FIXMBR and Dual-Core Processor (SP2)

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I am running an IBM Thinkpad X60s (setup below) with Windows XP SP2. I set up dual-booting with Ubuntu Linux v. 5, using the GRUB loader. I now need to get rid of this Linux distribution, since I now have a hard disk problem that PartitionMagic (or at least its manual and its clueless tech support) can

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A little more information about your situation would be helpful. I assume from your post that you are able to boot to XP and acccess the Recovery Console. Are you also able to boot to the Linux OS ??

I’m not familiar with Linux installations or dual boot systems, but there is some information in this thread on another forum that might shed some light on your problem. My suspicion is that the problem has something to do with the GRUB loader. HTH

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>>since instead of giving buyers XP on a hard disk, MS parked a copy of the installation on a hidden partition, and it would not be a good idea to wipe it out.

I don’t think you can blame that one on Microsoft. XP does not load into a hidden partition when you install it direct from a CD.
IBM would be the likely culprit in your case. I don’t know how old your system is but I would contact IBM regarding a separate XP CD. If no luck there, your recourse is to go out and buy a MS XP copy and repartition and format the HD.

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Re Doc Watson’s query, both WinXP and Ubuntu Linux work fine. My problem is that I can’t get rid of the GRUB loader, and that prevents me from uninstalling Linux, which I need to do. The other problem is that I can’t use PartitionMagic (v. 8, latest), since it shows an boot record error. I need to convert my data partition from NTFS to FAT 32 so that I can store Linux as well as Windows files there, and PM is the only way to do that without destroying the data on it.

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Have you tried a repair install? See How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP for more information.

Joe

--Joe

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Did you read the posts on the thread I linked to ??? The third one down states…
“Do you have Windows installed already? If so, boot from the CD, enter the recovery console (press R when it asks you whether you want to install windows etc.) When you’re at the console, type:

fixmbr

and that will remove GRUB from your system. If you don’t have Windows installed, GRUB will be overwritten as part of the installation.”

There is also something in that thread about converting a partition from NTFS to FAT32.

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The last couple of posts mystify me. As my original message said, when I tried fixmbr in the repair console, it failed to do anything, since MS didn’t design it for dual-core processors. As for the last message, I will be glad to try reinstalling WinXP if the sender will explain how that will get rid of the GRUB loader installed by Linux.

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OK. I think at this point we need some more information about what is going on with your system. Are you able to boot to both Windows and Linux ?? Are you getting any error messsages ?? BSOD ??? Black screen ??

Everything I am able to find says that the fixmbr command will uninstall GRUB and get you straigntened out, dual core or no dual core. See this thread.

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Have you checked out Alan Miller’s post 626,001 ?

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