Windows 7: Replacing MBR

I know this has been covered in many threads and posts. I have read them all and tried them all and still cannot replace Windows 7/64's MBR. My next step is to format, re-install and recover a Windows 7 image, but thought I would try here first. I've done the Windows 7 install / repair/ Command prompt / bootsect /nt60 c: with other variations like 52 in place of 60. I've tried EasyBSD. I thought I would try making a bootable USB with MBRFIX on it; didn't work. Does anyone out there have another suggestion?
Ubuntu's GRUB now controls the MBR.

HOW TO: Recover Windows MBR using Ubuntu LIVE CD - Ubuntu Forums

Thanks. I went through the post there and apparently doesn't work with Vista and therefore not Windows 7. One post suggested that Windows Recovery Cd Windows Vista Recovery Disc Download — The NeoSmart Files would work, but it doesn't either.
I guess I have two choices: Keep GRUB or re-install.

Well I think I exhausted all methods including, RebuildBcd, FixMBR, FixBoot, nt60, nt52 and I only accomplished "no operating system" on boot. I wound up installing Windows 7 to the first reboot; stopped it there and recovered a recent image with Acronis True Image. finally I am back to no GRUB and a normal boot; hardly what I would call a "solved" so won't mark the thread solved. I don't see why FixMBR wouldn't work; it did on XP.

The MBR backup utility may be usefull for the future.
MBR Backup - Back up your Master Boot Record
A little standalone utility letting you save, replace, print, and view partition table.

I guess these other utilities you tried are able to scan the disk and recover the partition table information when it's been lost in the MBR?? otherwise you would get a Missing operating system error.

You are using old methods on a new OS. To recover the MBR in Windows 7, you mark the partition active and run Startup Repair from the Windows 7 DVD Repair console or REpair CD up to 3 separate times. All former bootsect and bootrec commands plus all necessary tests are automated in Startup Repair run from boot.

GRUB will corrupt the Windows 7 bootloader. The best arrangement for Ubuntu is to put it on a separate HD booted via BIOS boot order or one-time Boot Menu key.

Thank you all for the help. Actually partially installing the OS wasn't too painful with the backed up image to recover. I have downloaded and backed up the MBR should it happen again.Then I'll forget where I put it lol.

Hello Allan.





This tutorial at the link below shows a way to back-up the boot files to the system that can then be accessed/restored from an elevated command prompt, see Option Two if the need arises.

BCDEDIT - How to Use

   Information

* see the warning *

IMPORTANT: make a backup of your bcd file first. To do that, type:bcdedit /export C:\SAVEDBCD

This will create a file c:\savebcd which is your boot entry backup.
If you mess up, you can always undo changes by:
bcdedit /import c:\savedbcd

Thanks I'll do as you mention as well as the previous backup MRR.

My pleasure mate!