miles__ahead

Member since: Apr 17th, 2009

miles__ahead's Latest Comments

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Download Squad	3 Comments

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HDHacker backs up and restores Master Boot Records (Download Squad)

Apr 18th 2009 12:20AM I found a command line utility that's compatible with WinPE. It's called MbrFix. Comes with html docs and both 32 bit and 64 bit .exe files. Perfect for sticking on a USB key with a backup of your MBR.

If you search on this title:
Creating A Bootable WinPE 2.0 USB Key
it's a good step by step how to format a USB and copy WinPE on to make it bootable. Great for first-timers. I did mine today for the first time and my machine still works, so it must be nice and basic. :)

HDHacker backs up and restores Master Boot Records (Download Squad)

Apr 17th 2009 5:28PM hmmmmm I just tried it. I like the idea but I think a small rescue utility like that is a poor choice to implement in VB. In a real emergency you're likely to be dealing with a boot CD situation and having to lug a run-time around is a pita. Should be a real stand-alone .exe like maybe in Delphi 5 if you must have a GUI. Of course the best solution would be if the Windows people figured out how to boot from the HD using a microkernel on a bootable disc like Linux has been able to do for decades it seems. I used to make an MBR save restore diskette for Win98 is the amount of time it takes to format a floppy. Now you have to do all this rocket science with the install DVD and whatnot!! I can't believe a bootable disc that does something is so difficult to make now in Windows.

Frankly it's faster just to have a dummy partition and back it up with Marcrium. When I do the restore there's an option to overwrite the MBR with the one from the backup. Silly way to do it but at least it's faster than restoring C: partition.

HDHacker backs up and restores Master Boot Records (Download Squad)

Apr 17th 2009 4:30PM Has anyone tried HDHacker while in WinPE? On my system I have "fake RAID" even though there's only one HD. I have Macrium Reflect 4.2 full version. The Linux Rescue CD can see the HD. It also provides a WinPE boot disc. I can see the HD after running Drvload to load the RAID driver. Anyway, it would be convenient if I could just save and restore MBR instead of having to restore an entire partition so I'm looking into ways. Used to be you could boot a floppy to do it. If I can save restore MBR using HDHacker then maybe it will be worth it to figure out how to add the RAID driver to my WinPE disc image.