How to remove the Linux bootloader
A friend of mine installed Linux next to Windows XP a few weeks ago and did not like it that much and decided to get rid of it. The problem that he faced was that the Linux bootloader was still showing up when he started his system.
He was not able to figure out what to do about it and asked me if I knew a way to remove the Linux bootloader from his system so that Windows XP would start immediately.
I actually knew several methods on how to fix the MBR (Master Boot Record) to get rid of the Linux bootloader. There was however only one way that would safely fix the MBR and remove the Linux bootloader from it.
I'm saying safely because it can happen that methods such as Fdisk /mbr may require a reactivation of the Windows operating system.
MBR Fix
MBR Fix is a small command line freeware for Windows that makes it possible to fix the Master Boot Record from the command line of your operating system. Just download the tool, open the command line and type
MbrFix /drive 0 fixmbr /yes
to fix the MBR and remove the Linux bootloader. The drive parameter defines the hard drive the command is run on, and the fixmbr command runs the command to repair the bootloader of the Windows system. This effectively removes the Linux bootloader from the system again and replaces it the with Windows bootloader.
Update: MBR Fix is compatible with all recent versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system including Windows 7. Note that the command is different if you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7. For Windows Vista, you need to run the command
MbrFix /drive 0 fixmbr /vista
For Windows 7, the command is
MbrFix /drive 0 fixmbr /win7
Check the project homepage for a full list of commands and instructions. If you are running Windows Vista or newer, you can alternatively use Visual BCD or Easy BCD instead to correct the boot menu.
The biggest advantage is the programs provides you with is a user interface so that you do not need to run the command from the command line anymore. If you are using Easy BCD, and I would recommend that tool, simply select the add/remove entries option to remove the Linux entry so that it is not displayed anymore when you start your PC.
Update: MBRFix's website is no longer available. The program was last updated in 2013. We have uploaded the latest release version for archiving purposes to our own download server. Note that we don't support the program in any way. You can download MBR Fix with a click on the following link: (Download Removed)
Greetz from Poland,
foud this software in Goggle and it work also for me.
My PC is Windows7. I run this soft normaly from command line in Win7 but get error nr:5 with: “dening acces” :( but come to conclusion – after a while – that can run MbrFix in Safe mode by pressing F8 at the start up of operation system and I am back in buissnes with removing Grub loader from linux from MBR at my HDD. THANX for that soft!!!!
I was fooling around with installing Ubuntu onto my laptop, so I could practice WiFi things, when I decided that Ubuntu isn’t as good as SuSe, so I deleted the partition and forgot about the boot loader…so I kept getting the Error 22. I used this sweet ass program, and BAM, I am back in business like it never happened! By far the best program that I have used in a long time, wish I would have had this sooner
Thanks!!
@schizo
edit ur grub.conf file. just cut windows part n put it before ubuntu part. thats all
When one dual boots ubuntu and windows ubuntu appears in the boot order as the first option is there some way of making XP the first?
thanks
i think you can do it from linux too. if i am not mistaken, it is
# lilo -u (as root)
if you are using lilo that is.
I normally use ‘fixmbr’ or ‘fixboot’ in recovery mode (an option you have when boot with a Windows XP Install Disc.
Some like it this way, others like it another way. The friend is an avid gamer and that’s probably the main reason for his decision.
You do the reverse of what me and my people do, we remove the windows bootloader. But then linux isnt for everyone…