Updated on April 22, 2024

Can I fix the MBR?

MBR is one of the two most common acronyms that enthusiastic PC users throw around quite often. In case you didn't know, MBR stands for Master Boot Record. It's also referred to as the primary partition table or the partition sector. The MBR is a part of your hard drive that stores information about the disk partitions. The MBR is pretty useful since it acts as a bootstrap loader for the operating system. An MBR partition has two essential components: the master boot code and the disk partition table. These two components work together to transfer the program in the boot sector into an efficient startup process. The MBR can get damaged quite easily. The reasons for the damage are subjective. From improper ejection to virus infections, the MBR can get corrupted due to simple reasons. It's crucial to fix the MBR as soon as possible to avoid further complications.

Quick Navigation:

How to Check if MBR is Damaged?
How to Fix MBR on Windows Server - 2 Methods

How to check if the MBR is damaged?

If your system experiences any of the following, you might not be able to boot into your operating system. The main causes of MBR failure and error messages include:

    • Hard drive failure: If your hard drive is malfunctioning, your operating system will detect a damaged MBR.
    • Virus infection: Sometimes we insert external devices without checking for viruses that could harm our system. The presence of a virus can also cause MBR damage. If the virus is severe, you might lose important data.
    • Missing operating system: If you can't see your operating system, chances are your MBR is corrupted.
    • Invalid partition table: If you're unaware, an invalid partition table is an error that occurs in the operating system's partition. Users will see a black screen and won't be able to restart their computer system.
    • Non-system disk error: A non-system disk error is one of the main causes of MBR corruption in the operating system.
    • System shutdowns: If your system is shutting down unexpectedly frequently, you should check your MBR.

If you see that your operating system is not running correctly or fails to start up properly, you should repair the MBR.

How to Repair the MBR on a Windows Server

In Windows Server, there are multiple ways to repair the MBR. In this article, we will list some straightforward methods that you can use during the repair process. One of the simplest ways to fix the MBR in Windows Server is by using the Windows Server Recovery Tools. Windows provides a dedicated tool to help users troubleshoot MBR issues. Apart from that, you can also employ the following two methods to repair the MBR in your Windows Server:

Repair MBR with Partition Master Tool
Repair MBR with Command Prompt

Please read the full article for a detailed guide on these methods.

Repair MBR with Partition Master

To meet users' needs, various software tools have been developed. If you encounter a damaged MBR, you can rely on the server-oriented Partition Master Enterprise, a professional disk management utility. With this software, you can create bootable media and fix errors with simple steps so that you can use your operating system without worries. Some remarkable features of Partition Master Enterprise include:

    • This software offers the best disk management tools for Windows PCs. Not only that, but you also get comprehensive Windows Server management utilities.
    • The partition recovery feature of the software is designed to be simple and efficient, assisting users throughout the entire process.
    • Regardless of the issue you encounter, you can create bootable media to fix specific errors in your Windows Server.
    • Partition Master provides different licensing modes to cater to your needs.

Please provide the English content you want to translate, and I'll promptly translate it into Chinese for you.

Aside from fixing the MBR, Partition Master also offers users a variety of other utilities. The comprehensive disk management features of the software include:

    • Create/Resize partitions: With the Partition Master tool, you can allocate storage space on your hard drive with just one click.
    • Format partitions: If you want to prevent disk errors, you can choose a partition and format it to check for disk errors.
    • Merge partitions: Using this software, you can combine two different partitions into a larger space.
    • Migrate operating system: One of the best features Partition Master offers is OS migration. You can clone your system drive to a new drive without having to reconfigure Windows.
    • Adjust disk layout: Based on your needs, you can select a disk and adjust partition sizes.
    • Clone partitions: You can easily fully copy a partition and paste it onto a new HDD/SDD.

The tools it provides offer comprehensive disk management for a hassle-free experience. You can also convert MBR to GPT without losing any data.

Step 1: Create a bootable WinPE disk

    1. Launch Partition Master, and then click "Create Bootable Media" from the toolbar. Select "Create Bootable CD/DVD." 2. Click "Next" to complete the process.
Create a bootable disk Create a bootable disk

Step 2. Boot the Partition Master Live USB

    Plug in the bootable USB or CD/DVD to your computer. Restart your computer and press F2 or Del to enter BIOS. Set it to boot from “Removable Device” or “CD-ROM Drive,” then the Partition Master tool will launch automatically.

Step 3: Rebuild the MBR

    Click on “Toolbox” and select “Rebuild MBR”.

Rebuild MBR Rebuild MBR

    Select the disk and MBR type, then click “Rebuild”.
Rebuild MBR
Rebuild MBR
    Then you'll see “MBR on Disk X has been successfully rebuilt.”
Rebuild MBR

  24/7 Technical Chat

Free Consultation

Repair the MBR (Master Boot Record) via Command Prompt

Another way to fix the MBR is through the Command Prompt. If you're familiar with the interface and language, you can manually resolve MBR issues. To fix the MBR using Command Prompt, follow these steps:

    Boot your system from the original Windows installer (DVD or USB).

Windows installation

    1. As soon as you see the welcome screen, click on “Repair your computer.”
    2. Under “Troubleshoot,” click on “Advanced options,” then find and select “Command Prompt.”
    3. Type in each of the following commands separately, pressing Enter after each one:

"Bootrec /fixmbr" is a command in the Windows operating system used to repair the Master Boot Record (MBR). In Chinese, it's translated as "修复主引导记录" (Fúxiū zhǔ yuányuán jìlù).

The command "bootrec /fixboot" translates to "Repair boot sector" in Chinese. It is a command used in the Windows operating system to fix issues with the boot sector.

"bootrec /scanos" is a command in the Windows operating system used to scan for all installed Windows operating systems. In Chinese translation, this is commonly referred to as the "Boot Repair" command, which searches and lists all bootable operating systems found on the system disk.

The command "bootrec /rebuildbcd" translates to "Repair the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store" in Chinese. This is a command used in the Windows operating system to scan for all installed operating systems on the hard drive and rebuild the BCD store, helping to fix boot issues.

Repair MBR at Command Prompt 1

    Exit the CMD window, and then restart your Windows.

Repair MBR Command Prompt 2

After this, you should be able to boot the system successfully.

Conclusions

If you encounter MBR issues, it's crucial to address them immediately. Generally, your data is safe, but it's still advisable to back up your data securely to ensure a smooth process. Depending on your needs, you can use any of the methods mentioned above. We recommend exploring the Partition Master tool. Its technical support and range of features make it one of the best software options for fixing MBR problems. You can also explore other functionalities offered by the software, such as disk cloning and partitioning.