Re: fresh install on crashed disk

[Tim Hurman <kano-tlug@example.com>]

On Mon, 10 Sep 2001, SN_Diamond wrote:

> Tim Hurman wrote:
>
> > > broken partition table, zero the MBR, and start over.
> >
> > easier, boot a set of dos disks and type
>
> As was already pointed out, this couldn't be accomplished.  I pointed out
> one possible reason why, and someone else has pointed out other possible
> reasons why.  Anyway, next:
IIRC we had only inferred that it was impossible to boot Win2k and Linux,
and not DOS...Unless I missed a post.

>
> > fdisk /mbr
> > which will overwrite any and all mbr information.
>
> Wrong.  fdisk /mbr will overwrite the boot code in the MBR (for example
> removing lilo) but it will not overwrite other information in the MBR.  For
> example if a valid partition table is in place then it remains in place, not
> zeroed.  For example if a broken partition table is in place then it remains
> in place, not zeroed and not repaired.

Ok, so I am wrong here. However if DOS had os booted it would have been
possible to remove partitions etc. Also some BIOSes have a nice "low level
format" util, although I cant remember if they are just SCSI BIOSes.

Anyway, it's fixed now.

Tim.