MBR Partition issue during CCE scan operation... how to recover MBR

carwiz · 31 Jan 2014

MilesAhead said:

In fact, since you have the screen shot of the partition layout, you should be able to use an MBR editor to put the numbers in. After backing up everything you can back up, you're in a "nothing to lose" position. I'd search for an MBR editor. I'm sure there are free ones out there.

Holy Moly! Isn't it fowled up enough already? :) There's a copy of the MBR in Sys reserved but I doubt that it's any good now especially with all those partitions.

Save what you can and start fresh. Chalk it up to a learning experience.

MilesAhead · 31 Jan 2014

carwiz said:

MilesAhead said:

In fact, since you have the screen shot of the partition layout, you should be able to use an MBR editor to put the numbers in. After backing up everything you can back up, you're in a "nothing to lose" position. I'd search for an MBR editor. I'm sure there are free ones out there.

Holy Moly! Isn't it fowled up enough already? :) There's a copy of the MBR in Sys reserved but I doubt that it's any good now especially with all those partitions.

Save what you can and start fresh. Chalk it up to a learning experience.

I don't understand the hostility towards learning something about the MBR. If the OP is going to wipe the disk then tell me what is at risk other than spending a bit of time. It stands to reason if something hosed the MBR then it could be fixed. There's probably a calculator someplace to generate the right numbers given the HD geometry and partition sizes.

What's everyone afraid of?

Slartybart · 31 Jan 2014

First: Is this CCE?
Comodo Cleaning Essentials

Second, I have to agree with the consensus - your system is fairly well hosed.

Greg's posts will help you quickly get your machine back to health:
MBR Partition issue during CCE scan operation... how to recover MBR
MBR Partition issue during CCE scan operation... how to recover MBR

or you can wait to see if anyone else thinks there is another way.
MilesAhead suggested a disk editor here but that's a lot of detailed work.

That's all I can add to this, good luck.... but make it easy on yourself... follow Greg's advice (make sure your read first...and back up your data)

MilesAhead · 31 Jan 2014

Also I never got an answer to my question if the partition image backup made offers to restore the MBR during the restore operation. Again, if the OP is going to wipe the disk after backup, what's the big fear of restoring the partition from image? See what happens.

That's how all those "Undocumented Windows" books got written. :)

carwiz · 31 Jan 2014

MilesAhead said:

What's everyone afraid of?

Me, nothing. I afraid of turning system trashing software loose to the OP.

What hostility??????

MilesAhead · 31 Jan 2014

carwiz said:

MilesAhead said:

What's everyone afraid of?

Me, nothing. I afraid of turning system trashing software loose to the OP.

What hostility??????

What's more "trashed" than wiping the HD? You're all trashing it deliberately when there's a chance to restore the OP's system. Incomprehensible to me.

http://thestarman.pcministry.com/asm...Tables.htm#mbr

gregrocker · 31 Jan 2014

I think the concern is that the OP has so thoroughly trashed his system that a complete wipe is justified for that alone, hoping that he'll adopt better tools and methods which are proven here in five years to get and keep a perfect install.

But since the OP has an interest in MBR editing as shown by his focus on it in replies, Miles also has much to offer about that. Heck, I'd like to learn more about MBR editing at such an advanced level.

If that's what you want Jonny, then have at it. It cannot hurt things worse than they are that I'm aware of. You still have the best option of wiping your HD after you learn more about editing MBR. But there honestly isn't anything other than your data that's worth saving there. And there's important information to learn about what maintains a perfect install in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 when you're ready.

jonnyhotchkiss · 31 Jan 2014

Thanks for all the info, really appreciate it.

Backing up PRIORITY #1 - acronis, macrium, or other? (to USB2 external, hopefully in good nick')

Miles, Active Partition Recovery didn't appear to offer that option.. but I was running the free copy, with limited functionality (DIM image the only feasbile option).

I'm up for trying the fix the MBR, and will google for free editors (good tip thanks)

where would the sys reserved backup be?
(Assuming C is the letter of the primary partition on disk 0, and D is the letter assigned to the VHD)

Very grateful

jonnyhotchkiss · 31 Jan 2014

slartyb', yup. That was the straw that broke this camel's back!

MilesAhead · 31 Jan 2014

It's a chance to learn something as long as you have patience. It's always easier to be objective when the machine being repaired is not your own. I hope you succeed and enjoy yourself at the same time. Barring some weird hardware thing you know you can get your system back using the reinstall option.

As much as possible I would back up data using file copy methods. Something like Macrium may get confused if the partition layout is nothing like it was during the backup. Maybe RichCopy or RoboCopy etc.. :)