
                    
                    Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
                    

     Questions:
     

Q1:  General questions
Q2:  DOS/Win9x/WinME problems
Q3:  WinNT/2000/XP/2003/Vista problems
Q4:  Problems with other OSes
Q5:  Partitioning problems, EFDISK problems

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Q1:  General questions


 1.1:  How do I uninstall MasterBooter?
 1.2:  What about future upgrades?
 1.3:  Where can I find newer versions of MasterBooter?
 1.4:  Can I have the source code of the executables?
 1.5:  Why does Norton Antivirus report virus if I use v2.8?

A1:  General answers


 1.1:  Run 'efdisk /mbr'. If you don't know how to do this, or you
       get an error message, then run the following command from DOS
       or Win9x DOS box: fdisk/mbr

 1.2:  They are free for registered users. If you need it via e-mail
       I'll send you for free. If you need it on floppy disk, send me
       a floppy or 5USD to cover the postal fees and the price of the
       floppy disk.  

 1.3:  The official URL is: http://www.masterbooter.com
       Each time I release a new version, I upload it to SimtelNet
       and SAC. Search there, if the link on the MasterBooter official
       page is too slow.
       Their URL are:
       http://www.simtel.net/pub/pd/41340.html
       ftp://ftp.elf.stuba.sk/pub/pc/utiltask/

 1.4:  Yes, if you're a dollar millionnaire.  

 1.5:  It is a false alarm by NAV. v2.8 has a slightly changed loader
       code which causes this. Download a fixed or a newer version
       from my homepage.

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Q2:  DOS/Win9x/WinME problems


 2.1:  After installing Win9x/ME, the boot menu disappears.
 2.2:  The shareware MasterBooter doesn't recognize my Win9x/ME
       partition.
 2.3:  After installing Win9x/ME, the shareware MasterBooter doesn't
       correctly detect my old DOS/Win95 primary partitions.
 2.4:  DOS, Win9x/ME doesn't boot properly from a non-first harddisk.
 2.5:  DOS 6.xx partition begins beyond 2 gigs and doesn't boot.


A2:  DOS/Win9x/WinME answers


 2.1:  Win9x/ME rewrites the Master Boot Record, erasing MasterBooter
       from it. Simply reinstall MasterBooter and everything should
       work fine.  

 2.2:  The shareware versions before v2.2 didn't support Win95. From
       v2.2 the shareware versions recognize Win95(a) partitions,
       from v2.6 they recognize OSR2/Win98/ME too. These operating
       systems overwrite all FAT partitions' boot sector, and
       MasterBooter thinks they are all Win95/OSR2/Win98/ME systems.

 2.3:  Both OSR2 and Win98/ME replace the boot sectors of every existing
       primary FAT systems during installation (maybe because of a DOS
       boot loader bug), that's why MasterBooter before v2.6 doesn't
       recognize them then.  

 2.4:  These operating systems can boot from a non-first harddisk only
       if all FAT partitions on the preceding harddisks are hidden.
       Be sure you use the latest version and check the FAT hiding maps.
       For example, if you have two Windows systems, one on the 1st
       harddisk and the other on the 2nd harddisk, then you must set
       the FAT hiding map of the 2nd system to '10' during MasterBooter
       installation.

 2.5:  DOS6.xx has a bug in its boot load code which causes this
       error. The DOSFIX utility (available at the homepage) can replace
       this buggy boot loader with a good one. So, after running DOSFIX,
       your DOS 6.xx system should work even if it resides beyond 2 gigs.

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Q3:  WinNT/2000/XP/2003/Vista problems


 3.1:  WinNT/2000/XP/2003/Vista doesn't boot properly from a non-first
       harddisk.
 3.2:  WinNT 4.x partition begins beyond 2 gigs and the installation
       procedure stopped.
 3.3:  The boot sector of my WinNT/2000/XP/2003/Vista partition is corrupted.
       How can I restore it?
 3.4:  I hid a FAT/NTFS partition, but my Win2000/XP/2003/Vista system
       still sees it.

A3:  WinNT/2000/XP/2003/Vista answers


 3.1:  I have no solution, try contacting Microsoft. A possible work
       around is in article ID Q102873 at the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
       I never tried it myself.

 3.2:  The boot sector of the WinNT 4.0 is buggy. There is a utility
       called NTFIX on my homepage. Download it. Then you should try
       the following:
       1. Start NT installation
       2. The first time NT reboots the computer, boot with a DOS
          system diskette with NTFIX on it, and run NTFIX to
          patch the buggy boot sector.
       3. NTFIX will save a file called bootsect.dat. You must
          locate the old bootsect.dat, which is on one of the
          NT boot disks (or on the harddisk if you install NT without
          boot disks). Replace this old bootsect.dat with the new one.
       4. Reboot to continue NT installation.

 3.3:  WinNT 4.0/2000/XP/2003/Vista keeps a backup copy of the boot
       sector at the very last sector of its partition. So copying the
       partition's last sector to the first with a disk editor should
       solve the problem.
       WinNT 3.x keeps this backup sector at the middle of the
       partition.
       You can read more in article ID Q121517 at the Microsoft
       Knowledge Base.

 3.4:  Upgrade to v3.5.

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Q4:  Problems with other OSes


 4.1:  I have Linux insalled but MasterBooter doesn't see it.


A4:  Solutions for other OS problems


 4.1:  A Linux loader (LILO, GRUB etc.) must be installed in the Linux
       partition's superblock. Then MasterBooter will recognize it.

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Q5:  Partitioning problems, EFDISK problems


 5.1: I'd like to install a new system, but all harddisk space is in
      use by one big partition, and I don't want to repartition/reformat.
      Now what?
 5.2: I've changed a parameter of an already existing partition with
      EFDISK and now I cannot see it.


A5:  Partitioning and EFDISK answers  


 5.1:  You have to use special software, which can resize or split
       your existing partition(s) without data loss. I know two free
       programs:

       FIPS              - split FAT16/32 partitions.
                           http://www.igd.fhg.de/~aschaefe/fips/
       Partition resizer - resize and move FAT16/32 partitions.
                           http://www.zeleps.com

 5.2:  First, DO NOT DO SUCH THINGS WITH EFDISK! If you change a
       parameter of an already existing partition, then EFDISK must
       erase that partition's boot sector in order to allow the
       formatting programs to work correctly. Do not resize, move
       or change the type of an already existing partition! If you
       did so, please make a rescue floppy and send me the MBRINFO
       file from it.

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If you have more questions or problems, please run the mrescue.com
utility, create a rescue floppy and send me the MBRINFO file from it.

mailto:support@masterbooter.com
