Recover console: What's the difference between FIXMBR and FIXBOOT?

[Al Dykes]

I've got an XP system with a broken grub bootloader setup. XP is in
the first partition and I can boot the system by entering these grub
commands

root (hd0,0)
chainloader +1
boot

I'm playing with recovery console for the first time and see FIXMBR
and FIXBOOT commands and the help doesn't say much.

What's the difference?

Is there a good guide to XP/w2k recovery techniques somewhere?

Thanks

--
a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m

Don't blame me. I voted for Gore. A Proud signature since 2001

[Wesley Vogel]

Fixboot Writes a new partition boot sector onto the system partition

Fixmbr Repairs the MBR of the partition boot sector

<quote>
MBR
Short for Master Boot Record, MBR is also sometimes referred to as the
"master boot block" and is the first sector of the computer hard disk drive
used to determine from which partition a computer will boot. The MBR tells
the computer where to find and how to load the operating system. It also
tells the computer how the hard drive is organized and provides information
about the drive's partitions.

The master boot record is located on the first sector of the hard drive;
it's the first program the computer runs after performing a memory check and
looking for a bootable disk (if set in CMOS).
<quote>
http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/m/mbr.htm

For FIXBOOT HELP, paste the followwing line into Start | Run and click OK...

hh bootcons.chm::/bootcons_fixboot.htm

FixbootWrites a new partition boot sector to the system partition. The
fixboot command is only available when you are using the Recovery Console.

For FIXMBR HELP, paste the followwing line into Start | Run and click OK...

hh bootcons.chm::/bootcons_fixmbr.htm

FixmbrRepairs the master boot record of the boot disk. The fixmbr command is
only available when you are using the Recovery Console.

<quote>
FIXBOOT
fixboot drive name:
Use this command to write the new Windows boot sector code on the system
partition. In the command syntax, drive name is the drive letter where the
boot sector will be written. This command fixes damage in the Windows boot
sector. This command overrides the default setting, which writes to the
system boot partition. The fixboot command is supported only on x86-based
computers.

FIXMBR
fixmbr device name
Use this command to repair the MBR of the boot partition. In the command
syntax, device name is an optional device name that specifies the device
that requires a new MBR. Use this command if a virus has damaged the MBR and
Windows cannot start.

Warning This command can damage your partition tables if a virus is present
or if a hardware problem exists. If you use this command, you may create
inaccessible partitions. We recommend that you run antivirus software before
you use this command.

You can obtain the device name from the output of the map command. If you do
not specify a device name, the MBR of the boot device is repaired, for
example:
fixmbr \device\harddisk2
If the fixmbr command detects an invalid or non-standard partition table
signature, fixmbr command prompts you for permission before rewriting the
MBR. The fixmbr command is supported only on x86-based computers.
<quote>
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In news:eccj6d$sd9$1...@panix5.panix.com,
Al Dykes <ady...@panix.com> hunted and pecked: