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pmjdebruijn
Guru
Joined: 24 Jul 2003
Posts: 506
Location: Sittard, The Netherlands
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 Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 10:01 am Post subject: Can't install grub/lilo in my HardDrive's MBR |
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I've tried to install lilo and grub multiple times into the MBR of my harddrive, it is a Seagate U4 series 8GB 5400rpm drive...
Even the Windows 2000 fixmbr command doesn't replace my old bootsector.
The only piece of software that has been able to replace my bootsector is the FreeDOS FDISK /MBR command....
Anybody a clue what's going on with this drive? 
SYS SPECS: ASRock K7VM2, AMD Athlon XP 2200+, Infineon 256MB PC2100 CL2, Seagate U4 8GB.
BTW: I have tried another harddrive in the same system, which did allow it's MBR to be overwritten, thus the problem must be harddisk related.
DrZ signing of... |
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cchapman
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Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 440
Location: Fremont, NE
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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| UM I would get a new Hard Drive if you think that it is the problem... |
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pmjdebruijn
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Joined: 24 Jul 2003
Posts: 506
Location: Sittard, The Netherlands
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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I don't think the harddrive is broken.
It passes all SMART test, and also a manual disk surface test.
Next, FreeDOS FDISK /MBR can replace the bootsector....
In Linux I have even tried dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=1024 count=1024, which should erase the first 1MB of the drive. But that didn't erase the bootsector...
So my guess is that Linux is maybe mis detecting the harddrive settings or something... I don't know... |
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cchapman
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Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 440
Location: Fremont, NE
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 5:48 pm Post subject: |
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| You said that windows 2000 fdisk /mbr couldnt write to the MBR either. |
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pmjdebruijn
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Joined: 24 Jul 2003
Posts: 506
Location: Sittard, The Netherlands
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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Yes,
But FreeDOS FDISK /MBR can...
Bye,
DrZ |
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pmjdebruijn
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Joined: 24 Jul 2003
Posts: 506
Location: Sittard, The Netherlands
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| Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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Also
I didn't say it couldn't write to it... none of the utilities report any problems...
But when I reboot my computer the old bootsector seems intact, instead of having been replaced with a new one.
Bye,
DrZ |
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cyrillic
Watchman
Joined: 19 Feb 2003
Posts: 7313
Location: Groton, Massachusetts USA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 2:56 am Post subject: |
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Does your BIOS have an anti-virus function ?
This may write-protect the MBR if it is enabled. |
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pmjdebruijn
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Joined: 24 Jul 2003
Posts: 506
Location: Sittard, The Netherlands
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 9:57 am Post subject: |
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Cyrillic,
I don't think so...
I cannot find that option in my BIOS (I have a newer AMI BIOS)...
Also why does FreeDOS do write to the MBR? If there was a VirusProtection option, FreeDOS should also not be able to write to the MBR...
Right? |
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sa
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Joined: 10 Jun 2002
Posts: 450
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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interesting, but try this
| Code: | | dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=446 count=1 |
and then try capturing the mbr to file to examine it with hexdump
| Code: | | dd if=/dev/hda of=mbr.img bs=446 count=1 |
also you might get better results if hda isnt mounted.
mabey thats why you could do in freedos? |
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TheCoop
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Joined: 15 Jun 2002
Posts: 1814
Location: Where you least expect it
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 2:54 pm Post subject: |
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| sa wrote: | interesting, but try this
| Code: | | dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=446 count=1 |
and then try capturing the mbr to file to examine it with hexdump
| Code: | | dd if=/dev/hda of=mbr.img bs=446 count=1 |
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That will just wipe the mbr (zero it) and then output the zeros to mbr.img (ie you will get a file of 446 zeros)
what output does running grub, then at the prompt type:
| Code: | root (hd0,0) <-- change to your /boot partition
setup (hd0) |
give?
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