MBR Error, After Booting in IDE (Accident)

TheHighRoad · 01 Dec 2010

Hello,

While I accomplished so much successfully setting up my computer in AHCI earlier, I now blew it all.

I had the SMART command failure error with my SSD, and received a new BIOS from my motherboard manufacturer. I applied it and "Loaded Optimized Defaults" in the BIOS as your supposed to. Stupid me, that means the motherboard activates IDE mode, but I installed Windows in AHCI mode.

So... I switched it back to AHCI after booting into IDE by accident and now I'm getting MBR Error. Is there any way to repair this? I have been trying to repair it through the Windows Install disk, using bootsec & command prompt to no avail.

Likely because where the screen pops up that says: "Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows. Select an operating system to repair" There's no option to select. So I elected to "Load Drivers" using iaAHCI.inf [Intel ICH10R] from the Intel RST installer (I extracted it on my Laptop). It still doesn't recognize it.
-->This is all pertaining to image 3. on the guide on the link HERE

If I HAVE to install Windows again, I have 2 storage drives installed as well, do I take them out to prevent them from being formatted? They are holding My Documents/My Pictures/My Music/My Videos etc.

Thanks!

Bare Foot Kid · 01 Dec 2010

Hello again.

You shouldn't have to reinstall, have a look at this tutorial at the link below, it shows how to enable AHCI after the OS has been installed and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista

TheHighRoad · 01 Dec 2010

I have no idea how this happened but I am delighted in how it turned out

I corrupted my IDE MBR through the whole process as well. I used the WinRE environment using BootRec.exe and all of the commands systematically (bootsect.exe was unsuccessful, but may have set the grounds for the unexplained success I got in the end). bootrec /RebuildBcd didn't seem to work, it said "number of Windows partitions: 0" or something to that effect but it did say successful [Also the drive naming scheme was all messed up F: was my Windows HDD, C: my backup]. I came back later and unplugged all of my HDDs in a last ditch effort except my SSD. Instead of the: MBR Error staring me in the face Windows booted for seemingly no apparent reason. I shut down because I'm getting all these critical errors "Drive D:\ missing" etc, and replug everything. Windows boots. I check the registry to prepare to switch over to AHCI, hex value was ALREADY 0. Hmm, I switch to AHCI in BIOS, boot, and to my utmost surprise everything is back to normal and the SMART command failure is gone due to the alpha BIOS Gigabyte provided me with!

It didn't work when I did this last night... oh well.

Thanks!

Bare Foot Kid · 01 Dec 2010

Good to see it's all sorted and thanks for the update.

Lee · 01 Dec 2010

Bare Foot Kid rides again. Good work big "GUY." Another happy customer here on the Sevens. . .

gregrocker · 01 Dec 2010

Please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu, so we can make sure it is configured correctly now to avoid future problems.

For future reference, all of the bootrec, bootsect and other MBR fixes are automated in Win7 Startup Repair.

TheHighRoad · 02 Dec 2010

Here it is, I do believe everything is in order. I still don't understand how it fixed itself.

"..............MBR Error"
or
"MBR Error"

Is all I was getting since last night as I messed with the Win7 system recovery command prompt. The problem continued this evening, then it magically disappeared a few hours later... not that I'm complaining!

gregrocker · 02 Dec 2010

It looks correct.

I would remove the Active flag from DISK1 Partition1 (Storage D)

You can do it using Diskpart from elevated Command line by marking that partition Inactive: Partition - Mark as Active

Or to see a picture use free Partition Wizard to Modify>Set to Inactive. Free Download Magic Partition Manager Software - Partition Wizard Online

Bare Foot Kid · 02 Dec 2010

Neither of those show 'how to' Option Two #2 of this one does.

Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

gregrocker · 02 Dec 2010

Just as a clarification, you do not need to run Startup Repair 3 times.

Removing the Active flag from your data drive is merely a precaution since we see many cases here where the System boot files are derailed during install or repair because an incorrect partition is marked Active.