MBR can't be created

[Petbul]

Hi,
I need to install W95 or W98 on PC pentium 200Mhz. I have problems with creating MBR (if I use fdisk /mbr - somethink like this ocures - "Disk write protect error on fixed disk" - (sorry - the message is not exactly copyied).
Any idea what to do?

Previous systems on this machine were Win95 and RH Linux 7.1 (with Grub - linux loader) - maybe there could be the problem...(Now I can Install Linux withou any problems but not windows...). I need install just windows95 or 98.

I tried to check the disk (with surface check also) and no bad sector was found...

I can try partition magic, but I am not sure that it can help in this case...
Many thanks for any help.
Petr

Best regards
Petr

 

[Win98User]

Hi,
Forgive me for not understanding what you mean.

Has your machine been wiped? Is there already OS on the machine? Why do you think you need to create the MBR?

Regards.

 

[jmatt]

You will need delpart .

Delpart.exe From NT 3.51, this utility can delete extended NTFS, Lilo, and just about any other type of partition .
DELPART is a DOS based utility that will remove NTFS partitions from hard drives. FDISK is unable to remove some types of NTFS partitions.
DELPART can wipe clean a hard drive, then you can use FDISK to create partitions normally.

http://www.bootdisk.com

http://www.michalferber.com/downloads.asp

http://www.2e.org/files.htm

 

[Petbul]

Thank you for your help...
I will try it.

Answer for win98user : No, there is actually no OS (before - linux and w95 ). Now I am booting from W95 start disc, trying to create partitions (fdisk) and installing W95 or 98...Installation process is not succesfull - I can't update MBR - disc error (part of installation process - partitionint).
Rgrds Petr

Best regards
Petr

 

[wolluf]

Petr,

Do you have virus protection enabled in the bios (it prevents writing to the boot sector) - turn it off if you do.

Delpart will only remove partitions, it won't rewrite the mbr - presume you're trying to get rid of Grub boot loader?

 

[edfair]

You might need to get the drive manufacturer's diagnostic software for the zero fill utility to take the drive back to totally blank. Or find one from multiple other sources.

And the absolute end game is to do a low level format, which is somewhat a risk but brings back some that nothing else will fix.

Ed Fair
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[edemiere]

I have had my best successes using wipedrv.exe that I own at home.

After using this utility I have been able to write boot sectors without fail.

I would recommend you get yourself a copy of it and boot off of a floppy to use it.

Good luck!