May 15, 1999 02:15 PM

Blasting MBRs

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Windows IT Pro
InstantDoc ID #5327
Empty your hard disk to install a new OS
Installing and removing versions of Windows NT, Windows 9x, and Linux on a computer often leads to mysterious computer behavior. Recently, I thought that I had completely removed Linux from a computer, but the computer wouldn't boot without a Linux-ish error message. I zapped every partition and still Linux raised its head—despite a seemingly empty hard disk. PC veterans attribute mysteries of this type to an area of the disk called the Master Boot Record (MBR). Unless you know a few tricks, NT, other versions of Windows, and DOS lack simple tools for working with the MBR.

The MB...

ARTICLE TOOLS

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Is that all in this article? The dots at the end suggest more content, but can't find it. Not impressed.

John11/26/2007 3:21:41 PM


great!
old school style works great...
fixmbr, fdisk /mbr, lilo, etc...etc... did not
report any error - but still my drive was NOT bootable...

until I found this superbe article!

cheerio from switzerland
guschti


Anonymous User 1/12/2005 10:50:47 AM


Of all articles that I have read in search of help, this one is superior to all. This article shows that the writer knows his stuff. thanks a million

Anonymous User 1/9/2005 3:30:17 PM


To Whom Wrote This:

You are great!

Thanks A Lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous User 12/23/2004 3:33:17 PM


I tryed the debug code, but it did not clean the MBR

Anonymous User 11/1/2004 7:04:10 AM


Australian keyboards convert v to c and x to f to enable kangaroo typing...also helps wallabees. Could be you are so far down under that you are upside down whilst typing.

Kevin6/21/2004 4:14:23 AM


Hi Mark,
I am trying to enact your code as in this article.
Mark Minasi
Inside Out
InstantDoc #5327 Blasting MBRs

I am finding that if I put in the comand Mov dx,9000 I get an error on the o, If I change the o to a Zero the error moves to the v which I changed to a c ,, converting above to M0(=zero)c df,9000 it comes up with no errors , could you please tell me what I am doing wrong or send me the Item in an easier to follow format,
I am using a win98 boot disk, Testing some of the other commands I still get errors on some of the other letters & no,s.entered.
Hoping you can Help.
Regards Graham Schultz, Australia

Graham Schultz 4/27/2004 7:05:35 AM


Brilliant!!! Genius article! Make sure you read carefully and understand fully before execution. Had a problem with converting a drive from Ext3 back to Fat32 where Partition Magic fell short. Thx for saving my ASCII! :)

Dave Wilson 4/6/2004 2:37:04 AM


Thanks a lot! Your assembly explanation was great for me !!
I allways want to know how to write to a hard disk single sector and now I can do it!! Excellent !!


Paulo Farinazzo 3/31/2003 8:42:09 PM


I hope the author reads this, as MBR Blasting just saved my day again!
Don't have to use it often, but when I do it has not failed me yet and does the trick *very* well.

Thank you!

Clinton Meyer 3/24/2003 3:04:21 PM


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