. 585823046[/snapback] I have always used fdisk /mbr, but I pretty much stopped using Windows right about the start of the XP days, so I can't say for sure which command is supported in XP. Both are equivalent commands, so they are both safe (and set the MBR back to the MS default) Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585830160 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj6ross Posted April 26, 2005 Share Posted April 26, 2005 fixmbr worked great. Thanks for the info. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585830203 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikey1001 Posted April 26, 2005 Share Posted April 26, 2005 I have always used fdisk /mbr, but I pretty much stopped using Windows right about the start of the XP days, so I can't say for sure which command is supported in XP. Both are equivalent commands, so they are both safe (and set the MBR back to the MS default) 585830160[/snapback] If you have MS Windows 95/98/ME installed, click on Start >> Run. Type in "command", without the quotes, and press Enter. At the command prompt, type in the command "fdisk /mbr" to reinstall the Windows bootloader into the MBR. If you have MS Windows 2000/XP installed, you will need to have the Windows Installation CD. Insert the Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive and reboot your computer. When Windows Setup loads up, follow the onscreen instructions to open the Recovery Console. At the Recovery Console command prompt, type in the command "fixmbr" to reinstall the Windows bootloader into the MBR. Slight difference in the OS's. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585830234 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmdsoftware Posted April 29, 2005 Share Posted April 29, 2005 Ok folks. Fixmbr and fixboot are not working for me. It says it has revised the boot sector etc, but when I restart the computer it still says the hard drive is not bootable. Tried from the Windows XP CD. The options are limited - it won't let you run anything but what is listed under help (so, no fdisk, sys, etc). I'm getting very frustrated. I tried reinstalling XP, but it simply copies files over to the HD, resets the computer and then tries to boot from the hard drive (which it cannot do). I'm lost for a solution. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585845486 Share on other sites More sharing options...
markwolfe Veteran Posted April 29, 2005 Veteran Share Posted April 29, 2005 Ok folks.Fixmbr and fixboot are not working for me. It says it has revised the boot sector etc, but when I restart the computer it still says the hard drive is not bootable. Tried from the Windows XP CD. The options are limited - it won't let you run anything but what is listed under help (so, no fdisk, sys, etc). I'm getting very frustrated. I tried reinstalling XP, but it simply copies files over to the HD, resets the computer and then tries to boot from the hard drive (which it cannot do). I'm lost for a solution. 585845486[/snapback] I am not sure why your XP is refusing to boot. Really, all that needs to be done is get Windows to restore the MBR and you are done. What I would recommend at thsi point (you did try a Win98 boot disk from http://www.bootdisk.com/ right?) is that you back up whatever data you can - use a Knoppix LiveCD if you must to get access to your data. Then fdisk and remove all partitions and reinstall XP completely from scratch. You may have some bad data in your partition table that prevents it from accessing the correct Microsoft data outside the MBR. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-585847112 Share on other sites More sharing options...
diamonds Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 The easiest way to fix this problem (I know, ive had to do it quite a few times) is to go on and start the installion, and format the drive. THEN go into the recovery console and in this order type fixmbr then fixboot and reinstall windows. I have not yet figured out how to keep windows on a seperate partition and have it still boot Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-586349964 Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsychCom Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 I am not sure why your XP is refusing to boot. Really, all that needs to be done is get Windows to restore the MBR and you are done.What I would recommend at thsi point (you did try a Win98 boot disk from http://www.bootdisk.com/ right?) is that you back up whatever data you can - use a Knoppix LiveCD if you must to get access to your data. Then fdisk and remove all partitions and reinstall XP completely from scratch. You may have some bad data in your partition table that prevents it from accessing the correct Microsoft data outside the MBR. 585847112[/snapback] dont need to start fdisk. just use the windows xp or 2000 cd and format there then reboot. about people not getting this to work. not taking you all for stupid or anything like that, i would say check if the error says ntloader missing, if so you have to copy it from the xp cd. that is a whole other operation i dont have at hand rigth now. *there work houres are done, driving home* Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-586350185 Share on other sites More sharing options...
_I am Reptar Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 In the past i've done: Boot from xp cd Recovery Console fixmbr fixboot restart, back to windows :D Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-586350201 Share on other sites More sharing options...
protoss_chaos Posted August 9, 2005 Share Posted August 9, 2005 If for some reason you find the need to get back to your Windows XP bootloader instead of the one installed by your Linux distro, simply follow these instructions:1. Boot up with your Windows XP disc. 2. Select the option Recovery Console. 3. At the prompt, type "fixmbr" (without the quotes of course) 4. Restart your computer. 585565400[/snapback] Better hope u only have on partition, or you will trash them all (well, they will exist, but u won't be able to boot them)!!! You should warn people ahead of tyme.... Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/292614-how-to-get-back-your-windows-xp-bootloader/#findComment-586350204 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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