Replacing MBR

[AllanP]

I know this has been covered in many threads and posts. I have read them all and tried them all and still cannot replace Windows 7/64's MBR. My next step is to format, re-install and recover a Win7 image, but thought I would try here first. I've done the Win7 install / repair/ Command prompt / bootsect /nt60 c: with other variations like 52 in place of 60. I've tried EasyBSD. I thought I would try making a bootable USB with MBRFIX on it; didn't work. Does anyone out there have another suggestion?
Ubuntu's GRUB now controls the MBR.

 

[Pusspa]

HOW TO: Recover Windows MBR using Ubuntu LIVE CD - Ubuntu Forums

 

[AllanP]

HOW TO: Recover Windows MBR using Ubuntu LIVE CD - Ubuntu Forums

Thanks. I went through the post there and apparently doesn't work with Vista and therefore not Windows 7. One post suggested that Windows Recovery Cd Windows Vista Recovery Disc Download — The NeoSmart Files would work, but it doesn't either.
I guess I have two choices: Keep GRUB or re-install.

 

[AllanP]

Well I think I exhausted all methods including, RebuildBcd, FixMBR, FixBoot, nt60, nt52 and I only accomplished "no operating system" on boot. I wound up installing Windows 7 to the first reboot; stopped it there and recovered a recent image with Acronis True Image. finally I am back to no GRUB and a normal boot; hardly what I would call a "solved" so won't mark the thread solved. I don't see why FixMBR wouldn't work; it did on XP.

 

[mjf]

The MBR backup utility may be usefull for the future.
MBR Backup - Back up your Master Boot Record
A little standalone utility letting you save, replace, print, and view partition table.

I guess these other utilities you tried are able to scan the disk and recover the partition table information when it's been lost in the MBR?? otherwise you would get a Missing operating system error.

 

[gregrocker]

You are using old methods on a new OS. To recover the MBR in Win7, you mark the partition active and run Startup Repair from the Win7 DVD Repair console or REpair CD up to 3 separate times. All former bootsect and bootrec commands plus all necessary tests are automated in Startup Repair run from boot.

GRUB will corrupt the Win7 bootloader. The best arrangement for Ubuntu is to put it on a separate HD booted via BIOS boot order or one-time Boot Menu key.

 

[AllanP]

Thank you all for the help. Actually partially installing the OS wasn't too painful with the backed up image to recover. I have downloaded and backed up the MBR should it happen again.Then I'll forget where I put it lol.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Allan.





This tutorial at the link below shows a way to back-up the boot files to the system that can then be accessed/restored from an elevated command prompt, see Option Two if the need arises.

BCDEDIT - How to Use

   Information

* see the warning *

IMPORTANT: make a backup of your bcd file first. To do that, type:bcdedit /export C:\SAVEDBCD

This will create a file c:\savebcd which is your boot entry backup.
If you mess up, you can always undo changes by:
bcdedit /import c:\savedbcd

​

 

[AllanP]

Hello Allan.





This tutorial at the link below shows a way to back-up the boot files to the system that can then be accessed/restored from an elevated command prompt, see Option Two if the need arises.

BCDEDIT - How to Use

   Information

* see the warning *

IMPORTANT: make a backup of your bcd file first. To do that, type:bcdedit /export C:\SAVEDBCD

This will create a file c:\savebcd which is your boot entry backup.
If you mess up, you can always undo changes by:
bcdedit /import c:\savedbcd

​

Thanks I'll do as you mention as well as the previous backup MRR.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

My pleasure mate!