Restore GRUB bootloader in the MBR without CD/USB boot

MTsoul · 2011-09-21 06:20:34

I (re)installed Windows and it overwrote my MBR to point to the Windows bootloader. I need my MBR to point to GRUB again, but I cannot boot into Arch to do it. I don't have a live CD and my computer does not boot from USB. Is there a way I can do this from Windows 7?

fsckd · 2011-09-21 06:34:51

The easiest way is to burn a live CD from Windows and use that. Failing that, there is grub for cygwin (I do not know if it works). I don't think there is a grub native to Windows. Btw, what grub are you using, grub legacy or grub 2?

MTsoul · 2011-09-21 06:39:01

I have no CDs/DVDs. I'm using grub legacy.

Would using grub on Cygwin be the same as using grub on actual Linux? It has APIs to write to MBRs?

fsckd · 2011-09-21 06:43:46

That's what I don't know. You can try Googling around or asking the Cygwin people.

Edit: whoops, I think cygwin's grub is grub 2.

Last edited by fsckd (2011-09-21 06:55:17)

MTsoul · 2011-09-21 07:29:56

Good lord, Googling "cygwin grub mbr" gives this page as the first link. Props to the SEO team here.

Looks like I don't have much choice besides finding a blank CD somewhere.

perbh · 2011-09-21 16:01:55

if it's not a rude question - how the heck didcha manage to install arch without a cd/dvd and usb-boot doesn't work??

vacant · 2011-09-21 16:07:29

Install EasyBCD on Windows. It will boot linux. Free for personal use.

MTsoul · 2011-09-21 17:29:43

@perbh: I think I had Arch on a disc when I installed it. I've moved since and haven't kept the disc.

I got grub back. Turns out I can boot from USBs. When I installed Win7, I used a bunch of ways trying to stuff the ISO on to the flash drive, none of which worked leading me to believe my motherboard doesn't let me boot from USBs.

Arch Linux

#1 2011-09-21 06:20:34

Restore GRUB bootloader in the MBR without CD/USB boot

#2 2011-09-21 06:34:51

Re: Restore GRUB bootloader in the MBR without CD/USB boot

#3 2011-09-21 06:39:01

Re: Restore GRUB bootloader in the MBR without CD/USB boot

#4 2011-09-21 06:43:46

Re: Restore GRUB bootloader in the MBR without CD/USB boot

#5 2011-09-21 07:29:56

Re: Restore GRUB bootloader in the MBR without CD/USB boot

#6 2011-09-21 16:01:55

Re: Restore GRUB bootloader in the MBR without CD/USB boot

#7 2011-09-21 16:07:29

Re: Restore GRUB bootloader in the MBR without CD/USB boot

#8 2011-09-21 17:29:43

Re: Restore GRUB bootloader in the MBR without CD/USB boot

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