Fixboot and Fixmbr commands on a x64 machine?

[linney]

Anyone know why they are NOT supported on x64 machines?



Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console for advanced users

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

"FIXBOOT
fixboot drive name:
Use this command to write the new Windows boot sector code on the system partition. In the command syntax, drive name is the drive letter where the boot sector will be written. This command fixes damage in the Windows boot sector. This command overrides the default setting, which writes to the system boot partition. The fixboot command is supported only on x86-based computers.

FIXMBR
fixmbr device name
Use this command to repair the MBR of the boot partition. In the command syntax, device name is an optional device name that specifies the device that requires a new MBR. Use this command if a virus has damaged the MBR and Windows cannot start.

Warning This command can damage your partition tables if a virus is present or if a hardware problem exists. If you use this command, you may create inaccessible partitions. We recommend that you run antivirus software before you use this command.

You can obtain the device name from the output of the map command. If you do not specify a device name, the MBR of the boot device is repaired, for example:
fixmbr \device\harddisk2
If the fixmbr command detects an invalid or non-standard partition table signature, fixmbr command prompts you for permission before it rewrites the MBR. The fixmbr command is supported only on x86-based computers".

 

[tlcscousin]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654

The above article says you can install recovery console on a 64 bit xp and once installed one would think you could run the normal commands.
Other articles say recovery console cannot be used because i386 doesnt exist.

 

[BadBigBen]

Linney, if it is available for W2k3 64bit then definitely it's available for XP64 aswell...

see:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326215

and the link by tlcscousin, where the similar install instructions are given... I guess MS just neglected to mention XP64 as compatible in that article...

PS: XP64 = W2k3_64 more or less (they use the same Hotfixes)...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[linney]

Thanks for your assistance.

It could be Microsoft protecting their backsides but it definitely mentions in particular the two commands FixBoot and FixMbr in Ben's link too.

Anyway I used the feedback in both MSKB to notify Microsoft of the anonymity in these similar MSKB, for what it is worth.