Damaged MBR Here Are The Proper Corrective Actions To Take

The Master Boot Record (MBR) is the first thing a computer looks for when it is turned on. This file is usually kept on the first sector of the first disk, unless a boot or partition manager is in place. The Basic Input Output System or BIOS looks to the MBR to determine the physical location on the disk of your operating system. If this file becomes damaged, your computer will not start.

If this file becomes damaged or corrupted then you may experience any one or all of the following errors: Error Loading System, Invalid Partition Table, Missing Operating System, and other failures and errors not listed here that seem just as catastrophic.

The good news is that if a MBR does become corrupted it is easy to fix, and such a repair won't interfere with your operating system installation, or files that have been saved. Once the MBR repair is complete your computer will be restored to full function as it was before. You will need the original installation disk for your computer, and the administrator password to the machine.

Step 1) Press F2 or F8 on most computers and enter the BIOS settings,make sure the machine will boot from the CD. If the above function keys aren't correct the "F?" key displayed during the startup splash screen.

Step 2) Place the Windows Xp disk in the computer drive then reboot the computer, at the prompt of “Press any key to boot From CD...” press any key to boot from the disk.

Step 3) As soon as the “Welcome to Windows” screen pops up press the “r” key. This starts the recovery console.

Step 4) In the recovery console select the installation you need to fix, and enter the administrator password when prompted for it.

Step 5) When the recovery console command prompt starts, type in “fixmbr” and hit enter. The recovery console will then replace the MBR with an uncorrupted one. Then type “exit” hit enter.

When the recovery console closes remove the windows cd and reboot the machine as normal.

Vista MBR repair procedures are similar to XP, and just as easily done. To start the Recovery Environment follow the same procedure as above to boot your computer to the Vista disk.

Step 1) Enter all valid info (language, location, etc.) then select “Repair Your Computer” and click “Next.”

Step 2) Select the Vista install that needs the repair and click the “Next” button.

Step 3) Next you will be given a system recovery screen, on this screen select the option “Command Prompt.”

Step 4) When the command prompt opens type in it “bootrec.exe.” Your corrupt MBR will be replaced with a new one. Close the command prompt window.

Step 5) Remove the Vista disk from the drive and then click the restart button in the System Recovery Console.

Understanding and the capacity to repair your MBR shouldn't detract from the ways that this important file became damaged. Most often these files become corrupted by either viruses or spyware. In a single word: Malware. Malware can infect a computer and make it unbootable.

Fortunately there are tools like Antivirus Plus and XoftSpy to assist in the detection of malware, especially the ones that attack the MBR. Regular scans with tools like these will prevent the possibility of infection from potentially damaging code.