[SOLVED] Is it possible to not create GRUB during installation or kernel change?

[Tony]

That was a really interesting read, thanks. I didn't understand much but I got the jist of it.

Ugh, the last pic turned my stomach, as any Windows problems do.
agmg, you might have overwrit the MBR for your Windows install. I'm sure you can fix it.

1. Boot your PC with Windows XP CD and select Repair.
2. Then select the OS, once you are there you'll have a command line.
3. Type Administrator password. If Admin password is blank, just press Enter.
4. Type fixmbr, and then press Enter.
5. Restart PC.

I like to try to get the word out to backup the MBR of Windows before doing anything involving a change of Partitions under a multi-boot situation. Unless the Win Partition is "Defragmented" really tightly is easy to delete MBR playing on a Linux Partition.

Safegaurd:
1. Download mbfix from here. http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Utils/MBRFix.shtml
2. Extract all files in mbrfix.zip to C:\.
3. Open Command Prompt (start->run-> type cmd -> OK).
4. Type cd \ and press enter.
5. Then type mbrfix /drive 0 fixmbr /yes and press enter.

In Safe Mode (Hit F8 repeatedly) run point 5. to restore your Win MBR.

Obviously Do points 1, and 2, while you have a working Windows installation. 

[agmg]

Thanks for your helpful post, Tony

I use Windows 7, not XP and as you can see from my post, I'm not really worried
I know how to fix this. But it is annoying and a total waste of time.
Once more Windows has proved to me how "small" it is compared to Linux.

I remember when I got my new SSD, and while waiting for my 2nd drive caddy to arrive, I put my old disk in an external USB case.
On it, I had Windows and two PCLinuxOS installations along with my files.
The two installations of PCLOS could still boot, even though it took a while before I got to the desktop.
They could manage the change.
Windows, on the other side, didn't even try. I got a nice blue screen and a restart.
Yes, I know Windows can't run from a USB hard disk.
But... is there anything Windows can do right?

[Tony]

I use Windows 7, not XP and as you can see from my post, I'm not really worried  

oops, sorry about that, my apologies   I'm still coming to terms with them (MS) releasing OS's past XP.

If you do want to save some time, or anyone using a MS OS mbrfix really is quite a good idea to safeguard (Backup) that pesky MBR in winnders, especially for people starting out with Dual Boot, getting that first taste for Linux.

Apparently there is one thing MS do well, see HERE  Odd but true.  

[agmg]

Thanks for the tip about mbrfix. I will check it out for future reference...

Indeed you are right about that one good thing of MS.
I have used a lot of MS hardware in the past and still using in my office.
But recently I've turned to Logitech for my personal needs