undoing dual-boot

[Brian Truter]

Joe Szilagyi wrote:
> Any way around that if I don't have the disk? This was one of those 
> pre-installed on the server XP deals.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -=Brian Truter=- said the following on 2/18/2004 3:27 PM:
> 
>> I dont think fdisk /mbr will work on an NTFS partition. You would have to
>> use the recovery console on The WinXP installation CD to repair the MBR
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Joe Szilagyi" <lists at szilagyi.us>
>> To: <fedora-list at redhat.com>
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 2:52 PM
>> Subject: undoing dual-boot
>>
>>
>>
>>> I have an XP system with a 150 gig HD set to dual-boot. I used Partition
>>> Magic to allocate 100 megs to Linux and put FC1 onto that section, but
>>> want to undo this now to make a seperate all-FC1 machine.
>>>
>>> What is the safest method for the Windows data to remove FC1? Boot into
>>> Windows and give it back via Partition Magic? Or is it better to boot 
>>> into
>>> the FC1 install disks and wipe out the partitions there first...? Any
>>> advice from people that have done this would be appreciated. I basically
>>> want to just undo the dual-boot on this particular system.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Assuming you consider Partition Magic safe (I've had it screw up in 
>> rather
>> exciting ways before), I'd just delete the linux partition, and resize 
>> the
>> Windows partition to take up the slack. After that you'll want to go to a
>> command line (in Windows) and type "fdisk /mbr", which will write a fresh
>> master boot record and wipe out the boot loader.
>>   Of course back up anything important before doing this, but you should
>> make it through OK. Alternatively you could just leave the small 
>> partition
>> just in case. It never hurts to have a spare blank partition.
>>
>>
>> -- 
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>>
>>
> 
> 

I am thinking this may work for you, but since you have to reboot to get 
into the Recovery Console, I am not positive:

If the OS is preinstalled, usually the i386 directory is copied onto the 
hard drive. Look for that folder and open a command prompt there.

type:
winnt32 /cmdcons

This will install the Recovery Console onto your hard drive, and it will 
appear as a menu option when you reboot. Once you use it for fix your 
MBR, you can remove it if you dont want it anymore. It is a handy tool, tho.