if I run it like this: # dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=512
it will convert the entire hard drive to zeros right? If I do that would I be able to rebuild partitions and the partition table from fdisk? -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of rpjday Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2001 11:41 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: MBR tool On Thu, 27 Dec 2001, Jackrabbit Slim wrote: > Does anyone know of a tool I can use to completely wipe clean the MBR? (and > if possible to view it's current contents). my favorite tool to view the contents of a file, including things like the MBR, is "hexdump". i suggest using both the "c" and "x" options to see both characters and hex: # hexdump -cx /dev/hda | less (inspect the MBR on an IDE drive) and you want to wipe the MBR? or any file? use the input file /dev/zero, whose mission in life is to generate a stream of zero bits. use "dd" to transfer a zero stream of a *fixed* *length*: # dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/hda bs=512 count=1 mind you, the above also wipes your partition table. if you only want to wipe the boot code, that's the first 446 bytes of the MBR. do i really have to explain what happens if you forget the "count" field above? rday _______________________________________________ Redhat-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list _______________________________________________ Redhat-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://listman.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/redhat-list
