[Full Guide] How to Rebuild MBR | Repair Corrupted MBR

Have you ever felt frustrated by error messages like "Operating System not found" or a blank screen with no message when you start up your computer? Sometimes, you might accidentally damage Windows' MBR (Master Boot Record), resulting in the inability to boot into the system. In such cases, rebuilding the MBR instead of reinstalling Windows is a more convenient and time-saving solution.

The tool has already provided the function to rebuild MBR when boot failure is caused by MBR issues. Please refer to the following steps to rebuild MBR.

Before we begin, let's review the overview of how to rebuild or repair the MBR:

Please provide the list of languages you need translated into American English.

How to Rebuild or Repair MBR with Partition Master Tools

tools Partition Master is a professional third-party tool for managing disks and partitions. It features a "Rebuild MBR" function to assist you in addressing issues related to the master boot code. It offers an all-in-one solution to create a WinPE bootable disk and then rebuild the MBR. The interface is user-friendly, suitable for everyone to use.

Download this powerful tool for free and give it a try:

Step 1. Create a WinPE bootable disk

1. Launch tools Partition Master, and click "Bootable Media" on the toolbar. Select "Create bootable media". 2. Click "Next" to complete the process.

Step 2. Boot the Partition Master Bootable USB

Connect the bootable USB or CD/DVD to your PC. Press F2 or Del when you restart the computer to enter the BIOS screen. Set and boot your computer from "Removable Devices" or "CD-ROM Drive". Then, the Partition Master tool will run automatically.

Step 3. Rebuild MBR

Click "Toolkit" and select "Rebuild MBR".

Rebuild MBR

Select the disk and the type of MBR, then click "Rebuild".

After that, you can see "MBR has been successfully rebuilt on Disk X".

The Rebuild MBR feature can fix issues with the master boot code, but it won't address corruption in the Windows operating system files. Additionally, the tools in Partition Master do not support creating a WinPE bootable disk, which would typically allow you to access and manage your computer's disks/partitions when the OS fails to boot.

See also:

#4: Using CMD to Rebuild MBR

This section will demonstrate how to utilize another Windows 10 Boot Repair tool - the Command Prompt (CMD) to reconstruct the Master Boot Record (MBR). We offer different guides for various systems:

Repair MBR in Windows 10/8/8.1

Fix MBR in Windows 7

Repair MBR in Windows XP

Regardless of your operating system, you can find solutions in this section. However, you need to be cautious when entering the commands.

1. Repair MBR in Windows 10/8/8.1

Step 1. Boot from the recovery USB or the original installation DVD.

Step 2. Go to the installation screen, and click Repair your computer.

"Repair your computer"

Step 3. On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt

Rebuild or fix MBR in Windows 10

< strong > Step 4. < /strong > Type in the command lines and press Enter after each one:

• bootrec /fixmbr
• bootrec /fixboot
• bootrec /scanos
• bootrec /rebuildbcd
These are actually commands used in the Windows Operating System's Command Prompt, not languages. They translate to: 1. **bootrec /fixmbr**: This command repairs or replaces the Master Boot Record (MBR) on your computer. 2. **bootrec /fixboot**: It writes a new boot sector to the system partition. 3. **bootrec /scanos**: Scans all disks for installed Windows installations. 4. **bootrec /rebuildbcd**: This command rebuilds the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store, which contains information about operating systems available for booting.

Rebuild or fix MBR in Windows 8

Step 5. Remove the DVD/USB from your PC.

Step 6. Type 'exit', then restart your PC.

2. Fix MBR in Windows 7

Step 1. Boot your PC from the installation DVD.

Step 2. You will see the message "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD". Press any key to boot from the DVD.

Step 3. Choose a language and a keyboard layout.

Step 4. Click Next.

Step 5. Select the operating system and click Next. Check the box that says "Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows."

Step 6. At the System Recovery Options screen, select Command Prompt.

Step 7. Type each command line and press Enter after typing each one:

Here are the translations of the provided commands into American English:
• bootrec /fixmbr
• bootrec /fixboot
• bootrec /rebuildbcd
These are Windows Command Prompt commands used for boot record recovery: - `bootrec /fixmbr` - This command repairs or replaces the Master Boot Record (MBR). - `bootrec /fixboot` - This command writes a new boot sector to the system partition. - `bootrec /rebuildbcd` - This command scans all disks for Windows installations and rebuilds the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store.

Rebuild or fix MBR in Windows 7

Step 8. Remove the DVD/USB from your PC, and type exit. Restart your computer.

3. Repair the MBR in Windows XP

Step 1. Boot from the Windows XP CD.

Step 2. Press any key to boot from the CD.

Step 3. You'll see the Welcome to Setup screen. Press R to run the Recovery Console.

< strong >Step 4. Answer the question.

"Which Windows installation would you like to log onto" - Type 1 and press Enter.

"Type the Administrator password" - type the password and press Enter.

Step 5. Type fixmbr and press Enter.

"Are you sure you want to write a new MBR?" - type Y and press Enter.

Step 6. Remove the Windows XP CD and type exit.

Step 7. Restart your PC.

Having learned the tutorial, let's now understand the definition of MBR and the context behind MBR recovery. Thereafter, you can stay alert to such situations. If you find these methods useful, please share them with others in need by clicking on the social media buttons.

What is MBR? Meaning and Function of MBR MBR stands for Master Boot Record, commonly translated into "Main Boot Record" in English. It's a special sector on a hard drive, located at the beginning (usually the first sector), playing a crucial role in traditional BIOS systems. MBR Structure The MBR is 512 bytes in size and consists of: 1. **Bootstrap Loader**: This is a small piece of code responsible for loading the operating system boot loader. It checks the partition table on the hard drive to identify the active partition and passes control to its boot loader. 2. **Partition Table**: The MBR holds four partition entries, each taking up 16 bytes. These entries describe logical partition information on the hard drive, such as partition type, starting position, and size. Before the GUID Partition Table (GPT), MBR was the standard partition scheme for most hard drives. 3. **Boot Signature**: Typically 0x55AA, this indicates the validity and integrity of the MBR. If this value is altered or lost, it can lead to booting issues. Differences Between MBR and GPT With the adoption of UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), MBR has been supplanted by the GUID Partition Table (GPT). GPT offers support for more partitions and larger hard drive sizes, along with improved error correction mechanisms. However, MBR remains a common boot method on older or lower-spec computers. MBR Issues and Solutions Limitations of MBR include a maximum of four primary partitions or three primary plus one extended partition, and support for hard drives up to 2TB in size. When these limitations are exceeded, GPT or other partition schemes can be used. Additionally, MBR is more vulnerable to virus attacks and hardware failures, so backing up the MBR and regularly checking disks are essential for maintaining system stability.

Have you understood what MBR stands for? MBR stands for Master Boot Record, which is also referred to as the master boot sector. It is the initial sector that must be read when a PC is powered on in order to access the hard disk. Here's the definition from Wikipedia:

In short, the MBR is essential to boot computer. The MBR grabs the size and location of each partition on the hard disk.

As you can see from the image, the MBR consists of three parts: Master Boot Code (466Bytes), Disk Partition Table (648Bytes), and the Boot Signature.

What Happens If the MBR Gets Damaged

Since the MBR is part of your PC's startup system, your PC won't be running if your MBR is damaged. It contains the information about your disk partitions.

So, how does MBR get corrupted?

• Drive failures
• Virus
• Malware
• System shutdown

The MBR error message:

Here are the translations of the provided phrases into English: 1. Operating system not found. 2. Reboot and select proper boot device. 3. Error loading operating system. 4. Non-system disk or disk error.

What you are going to do is to rebuild your MBR for re-using your PC. Don't worry. Tools like Partition Master can help you rebuild MBR without data loss.

Final Words About Repairing the MBR

In conclusion, we've outlined the complete guide for MBR. If your MBR is corrupted, you can attempt the two methods we discussed: using an MBR repair tool and the Command Prompt.

To recommend the straight way, Partition Master is the right tool to rebuild MBR without CD and data loss. Get a free download in seconds.

P.S. Should you encounter any issues with the Master Boot Record repair, feel free to chat with our online support agent or send an email to support@tools.com.

Additional Tips to Fix MBR in Windows

This part will continue to provide more questions and answers related to MBR in Windows. If you're interested, keep reading, and hopefully, it'll be beneficial to you.

Data loss won't occur unless you use incorrect methods to restore it. Your PC might not boot due to incorrect operations. Check the best solution in part 1.

2. How to repair the MBR in Windows 10 without using a CD?

Step 1. Restart your PC. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del. (If it doesn't work, repeat the restart and press the button one more time.)

Step 2. The "Preparing automatic repair, Diagnose, Attempting Repairs" screen appears.

Step 3. Choose Advanced options.

Step 4. Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Windows startup settings > Restart