Crazy Noddy

"Tyler Larson" <tylerl@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:eToTfjj2HHA.5796@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> The MBR is stored on sector 0, whereas partitions start at sector 1
> (specifically to avoid overwriting the boot sector (MBR)). Therefore,
> nothing you can do to the partition will affect the boot sector. However,
> in the process of reinstalling windows, you'll automatically write a new
> boot sector, since that's what SETUP does.


Then why are boot managers left behind when installing XP if the mbr is
overwrote completely? Because it obviously doesn't. You either have to
destroy the partition or use fdisk /mbr. Install Linux with a boot manager
and then go format it with XP and start setup, afterwards you will see that
Linux boot manager is still there. If XP setup overwrote the mbr then the
Linux boot manager wouldn't still be there. Same thing will happen if you do
a XP/Vista dual boot and you want to go back to just XP. The Vista boot
manager will still be there and you have to edit it with BCDedit.