Repair the Master Boot Record
This tutorial intends to show you the steps to repair the master boot record using Super Grub Disk to be able to start FreeLoader. Super Grub Disk is useful to recover GRUB after having installed Windows too.
Contents
The Problem
The story starts like this: I wanted to install ReactOS on a hard drive where I had X/K/Ubuntu or your-favorite-distribution, and I had to install LILO or GRUB, I deleted all the partitions, I have made a new one for ReactOS and I suppose the disk is clean, now that I have installed ReactOS I can't start FreeLoader.
http://reactos.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/00-grldrfreeloadergrub.jpg
Due to #2733, ReactOS cannot boot with a boot loader previously installed on the disk.
The Solution
You will first need to ensure your computer is set to boot from the CD drive before the hard drive. This is done by changing the boot sequence in the BIOS settings (refer to your computer manual for information on how to access the BIOS settings). In some motherboards, to start the computer from a CD or DVD, you hit F8 or F11 to enter the menu where you choose where to boot from.
Download Super Grub Disk and burn it to a CD or DVD (rewritable preferably) using any software of your choice. Start the computer with the CD in the drive and boot from it. Choose the following items to repair the master boot record:
- Super Grub Disk
- Choose Language & Help
- English Super Grub Disk
- Windows
- Fix Boot of Windows (Fix Windows MBR)
- Syslinux
- Select the hard disk
- Super Grub Disk will complete the request and show SGD has succeeded
- Reboot P.C.
- Remove the CD from the tray and boot from the hard disk.
After this, the master boot record will be ready to proceed with the installation of ReactOS without issues.
Using DOS
Typing "FDISK /mbr" will rewrite the MBR on your hard drive; typing "SYS C:" will copy boot files to the C: drive. source
Using Windows XP
- Boot to the Recovery Console
- type "Fixboot c:"
- type "FixMBR"
Using Windows Vista/7
(Need tutorial on using BCDEdit)
ReactOS crash and makeactive of GRUB1
Loading of ReactOS through GRUB1 (so-called "legacy GRUB") with makeactive flag set, can bring, in case of errors with ReactOS loading to misplaced active partition error: i.e. the active flag set to worng partition, tranforming the formerly working system into inusable one. To correct this, one may use the (GPL) fixparts utility
Commands of interest are 'a' and 'p'
External links
- Original guide on WordPress
- Forum tutorial (translated by Gabriel Ilardi)
- Super Grub Disk
- InfraRecorder
- Recovering the Windows Bootloader with EasyBCD (Freeware), 2011 Nov 26
- How To Fix The Windows Bootloader, 2012-11-13