tried installing Red Hat after OSX and Windows, RHEL wrote MBR need help...

[alandmar]

OK.

I jacked my ability to boot into windows and never quite did get to RHEL. I don't really care if I can boot RHEL at all, although it would be nice, I'd just like to not have to reinstall windows, and I don't want to lose my ability to boot into MacOS X, as it's the only functioning OS I have right now...

I'll dump disk util's output.

/dev/disk0
#: TYPE NAME SIZE IDENTIFIER
0: GUID_partition_scheme *256.1 GB disk0
1: EFI 209.7 MB disk0s1
2: Apple_HFS MacOS X System Disk 85.4 GB disk0s2
3: Microsoft Basic Data 85.3 GB disk0s3
4: Microsoft Basic Data 209.7 MB disk0s4
5: Linux LVM 41.9 GB disk0s5

I'm sure I went wrong writing the MBR with the RHEL install, I had a feeling at that point I needed to do something different because I was using GUID partitioning scheme. Might it be as simple as booting off my windows CD and having it fix it? My very limited understanding of GUID has me believe it fakes out windows into thinking it uses MBR.

I'm looking for simple fixes. I don't care about the Linux install AT ALL. I'd rather just not go through the pain of installing windows 7 again, and most importantly I don't want to lose my MacOS X install and have to do it again. I regret not taking the time when I originally did this to properly install a bootloader.

Ideas?

edit: I have this Motherboard: Gigabyte Z77-UD5 TH motherboard

 

[Asus-Freak]

I think I would boot your Windows CD to recovery console and run "FixMBR" or "FixBoot". Assuming you have OSX on a separate drive it shouldn't be affected. (Might disconnect the OSX drive just to be safe)

 

[alandmar]

Thanks for the reply.

I'm sure you're right as I've done some more reading. However, I've been having the issue of, when I boot the restore disk, it gives me an error that it's not meant for my install and won't do what you've suggested, so I'm looking for an alternative method to fix the MBR, preferably with a tool and not by hand but it's looking more and more like a total wipe of all OS's, or a by hand fix. Any suggestions of none windows restore utilities that I can run the bootrec command from?

 

[alandmar]

Output of Partition inspector:



*** Report for internal hard disk ***


Current GPT partition table:
# Start LBA End LBA Type
1 40 409639 EFI System (FAT)
2 409640 167108863 Mac OS X HFS+
3 167372800 334071807 Basic Data
4 334071808 334481407 Basic Data
5 334481408 416401407 Linux LVM


Current MBR partition table:
# A Start LBA End LBA Type
1 1 500118191 ee EFI Protective


MBR contents:
Boot Code: Unknown, but bootable


Partition at LBA 40:
Boot Code: None (Non-system disk message)
File System: FAT32
Listed in GPT as partition 1, type EFI System (FAT)


Partition at LBA 409640:
Boot Code: Unknown, but bootable
File System: HFS Extended (HFS+)
Listed in GPT as partition 2, type Mac OS X HFS+


Partition at LBA 167372800:
Boot Code: Windows BOOTMGR (Vista)
File System: NTFS
Listed in GPT as partition 3, type Basic Data


Partition at LBA 334071808:
Boot Code: None
File System: ext4
Listed in GPT as partition 4, type Basic Data


Partition at LBA 334481408:
Boot Code: None
File System: Unknown
Listed in GPT as partition 5, type Linux LVM


If someone is a little more handy with Disk Utility than I, I know I can fix this by hand, I could use a little guidance in doing so.

 

[Going Bald]

http://racerrehabman.wordpress.com/

see section F

 

[xpamamadeus]

Output of Partition inspector:



*** Report for internal hard disk ***


Current GPT partition table:
# Start LBA End LBA Type
1 40 409639 EFI System (FAT)
2 409640 167108863 Mac OS X HFS+
3 167372800 334071807 Basic Data
4 334071808 334481407 Basic Data
5 334481408 416401407 Linux LVM


Current MBR partition table:
# A Start LBA End LBA Type
1 1 500118191 ee EFI Protective


MBR contents:
Boot Code: Unknown, but bootable


Partition at LBA 40:
Boot Code: None (Non-system disk message)
File System: FAT32
Listed in GPT as partition 1, type EFI System (FAT)


Partition at LBA 409640:
Boot Code: Unknown, but bootable
File System: HFS Extended (HFS+)
Listed in GPT as partition 2, type Mac OS X HFS+


Partition at LBA 167372800:
Boot Code: Windows BOOTMGR (Vista)
File System: NTFS
Listed in GPT as partition 3, type Basic Data


Partition at LBA 334071808:
Boot Code: None
File System: ext4
Listed in GPT as partition 4, type Basic Data


Partition at LBA 334481408:
Boot Code: None
File System: Unknown
Listed in GPT as partition 5, type Linux LVM


If someone is a little more handy with Disk Utility than I, I know I can fix this by hand, I could use a little guidance in doing so.

This its really easy to fix.
U need to boot hirensboot cd minixp then u can run bootice to repair mbr and pbr with 2 clicks.
2 min job if u have all tools ready.