MBR - Restore Windows 7 Master Boot Record

How to Restore the Windows 7 MBR (Master Boot Record)​

   Information

If you have been dual booting with Linux, then you probably know one of the Linux boot managers like Grub or LILO has been installed in the MBR of your hard drive. What can you do when you no longer want Linux on that hard drive? This tutorial will show you how to use your 7 DVD and BOOTSECT.EXE to restore the "bootsector code" of the MBR and allow you to begin booting to Windows 7 again.

   Tip

You can use this method to update the bootsector code for Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000 or switch between Bootmgr and NTLDR. Just check the Microsoft TechNet site for the correct command.

Here's How:1. Boot your computer to the Windows 7 DVD (or to a "Repair CD"). At this screen choose to install now.

2. Select your language and click next.

3. Click the button for "Use recovery tools".

4. Then select "Command Prompt".

5. When open, the command prompt will look like this:

6. The command we will use, bootsect.exe, is in a folder (named boot) on the DVD.We need to know what drive letter has been assigned the DVD drive to access the folder.

Type: [B]diskpart[/B]
and press [B]Enter[/B]
 
Type: [B]select disk 0[/B] (zero)
and press [B]Enter[/B]
 
type: [B]list volume[/B]
and press [B]Enter[/B]

In this screen shot, the 7 DVD is letter: G

7. Use your DVD drive letter and

Type: [B]exit[/B]
and press [B]Enter[/B]
 
to close Diskpart
 
Type: [B]G:[/B] (use the letter of your DVD drive)
and press [B]Enter[/B]
 
Type: [B]cd boot[/B]
and press [B]Enter[/B]
 
Type: [B]dir[/B]
and press [B]Enter[/B]

to verify that bootcect.exe is there (if you really need to)

8. To restore the "bootsector code":

TYPE: [B]bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr[/B]
and press [B]Enter[/B]

NOTE: If this method fails to restore the MBR, you can try the bootrec command as it is also a tool for repairing the MBR.


9. When completed successfully,

Type: [B]exit[/B]
and press [B]Enter[/B]

This will close the command prompt window.

10. Now select Shut Down or Restart

11. Then you can reboot your computer into Windows.

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7
• Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to Repair Boot Issues
• Repair CD - System Repair Disk
• System Repair Disc - Create
• System Recovery Options
• Advanced Boot Options
• Bootmgr is missing - Fix

 

[ramasnag]

Thank you so much

Dear iseeuu,

Thank you so much for posting this article. I purchased a brand new laptop and the second day ( due to my play arounds with MBR, it got corrupted ).... I was terribly upset as I have to re install windows....
Tried a lot with ubuntu live cds, re-installing grub, windows 7 automatic startup recovery...but nothing helped....

But the procedure given by you really rocks!!!!

May God bless you

~ Nagarajan

 

[iseeuu]

Very definitive and helpful guide! Great thanks!

Thank you kerfuffler; your comments are greatly appreciated!

 

[iseeuu]

Dear iseeuu,

Thank you so much for posting this article. I purchased a brand new laptop and the second day ( due to my play arounds with MBR, it got corrupted ).... I was terribly upset as I have to re install windows....
Tried a lot with ubuntu live cds, re-installing grub, windows 7 automatic startup recovery...but nothing helped....

But the procedure given by you really rocks!!!!

May God bless you

~ Nagarajan

Thank you Nagarajan. I am glad you found a solution at Windows Seven Forums!

Cheers!
Robert

 

[14058]

This thread is magical. I was experimenting with Ubuntu awhile back and I found that I didn't want to run it on my desktop so I deleted the partition and shut down, Fast forward to 2 months later I went to power on said desktop on a lack of sleep and found that the computer was booting to "grub recuse" command. I didn't know that Ubuntu overridden the MBR with Grub. Now I do. Found this site because I could not remember now to fix the MBR to save my life. That and I was overlooking the simplest answer to my problem.

Long story short, you saved my lack of sleep ass and I thank you for it.

 

[iseeuu]

This thread is magical. I was experimenting with Ubuntu awhile back and I found that I didn't want to run it on my desktop so I deleted the partition and shut down, Fast forward to 2 months later I went to power on said desktop on a lack of sleep and found that the computer was booting to "grub recuse" command. I didn't know that Ubuntu overridden the MBR with Grub. Now I do. Found this site because I could not remember now to fix the MBR to save my life. That and I was overlooking the simplest answer to my problem.

Long story short, you saved my lack of sleep ass and I thank you for it.

Thank you 14058, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums. We like nothing better than to hear that our time spent posting here equals "problem solved" for visitors like you!

Cheers!
Robert

 

[Big Buck]

Just what I needed!

http://cssimg.sevenforumscdn.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif THANKS, this really helped worked great for me!

 

[iseeuu]

http://cssimg.sevenforumscdn.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif THANKS, this really helped worked great for me!

Thanks for letting us know we helped, Big Buck! And welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

 

[HappyBubbster]

Beautiful

Add me to your list of converts. Installed Ubuntu x64 & then tried some ill-informed shortcuts to uninstall it. You can guess the rest.

This thread saved my butt, my system, & perhaps my marriage. Thank you.

 

[iseeuu]

Add me to your list of converts. Installed Ubuntu x64 & then tried some ill-informed shortcuts to uninstall it. You can guess the rest.

This thread saved my butt, my system, & perhaps my marriage. Thank you.

Thanks for the post, HappyBubbster, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums! Glad you found some help here!

First time been thanked for saving a marriage!

Cheers!
Robert

 

[dangus]

thanks

i used acronis option to backup and then recover and then ran the win 7 dvd recovery twice and it worked. Thanks for posting.

 

[iseeuu]

i used acronis option to backup and then recover and then ran the win 7 dvd recovery twice and it worked. Thanks for posting.

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums, dangus!

Thanks for letting us know you found help here.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[kevinUK]

Hi Robert,
I have a similar problem with my computer. I have a partitioned HDD, XP Pro installed originally and Win7 Ult on the partition which was dual booted. It work great and I really liked the way Win 7 operated. A problem occurred and I formatted Win 7 but in doing so it left the MBR still showing the dual boot screen, which i can access XP pro and it works great. i tried to clean install Win7 and i get the BSOD and cannot get any further. I wish to keep XP pro as it has applications that will not work on Win 7 but i would dearly love to get Win7 reinstalled.
Is there any help you or someone can help with!

Thanks
Kevin

 

[SIW2]

Are you able to read what the bsod says?

 

[kevinUK]

Hi Thanks for answering. I could at the time but i can't remember now. I can rerun the installation and get that information. what I can remember of it was it gave a reference something like 0x00.. but I'm not sure waht it would relate to.

Kev.

 

[kevinUK]

Hi,
This time when i tried to install, (from bootup) if got through the "windows loading files" screen changed to "starting Windows" then the PC fell silent. I left it for 5-6 mins but it stayed at that point. no BSOD this time.

Thanks

Kev

 

[Sanchez]

Now my registry is corrupt too

Hi,
I installed a new HDD after the installation the Pc would not boot, (MBR was missing), so I got out the DVD to repair the PC but my C: drive did not show up (only E: drive showed up)
I then follewd the the tutorial on restoring the MBR, but now it comes up with the error that the regestry files are corrupt or missing.

Any help or ideas on how I can go on would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards Sanchio

 

[iseeuu]

Hi,
I installed a new HDD after the installation the Pc would not boot, (MBR was missing), so I got out the DVD to repair the PC but my C: drive did not show up (only E: drive showed up)
I then follewd the the tutorial on restoring the MBR, but now it comes up with the error that the regestry files are corrupt or missing.

Any help or ideas on how I can go on would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards Sanchio

Hello Sanchez, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

The premise of this tutorial thread was to show how to replace a working Grub boot loader (Linux) with the Windows boot loader by restoring the original MBR boot code.

Your situation seems to be different. If when you put the new hard drive in your computer and booted up, the BIOS was only looking at the new (empty) hard drive then you would get a "MBR missing" error message because all of the files were on another hard drive. Using "bootsec.exe" would not fix this because it would be trying to fix an empty drive. If my guess is correct, the answer is to set the hard drive with Windows installed as the boot drive in your bios. I would suggest you remove the new (empty) hard drive and then run the "startup repair" to restore booting to Windows.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

To get more help installing your new hard drive, I recommend you start a new thread and explain your situation with more detail.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[yairsaumeth]

Thank you ver y much, it helped

 

[iseeuu]

Thank you ver y much, it helped

You are welcome yairsaumeth, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums! Thanks for letting us know!

Cheers!
Robert

 

[mickey megabyte]

i've just referred a friend to this thread, and he noticed that there was a step missed out early in the tutorial.

in between steps 2 and 3, there should be a mention of this screen, where you click 'repair your computer'.

it's pretty obvious that you need to do this, but including it may help a few panicking inexperienced readers, and it would make a great tutorial even greater.