Master Boot Record re-creation

[GMorgans]

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.

 

[Bill2]

Try the bootrec commands from a win7 dvd.

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

 

[SIW2]

You must have a mbr on the second disk already.

I think you mean win7 boot critical files were on the xp parititon.

Simplest way to fix that is boot win 7 dvd/repair disc - mark win7 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

 

[gregrocker]

The repairs didn't work because you didn't mark Win7 partition Active. Use steps above.

 

[GMorgans]

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 ?!

 

[SIW2]

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.

 

[GMorgans]

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

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

 

[GMorgans]

Okay, all fixed and working again.

Many thanks for your help

 

[SIW2]

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.

 

[GMorgans]

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

Cool

 

[SIW2]

LOL.

Enjoy.

 

[Mikedt]

SIW2 you are my hero. After trying what seems like 50 different solutions to correct my boot problems with no results, your steps posted May 7, 2011 corrected things right away. Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

The repairs will not repair or write the System boot files to the correct partition unless it is marked Active first. Yet this step is often missing or ignored.