Windows 7: Master Boot Record re-creation

Hi

Have a PC with Windows 7 on it. First hard disk with Master Boot Record failed (had an install of windows xp on it) - have now removed faulty disk, but PC will not boot due to Master Boot Record not being on second disk.

How do I go about re-creating the MBR on this Windows 7 install disk ?

Tried googling, and as usual nobody seems to have a quick / easy fix - and tried Windows 7 repair options, doesn't work (doesn't even recognise Windows 7 is on the disk).

So, I have a non-bootable PC... with access to other PC's and laptops around me (also with windows 7 on), so could plug the disk in to one of those via usb dock station etc...



Hope someone can help.

Try the bootrec commands from a Windows 7 dvd.

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

You must have a mbr on the second disk already.

I think you mean Windows 7 boot critical files were on the xp parititon.

Simplest way to fix that is boot win 7 dvd/repair disc - mark Windows 7 partition active ( use diskpart commands) then run startup repair a couple of times.

Commands are

diskpart

lis vol

( find the drive letter win recovery environment has assigned to your win 7 partition - it may not be the same drive letter you used to see in windows - then use that letter instaed of Z below )

sel vol Z

act

exi

The repairs didn't work because you didn't mark Windows 7 partition Active. Use steps above.

Thanks for help so far. Have tried the instructions as per post by SIW2, which works, but then I get the message that 'Startup repair cannot repair this computer automatically', and when I view details, there is a line which says: Problem signature 07: Missing Boot Manager Now, I boot, and get message 'BootMGR is missing' Press Ctrl-alt-del to restart... What next ?!

Did you scroll all the way down - is that the only message that something is missing or may be wrong?

When you used diskpart - did it say it had successfully marked the volume active?

You may need to run startup repair usually twice - sometimes 3 times.

Please see my edit in my last reply 'BootMGR is missing'.... Thanks SIW2 !

Yes, Diskpart said that is was fine with what it did !

Okay, all fixed and working again.

Many thanks for your help

Great - gald to hear it

Did you fix it by running startup repair again?

It has to check what is missing - repair a bit of it - check again, repair another bit - not all in one go I'm afraid.

Yep, rebooted a couple of times and each time it 'did' something.

Cool