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baslinux - [BL] Removing EZ-BIOS with DOS fdisk /mbr was Re: LILO challenge

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  • From: baslinux AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • To: baslinux AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [BL] Removing EZ-BIOS with DOS fdisk /mbr was Re: LILO challenge
  • Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 17:43:52 +0000 (UTC)

One 8GB hard disk has EZ-DRIVE which did not come off when I zeroed 512 bytes - where does it live? Will a clone with dd from an identical drive remove EZ-DRIVE? dd if=/dev/hda of=/dev/hdb

No, it just corrupted EZ-BIOS (found on WDC drives, but MAXTOR has something similar)

There are at least three ways to remove it:

1) Use the WDC EZ-DRIVE floppy disk (I don't have it) to uninstall.

2) Use linux dd to put a copy of the correct partition table where it belongs. This looked complicated and time consuming but it retains your data.

The partition table is at byte 466 (446?) of the second 512 bytes and should be copied to the same location on the first 512 bytes. The linux method saved it and then wrote it, I think. It used dd and nc.


3) Boot from DOS floppy disk. fdisk, delete any partitions, make one new DOS partition (any size) and format it. fdisk /mbr

No more EZ-BIOS. ("This sends EZ-DRIVE to hell, or heaven".)

This apparently puts a copy of the real partition table from the second 512K to the first 512K, where other things can find it properly. PQMagic is happy now. We have been trying for years to get rid of EZ-DRIVE and gave up and used the disks for one large partition instead.

Is there a simpler linux equivalent of fdisk /mbr?

The no-power-on problem was solved by pushing the front cover back on all the way so the switch made contact.


Sindi




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