Date: 09/08/05 (Computer Geeks)    Keywords: linux, microsoft

I installed Ubuntu (Hoary Hedgehog) Linux on my Dell Dimension 4600. It originally came with WinXPHome. I made it dual-boot. Grub was installed to the master boot record to make Ubuntu work. I didn't like that it defaulted to Ubuntu. Later, I developed a dislike for Ubuntu because it didn't feel enough like Windows for me and I was much faster in Windows.

So... I decided that I wanted to remove Grub and restore the Windows boot record. Someone in ubuntu_users said to fdisk /mbr to fix it.

I tried that. It said that it successfully did it. The drive is bootable to CD. The drive is also bootable to floppy. The drive is bootable to itself, but WinXPHome has a corrupt file and dies in the initialization process.

I have a WinXPPro laptop available to me. But no cables to be able to hook it up.

I have a WinME desktop available to me. But it cannot see the NTFS partition.

I have an iBook that I'm using to type this post. But that won't help.

There are files on the NTFS partition that I might want. But I cannot view them.

I've tried using the Recovery program on both an XPPro disc that I have, as well as the XPHome disc that came with the Dell. I am able to log into the program. I can view files in the root and files in the Windows directory. I can copy files in either of those directories over to a secondary hard drive hooked up to the machine. I cannot however cd into any other directories. It says that access is denied.

There is more whining about this matter in my journal if you are so inclined.

So... ideas? I play on my computer all day. It keeps me sane. I need to find a job, but that is proving to be difficult.

Thanks for your time.

Edit: Oh. I think I also fried the Dell's power supply. x.X

WinXPHome is repaired. Tried activating, didn't work, called MS automated number, didn't work, called MS person, didn't work, solution is to call Dell and have them give me either a new number or a new disc. I hate Microsoft. A lot.

Source: http://www.livejournal.com/community/computergeeks/770034.html