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MBR - Restore Windows 7 Master Boot Record

How to Restore the Windows 7 MBR (Master Boot Record) Published 14 Aug 2009

How to Restore the Windows 7 MBR (Master Boot Record)

Information If you have been dual booting with Linux, then you probably know one of the Linux boot managers like Grub or LILO has been installed in the MBR of your hard drive. What can you do when you no longer want Linux on that hard drive? This tutorial will show you how to use your 7 DVD and BOOTSECT.EXE to restore the "bootsector code" of the MBR and allow you to begin booting to Windows 7 again. Tip You can use this method to update the bootsector code for Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000 or switch between Bootmgr and NTLDR. Just check the Microsoft TechNet site for the correct command.

Published by

iseeuu

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Here's How:
1. Boot your computer to the Windows 7 DVD (or to a "Repair CD"). At this screen choose to install now.
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2. Select your language and click next.

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3. Click the button for "Use recovery tools".

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4. Then select "Command Prompt".

5. When open, the command prompt will look like this:

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6. The command we will use, bootsect.exe, is in a folder (named boot) on the DVD.
We need to know what drive letter has been assigned the DVD drive to access the folder.
Code:

Type: diskpart and press Enter Type: select disk 0 (zero) and press Enter type: list volume and press Enter

In this screen shot, the 7 DVD is letter: G

7. Use your DVD drive letter and

Code:

Type: exit and press Enter to close Diskpart Type: G: (use the letter of your DVD drive) and press Enter Type: cd boot and press Enter Type: dir and press Enter

to verify that bootcect.exe is there (if you really need to)

8. To restore the "bootsector code":

Code:

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TYPE: bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr and press Enter

NOTE: If this method fails to restore the MBR, you can try the bootrec command as it is also a tool for repairing the MBR.

9. When completed successfully,

Code:

Type: exit and press Enter

This will close the command prompt window.

10. Now select Shut Down or Restart

11. Then you can reboot your computer into Windows.

Related Tutorials How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7 Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to Repair Boot Issues Repair CD - System Repair Disk System Repair Disc - Create System Recovery Options Advanced Boot Options Bootmgr is missing - Fix

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Need more help? Try searching our extensive help and support site.

28 Aug 2009

bluemoon4ever

handy tip, thanks,

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My System Specs 28 Aug 2009

Tip: Download Windows Repair Tool

iseeuu

Thanks, bluemoon4ever! You are most kind. Please allow me to be the first to welcome you to Windows Seven Forums. Glad to have you! Robert
My System Specs 27 Sep 2009

Antony
My System Specs .

Just wondering. I currently have a dual boot with XP. If I want to delete the XP partition can I use this method to fix the mbr after I have deleted the XP partition and resized the Win 7 partition? Or do I need to fix the mbr first and then delete the Xp partition?

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27 Sep 2009

iseeuu

Hello Antony! and welcome to Windows Seven forums, your questions are always welcome. I can not give an accurate answer to your question until I know more about how your OSs are arranged on your hard drive(s). However, if you installed 7 after XP and now want to remove XP then the MBR probably does not need any repair in order to boot to 7. If you just want to remove the XP choice from the boot menu, you can use "msconfig" to delete the XP entry, no MBR fix necessary. (Thanks to Snuffy for this tip!) Cheers! Robert
My System Specs 23 Oct 2009

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Hammer100

Hi Wonder if you could help on a little problem I have. I have got Windows 7 Ultimate and installed it on a new hard drive. After installation I partitioned the drive in Windows creating a 400GB, 100GB, 500GB. After this completed I also noticed a 100MB System Reserved section but just ignored it. Everything worked fine. Then I think I did wrong. I wanted to create a dual boot system to also have XP on my PC and tried installing it on the 100GB partition but during instal everything crashed and now I get "Error Loading Operating System" when booting up. I have tried to repair using the Windows 7 DVD but no luck and when I look at the drives in Command Prompt they show as follows: C: System Reserved D: Spare Partition E: Spare (my 2nd hard drive) F: Windows 7 Partition Have tried following the instructions on here and it said succesful but still will not boot. Anyone have any ideas? Cheers

My System Specs 01 Nov 2009

iseeuu

Hi Hammer100! Welcome to Windows Seven Forums. I am not sure what caused your booting problem. However, Windows 2000 and XP use NTLDR for their boot manager and Vista and Seven use Bootmgr. So by installing XP after installing 7 the Bootmgr has probably been overwritten breaking the boot path to 7. I would suggest you install XP first and then 7 because the 7 Bootmgr will include XP in the boot menu. Here is a link to some tutorials for dual booting: Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP If you are still having issues I can have this post moved to its own thread to get more help for you? Cheers! Robert
My System Specs 02 Nov 2009

Hammer100

Hi Robert Thanks for the reply. What I ended up doing for the moment was to buy a new hard drive to install Windows 7, is it possible to multi boot from two different drives or do the two OS need to be on the same physical drive? Thanks Dave

My System Specs 02 Nov 2009

iseeuu

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It is absolutely possible to dual boot from two or more hard drives; in fact it has some advantages. I highly recommend it to those who want to dual boot with Linux. For example, the Linux boot manager can be fully functional on its on hard drive and include your Windows OSs in its menu, while your Windows OSs can be managed with a Window's boot manager and include the Linux OS in its menu. You then control which boot manager you wish to use by using the bios to select the hard drive it will boot to. If a hard drive crashes you can still run the OSs on the good drive. When you are installing an OS, just unplug all other hard drives and only work with one at a time. Also, I like to set the current OS partition to C:, and give the other partitions different letters. That way the running OS is always drive C:. There are a few Window's utilities that help edit the Window's boot manager so you can add and remove OSs from its menu, if you need them. Later! Robert
My System Specs 07 Nov 2009

fly790420

this way did not work on my case. i have a laptop installed windows 7, it was okay. until today i saw a article about removing the 100MB of "system reserved" partition.......and yeah...i did removed it by using my Windows 7 installation dvd.. now my laptop wouldnt boot...it shows only operating systen not found" i tried the method above but at Step 3, mine did not show up any operating system..all blank so i just clicked next then at Step 9 it couldnt restore the bootsector code. it only shows "the system partition was not found: the requested system device cannot be found" and then everything remain the same, still cannot boot. i know i am stupid to remove the system reserved partiton.. but i really need help here, i have imporant data in the laptop so i dont want to format and reinstall... if anyone can help, i really appreciate

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