I have Win XP and Linux set up on my machine. I am trying to remove LILO from the MBR, but can't. I don't have a WINXP CD, so I can't go into the Recovery Console and use fixmbr. I have also tried to remove LILO through Linux with the command lilo -u but it tells me permission denied. Any ideas?

I failed to mention that I am running a Knoppix hard drive install, which is essentially Debian. Do I need to log in as root so that the lilo -u command is granted?

Hi One would think so. Access to the MBR isn't something I'd allow apart from root. Did you happen to save part of the mbr using the -s option with lilo for a start. If not: I assume you have a licenced XP on your machine, but the company has failed to provide you with the a recovery cd or whatever they used to load XP onto the machine. YOU will need a copy. Should be a matter as simple as asking for your copy. Couldn't imagine any company selling a machine without the ability to install your own hardware.

Check out my answer to the post you made on the windows XP forum.

Hi Not a good idea to post 2 similar posts. One of them is likely to be deleted. xp message where fdisk/mbr is proposed From what I've heard - Do not use the fdisk /mbr -- great for dos/9x but not XP. XPs mbr is particular, so it is said. If you can truely use fdisk/mbr for xp, that'd be great.

It works for XP and win2k. I've used it numerous times. What problems have you heard about? Maybe I've just been lucky.

Hi Thanks for clarifying Deputy DooDah -- Looks like one of those myths I got sucked well and truely. OK -- thats cool, you've tried it and it works, I wouldn't doubt you. I was rather suprised by the fdisk/mbr, but figured, yes, lilo would be gone afterewards as requested. How I got sucked in: I don't work on XP systems as a rule. I don't have my own XP system to play with either. None the less (but thankfully not too often), I am asked to "have a look" to see if I can get XP up and running. Most of it is straight foward, but from time to time I need to refer to the net as I don't have any comprehensive books on XP yet It was about a year ago or so, the first time I needed to "rebuild" the MBR on a XP system there were a couple of "experts" about and they were adamant that XPs MBR was specific to each machine. I should have known better, but I then accessed the internet there and a couple of webstes confirmed their belief. Mainly the warning over the use of fdisk/mbr was being touted about.. XP had to build the MBR based on the hardware codes etc. ........ heh oh boy it seemed just plausible that Microsoft would be paranoid to do that.