T42p Linux Newbie: Ubuntu or Xandros - how to back up MBR?

[zgco]

Hello,

I have reserved 5GB on my HD to install either Ubuntu or Xandros (dual boot XP Pro). Any reommendations for the T42p? I have never used Linux before but from what I gather Ubuntu seems to work well. The one thing that concerns me is that Ubuntu overwrites the MBR. Can anyone tell me or point me to a link on how to back up the MBR? If I want to uninstall Ubuntu (or Xandros) and go back to XP Pro, what are the steps involved? Do I simply boot to windows and delete my Linux partition. Any clarification, especially regarding the MBR would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

[mad_medic77]

Hi,

I had Suse Linux 9.2 on my Thinkpad, but soon decided, it wasn't for me.

To get back a Windows MBR, do the following.

You need to have a bootable WindowsXP CD. If you don't, try to google how to make one, it's quite easy.

After you boot up the Windows Installation you should come to a point, when you can access the Windows recovery console.

It's a DOS Style thing and you'll have to type the order "FIXMBR" and let it do it's Job.

After that you can start your Windows normally.

Hope this helps!

Regards,

mad_medic77

[s0larian]

It's a DOS Style thing and you'll have to type the order "FIXMBR" and let it do it's Job.

oh no, that doesn't do the job at all! This just fixes the Win XP MBR, but Rescue and Recovery makes some changes to the MBR as well.

Search on google for "backup MBR" or so, that leads to some windows or unix tools. I am using Utimaco Safeguard Easy (HD encryption SW) which has a function to restore the MBR with an emergency floppy. But zgco is right: ubuntu always changes the MBR unfortunately.

@zygo: go to the linux forum here and search for this topic. I posted once a guide for installing linux grub into a small /boot partition (~30 MB) instead of the MBR (but ubuntu still changes the MBR!) and using the XP bootmanager to boot into linux. This is the only way that works with keeping the original XP/R&R MBR.