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October 2001

Converting from Linux

From the October 2001 Edition
of Windows IT Pro
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Every so often, a user at my company will install Linux on his or her machine. After a while, the user decides to convert from Linux to a Windows-based OS. However, installing Windows 2000 or Windows NT on the system can be a problem because the Linux Loader (LILO) writes to the Master Boot Record (MBR), and Windows NTFS has difficulty writing over it. All too often, the new OS will install without any sign of a problem, then when the user reboots the machine, it doesn't boot.

You can work around this problem by buying a new hard disk. As a simpler and cheaper alternative, before you install the new OS, boot the machine from a Windows 95 boot disk, then issue the command

fdisk /mbr

at the command prompt. This command zeros out the system's MBR and lets you install the new OS.

—Emmett Dulaney
edulaney@iquest.net

End of Article

Reader Comments
Microsoft should switch to the vacuum cleaner business where people
actually want products that suck.


Nick December 07, 2001

I reboot witht that disk in and I get "Dish i/o error" any help?

Ben December 22, 2003

Wow, what a lame article. If you have to buy a new hard drive because LILO is on the MBR, you deserve to run Windows for life :-\ (and it's Windows lame programming that can't get rid of LILO, not a problem with LILO itself. Way to misinform the public moron. But I guess that's what Microcrap technicians do best?)

microsuck March 08, 2006 (Article Rating: )

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