Removing Windows Vista MBR and restoring Windows 7 MBR

[DivineMancy]

First of all, I installed ubuntu then I couldn't figure out how to use it so I decided to remove it. I was on Windows and I uninstalled ubuntu using the wubi.exe and un-installed it like any other application....I rebooted and Ubuntu was still there. -.- and I was on GRUB. So, I found this guide on the internet and I followed it to uninstall ubuntu "safely" as it said, I got screwed. So, first of all I had to use this software called EasyBCD which is supposed to be used in order to remove GRUB and use MBR...So, I picked my choices carefully and I chose the "Windows Vista/7 MBR" and I clicked Write MBR...GRUB was removed but, I couldn't boot into Windows. I re-installed Ubuntu and of course GRUB came along...I noticed something...It used to say at the bottom "Windows 7 loader/sda" Now, it says "Windows Vista loader/sda" So, I guess that means that I got the Windows Vista MBR not the Windows 7 one....I don't have a Windows disk or anything..Right now, all what I have is Ubuntu 11.10 installed and Ubuntu 11.10 Live disk on a USB flash drive and please help! I want to get the Windows 7 MBR back and I tried many stuff to restore the MBR but, it restores Windows Vista MBR...I used lilo and the boot-repair thing..it's just not working.

 

[DivineMancy]

Bringing up my post.

 

[theog]

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.
& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create
​

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

   Information

Boot up using the Startup Repair CD or Windows 7 DVD. (not the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk) If you have a Netbook, you will need a CD/DVD drive.
NOTE: Make sure no USB drives are plugged in.
Do not use a USB Pendrive for Startup Repair.
startup repair disc-create
​

Use the Rebuild BCD in this tutorial:
How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

 

[gregrocker]

Why would you mess with your boot if you didn't even bother to make a Repair disk, your Recovery disks or have a Win7 installation DVD? THis is reckless.

You'll need to make a WIN7 REpair CD or locate an Installation DVD to boot, make sure Win7 partition is marked Active, then run Startup Repair 3 Separate Times to repair or rewrite the System BOot files to the Win7 partition. System Repair Disc - Create

IF this fails you'll need to run Factory REcovery from its partition, the disks you should have made when you got the computer or can order from Tech Support now, or find a Win7 installation DVD for Clean Reinstalling Windows 7 with the Product Key on the COA sticker.

 

[Mark Phelps]

Couple of comments ...

First, GRUB gets easily confused, and while it may "say" Vista, from the standpoing of boot loaders, Vista and Win7 are essentially the same. So, don't panic just because GRUB says this.

Second, folks on the Ubuntu forums have reported good results using the Boot Repair utility to restore the Window MBR. It can be found at the link below:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair

You burn that image to CD, boot from it, and then do the repair.

The good thing about this option is that, unlike with the NeoSmart Win7 Repair CD images, the Boot Repair image is still free.

 

[Corazon]

Just on a side note, the Vista and 7 MBRs are actually identical.
It's the old Windows XP MBR that's different and wouldn't boot a Vista/7 system at all.

(Mark just beat me to it. )

 

[SIW2]

XP mbr will be fine with Vista\7\8 and vice versa.

People seem very hung up about this - if your o/s starts up fine - then don't worry about it.