utility for fixing MBR/boot order (solved)

[Marin85]

Hi folks,
I´ll need soon some utility to fix the MBR after uninstalling Linux (intend to repartition and install another distro). I currently have Windows Vista 32bit running on my ThinkPad, but it would be even more useful if it also works for XP. I need it to be small (for instance less than 150MB) and I´ll be happy with both bootable image or a program operating from within Windows. Any recommendations?

Thanks

Marin

[Harryc]

If you intend to install another distro, why not just leave GRUB (or LILO) intact where it is?

[Marin85]

Because I made a mistake and wiped out the Ubuntu partitions before repartitioning the Vista drive Besides, Acronis requires reboot in order to repartition the boot drive, which is impossible after what I did... Why go the easy way, when one can go the hard one...
I found EasyBCD on the net and it did pretty good job, so problem solved.

A side note: Since I don´t have here any ethernet cable and couldn´t manage to find out which packages I need for Linux pump (in order to obtain them through Windows), I finally gave up trying to make my Atheros card work under Ubuntu. Perhaps, when I´m back home, I´ll give it a try again, but for now this topic is closed for me. I´m now going to try OpenSuse to see if the same problem persists.

Cheers

Marin

[Harryc]

Most recent distros/kernels have the same issue. They offer the open source ath5k as the default Atheros driver. Opensuse is no exception, although I have gotten Atheros cards to work there too, but using older Madwifi drivers. I am a moderator at forums.opensuse.org.
ath5k will get better over time as it is developed.

[Marin85]

So I have just found the right person Now, seriosly, the most recent distros also have the madwifi drivers included, right? How do they distinguish which one to install?... I mean for example Ubuntu has used the madwifi driver (according to "Hardware drivers").
I´m starting to think that ath5k is not my problem or at least it´s just a small part of the problem since blacklisting ath5k didn´t help much. It seems to me that there is a specific issue with the AR5BXB6 chipset under Ubuntu as posted here and here. If that is really true, I hope I´ll have better luck with other distros.
Offtopic question: Does OpenSuse have the same load cycle count issue as Ubuntu? (for reference see here)

Marin

[Harryc]

I am not sure about 'all most recent distros', but you mentioned wanting to try Opensuse specifically and it does not include Madwifi drivers, only ath5k. I have not seen a discussion on the opensuse forums about 'load cycle count'. I read the entire article at Ubuntu forums and I for one never allow the drives to 'sleep' on AC, but do so on battery. The drive I have in my T61 is a ST980817 and has a 5 year warranty from Seagate. If it dies before then I don't care . I think some of what was said is accurate, but many of the recommendations are alarmist. Never park the drive's heads and never allow it to spin down just to reduce cycle count... I don't see the value, plus replacement drives are relatively cheap. Not to mention the fact that as soon as the prices come down a bit more for larger capacity solid state drives, 90% of folks out there are going to make the swap. End of issue.