Extract Boot Blocks

This system tool is useful for multi-boot systems to extract boot blocks of each bootable partition. It also integrates itself with the Windows boot loader.

DiskState recognizes over 200 different partition types.

The box to the right presents a list of identified partitions on your system. The format of each volume entry is:

The asterisk (*) is shown when the partition is part of an extended partition.

To add an entry in the Boot Loader menu:

1. Select a suitable bootable partition which you want to boot.
2. Click "Add Boot...".
3. Enter a describing name, that is boot label, of this new entry for the boot menu.
4. Click "Set" to finalize and add this entry.

You can also just extract boot blocks if you have compiled a new Linux kernel (and uses Lilo locally on your ext2-partition). Simply extract the newly updated boot block from the Linux partition and overwrite your current boot block for the boot menu.

You can remove boot entries by clicking the "Remove Boot" button.

But why do I need this system tool?

A typical use of this tool is for advanced users who have multiple operating systems on a single machine. For instance, you might have Windows installed by default, but because of work and hobby you need Linux and Solaris too. Installing these other operating systems on other partitions (and/or hard drives), you can use this little system tool to extract the boot block of each of the bootable partitions.

After extracting the boot blocks off these partitions, you can fire up e.g. Linux and/or Solaris from the Windows bootloader in addition to your installed Windows installation.

Note: The Extract Boot Blocks system tool is unavailable for Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows ME. It will only workwith Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, Windows Vista or newer.