Simplest way to restore Windows 7 MBR?

[cintra]

Sorry, I've searched until my back is about to give in.

Could someone please advise me of the simplest way to restore Windows 7 MBR?

I thought Macrium Reflect would do it when I restored an image backup, but it didn't..

Thanks

 

[Pogi]

Try to do a repair install, I did that more than a couple of times, and it worked even if I didn't use the original istallatation disk i.e. fixed my build 7022 installation with the build 7126 disk.

 

[slithernet]

in win xp i always poped the cd in and ran recovery console. You could use fixboot and fixmbr comands to fix it, i dont know if vista or win7 have the recovery console anymore.

Can u get to recovery console in win 7 or vista?

 

[cintra]

Thanks all

I have one last image restore to try first using the latest Paragon Drive Backup version.

If that fails to restore the MBR correctly (like Macrium did?) then Repair Install is the answer... the latter might well be fastest, but I want to see if Paragon can be relied upon.

Mvh

It can't. Paragon did not restore the MBR Repair Install next.

 

[noyb]

I'm using Acronis to backup and recover W7 ... So far - it's worked.
The trial DL is fully functional for 15 days
It has the options to recover specific partitions and/or the MBR.

To get all the features in Macrium, that Acronis has .. The cost is about the same.

 

[noyb]

There seems to be something "funny" about W7 ???
I'm not sure what the extra partition is for ???

I used an earlier version of Acronis ..
and had to make boot repairs with the W7 install CD before it would work.
The new version of ATI seems to work better ???

 

[cintra]

I'm using Acronis to backup and recover W7 ... So far - it's worked.
The trial DL is fully functional for 15 days
It has the options to recover specific partitions and/or the MBR.

To get all the features in Macrium, that Acronis has .. The cost is about the same.

Thanks for your reply noyb

Which version of Acronis are you using?

I gave up on Acronis a while back after using them for image backup for years. They had so much trouble for a period.. it sounds as though they have got something right now if you have actually restored an image to Windows 7 and not had your MBR screwed up.

If you let me know the version I might give them a go. Right now I'm in the middle of the Repair Install.

mvh

 

[cintra]

Have you looked at this tutorial? It does say at the bottom that a repair install as suggested by Pogi would work if I am understanding what you need to do. Good luck to you. lm
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2676-bcdedit-how-use.html?ltr=B

Thanks myzr7

I'm afraid the tutorial was a bit over the top for me today.

I have wasted hours updating OpenSUSE on another disk, with its Grub problems, and decided it was an awful waste of time. 99% of installation & updating is automatic, but that other 1% needs 99% of one's skills and time

So its OSX and Windows 7 for me now ..once Repair Install solves my MBR problem..

Mvh

 

[noyb]

Which version of Acronis are you using?

I've never had a problem with ATI 11.8035 with XP or Vista .. Till W7 came along.

So, I'm using ATI H2OO9 in W7 .... Better Price.

Right now .. I'm using the downloaded trial ... with a key .. for W7.
I prefer to make the backups and recoveries using the ATI Boot CD

 

[cintra]

I've never had a problem with ATI 11.8035 with XP or Vista .. Till W7 came along.

So, I'm using ATI H2OO9 in W7 .... Better Price.

Right now .. I'm using the downloaded trial ... with a key .. for W7.
I prefer to make the backups and recoveries using the ATI Boot CD

That's interesting.. perhaps I'll give them another try. I just asked their support to confirm W7 compatiblity ref. MBR restore, and we'll see what they say.

Repair Install is just finishing now, and I have an MBR again!

Will have to check whether or not W7 Backup Image restores ok too later

mvh

 

[noyb]

Good luck .. I'm not too excited about things not working right ... right now.
I'm sure there's a lot of catching up to be done with all M$ changes .. (again)
Maybe in a couple of years .. this could be a problem.

 

[cintra]

Good luck .. I'm not too excited about things not working right ... right now.
I'm sure there's a lot of catching up to be done with all M$ changes .. (again)
Maybe in a couple of years .. this could be a problem.

I received an honest answer from Acronis.. stating:

..I would like to inform you that Windows7 has not been launched officially, so we have not tested our software with it. I would appreciate your patience till Windows 7 is officially launched. I regret to inform you that we cannot assure about compatibility of our software with windows 7, until it is officially released.

so take care

mvh

 

[davehc]

Another answer to your original question. Install easybcd /Free) Go to the "Manage bootloader" option and restore the MBR

 

[cintra]

Another answer to your original question. Install easybcd /Free) Go to the "Manage bootloader" option and restore the MBR

Hei davehc

I did have easybcd on the system, and I was beginning to wonder whether perhaps it, or its combination with OpenSUSE's and W7's boot managers, caused my problem in the first place..

The interface was so crappy, and now I've decided to forget Linux for a while, I preferred to get rid of it..

There just has to be some very simple method, like the good old MBRWIZ, to backup and restore MBR.

My task for the day is to try and find out what is different about W7, Vista and XP from an MBR point of view

Mvh

 

[slithernet]

This cmd in the console is suposed to fix win7 mbr

Drive:\boot\Bootsect.exe /NT60 All

Drive is ur cd drive with win7 install disk

If any1 uses it lemme know if it works

This cmd is only for win7 and vista installs, if ya duel boot winxp dont use it.

 

[Pogi]

Thanks all

I have one last image restore to try first using the latest Paragon Drive Backup version.

If that fails to restore the MBR correctly (like Macrium did?) then Repair Install is the answer... the latter might well be fastest, but I want to see if Paragon can be relied upon.

Mvh

It can't. Paragon did not restore the MBR Repair Install next.

Do you mean to say that after a Paragon image restore of your drive C:\
where Windows 7 was installed you have booting problems? In that case Paragon image restore is no different from Acronis's where I always have MBR errors. Funny I just did a Paragon partition image of my drives C:\Windows and D:\My Documents.

 

[cintra]

Do you mean to say that after a Paragon image restore of your drive C:\
where Windows 7 was installed you have booting problems? In that case Paragon image restore is no different from Acronis's where I always have MBR errors. Funny I just did a Paragon partition image of my drives C:\Windows and D:\My Documents.

Yes, just that.. and not only Paragon (latest version of DB9 Personal btw).

Macrium asks you if you want to restore the MBR and, until now, I have always said yes, but the system didn't boot after Macrium image restore of the C drive disk either.. that was the one I tried first.

So, I wouldn't trust any of them to restore the W7 MBR correctly at this point in time..

Hopefully, if one restores an image made by W7's utility, the MBR will be restored..?

Mvh

 

[noyb]

I'm using Acronis to backup and recover W7 ... So far - it's worked

Correction .. Using an Acronis backup image .. I'm trying to move W7 to another HDD.
I can't get past the Missing Boot manager screen.
I'm wondering if M$ did something funny in this drop dead Evaluation Trail.
Can't say that I appreciate their humor.

 

[cintra]

Correction .. Using an Acronis backup image .. I'm trying to move W7 to another HDD.
I can't get past the Missing Boot manager screen.
I'm wondering if M$ did something funny in this drop dead Evaluation Trail.
Can't say that I appreciate their humor.

Thats pretty much what I experienced.

You did see the Acronis comment in my post above, about W7 MBR support, i.e. "when W7 is finally released"

I notice a lot of experienced users on this forum are recommending Acronis TI - they just haven't tried yet to restore an image to fix a bad MBR situation I'm afraid..

There could be a quicker fix than Repair Install on another thread, see Getting "BOOTMGR IS MISSING" after clean install of RC1 - Windows 7 Forums Let us know if it works..

Mvh

 

[noyb]

As long as this "recovered" HDD is the only HDD in my computer ... I'm locked up.
It won't boot from the Acronis Boot CD .. or .. the W7 install DVD ???
My HP boot manager won't work ... and I can't even get to the bios Setup ??

If the commercials weren't so long on this Sit Com ...
I might have been able to remember how I got past this problem the last time.
L8r

Correction .. As long as the Recovered HDD is anywhere in my system .. I'm locked up