Dual boot with Windows XP -- boot sector problem?

[pwabrahams]

I've been running a dual-boot system with Kubuntu and Vista, Vista is there only because it came with my laptop. I despise Vista, so I decided to replace it with Windows XP. I started up the XP installation DVD and got as far as its first reboot, where it died with a blue-screen 0B error. My research suggests that there's a boot sector problem. After some diddling I managed to get grub started from a DVD and brought Kubuntu back to life (I'm using it at this very moment).

I can now reboot either into Kubuntu or into Windows XP -- where it dies with the blue screen error. My guess is that I need to restore the standard boot sector instead of the Linux version of the boot sector. How can I do that? Or is the problem likely to be elsewhere?

[Qqmike]

Re: Dual boot with Windows XP -- boot sector problem?

The problem is not GRUB.
GRUB is trying to boot your XP by chainloading -- by loading the XP bootloader (which is located in the boot sector of the XP partition),
BUT, obviously, the XP bootloader is broken.
If you have the XP installation disk, it should have a repair facility on it.


I really don't know if any of these have the right leads for you:
How to fix: NTLDR is missing, press any key to restart
http://tinyempire.com/notes/ntldrismissing.htm
How To Repair the Master Boot Record In Windows XP
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixthe.../repairmbr.htm
See Reply#15 by node516:
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...9102#msg169102


Now, IF you manage to repair the XP bootloader, but in doing so the XP loader also loads itself into the MBR (in addition to the XP boot sector), that's OK, but you will then have to re-install GRUB to the MBR, using this how-to:
How To GRUB Methods - Toolkit
http://kubuntuforums.net/forums/inde...opic=3081671.0
Section 3: Re-installing GRUB ...

[sithlord48]

Re: Dual boot with Windows XP -- boot sector problem?

the easyest way to fix your issues is to have an OEM xp install disk, as there the only ones with the "recovery console" option

boot to the disk hit "R" when prompted to enter recovery console\
your gonna need to know the "administrator" password to "log in"
after you log in 2 commands fixes XP

fixmbr (create new MBR sorry you have to reinstall grub)
fixboot (fixes items needed to boot xp such as NTLDR.exe)

reboot machine
check out Qqmikes link for fixing grub