I just received my hdd enclosure and set out to repair my master boot record and, as discussed (predicted) did not get away with it.

I booted in XP (to the prompt) and ran fixmbr and fixboot...the result is that my XP disc will no longer boot...go figure.. Knoppix boots but no longer automatically mounts the internal hdd.

MY LAPTOP IS STILL WON'T BOOT in XP so I can use my Tax Software.

So I am planning my next move:

a) I apparently have a soup salad for an internal drive (I have the files off) ... blaster worm intact, no doubt.
b) I have the original Dell hdd (that I didn't get all my files from) complete with the original Dell Mirror setup files ... blaster worm in tact, no doubt.
c) I have an outboard back-up drive (with a proprietary backup system) full of my XP back-up files.

First, I would like to mount the internal drive to see what kind of salad I'm actually looking at by using the command:

mount -t /dev/sda1

....to look around

Second, I would run (from root) the partition/format command for FAT32 linux files with:

mkfs -t vfat/dev/sda1

....to clear the boot record, partition disc space for Linux, and prepare to reinstall XP either by repairing the XP installation or re-install from the original hard drive (now external)employing the Dell Mirror feature...remove the worms (as previously noted) and load Linux Dual Boot.

Failing that, I guess it's a clean format of the internal hard drive, partition for Linux, install XP from disk, install Linux dual boot.

Continue to back up on the external back up drive and store all data on the outboard hdd.

Are these the right commands?
Which version of Linux would you load for your personal use?

All replies appreciated

b.line