How Do I Repair A Bcd Record For Free

This guide shows y'all how to fix the Master boot tape (MBR) in whatsoever of the Windows versions: Windows x, Windows 11, Windows XP, Vista, 7, or Windows eight.

Contents

1 What is the MBR
- 1.one Backup
- ane.two Restore
- 1.3 Mutual errors
two Set the MBR with Easy Recovery Essentials
3 Fix the MBR in Windows XP
four Gear up the MBR in Windows Vista
five Fix the MBR in Windows 7
6 Fix the MBR in Windows 8 or 8.i
7 Ready the MBR in Windows x
viii More Information
- viii.1 Support Links
- 8.ii Applicable Systems

What is the MBR

The MBR (stands for "Master boot tape") is a kicking sector (a region of your difficult disk) that holds information about the partitions of your difficult drive and acts as a loader for the operating system you lot're running.

The Master boot record is created when yous showtime install Windows, on the commencement partitioning you create. It's the offset 512 bytes of your hard disk.

If the MBR is damaged, you won't exist able to boot into Windows. All Windows versions – Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 – utilise MBR and, if damaged you won't be able to boot.

It can exist damaged by sure viruses that target the MBR to replace it with their own code or in cases when you dual boot with a Linux distribution (see Error: no such partition. Grub rescue article).

Backup

You tin can backup the MBR since it'due south stored on the hard disk drive and you restore information technology later, when needed.

You just demand one command to fill-in the MBR:

dd if=/dev/sda of=/path-to-salve/mbr-backup bs=512 count=1

In the above command, /path-to-save/mbr-backup is the path where you want to save mbr-backup.

Restore

Of import: Restoring your Principal boot record with the wrong partition table will make your data unreadable and will make it very hard to recover your data afterwards.

You tin restore the saved Master boot record using this command:

dd if=/path-to-get/mbr-fill-in of=/dev/sda bs=512 count=1

In this control, /path-to-go/mbr-backup is the path where you have the mbr-backup stored.

Common errors

If the Master kick record is broken, your computer may show some of the post-obit errors:

Error loading operating system (see our Error loading operating system: Gear up for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10 guide)

The "Error loading operating system" mistake

Operating Organisation non found(see our Operating Organization non found or missing: Prepare for Windows XP, Vista, 7, eight, 10 guide)

The "Operating system not found" error

The "Operating system not institute" error

Invalid division table(see our Invalid sectionalization table: Set for Windows XP, Vista, seven, viii, 8.1 and 10 guide)

The "Invalid partition table" error

No bootable medium found(see our No bootable medium constitute: Set for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 and x guide)

The "No bootable medium found" error

Reboot and select proper boot device(see our Reboot and select proper boot device: Prepare for Windows XP, Vista, 7, eight and x guide)

The Reboot and Select proper boot device error

Other errors can be shown, depending on many factors, that are acquired past a damaged kick record.

Ready the MBR with Easy Recovery Essentials

Easy Recovery Essentials, our bootable recovery and repair CD/USB, is guaranteed to repair most damages done to the Master boot tape (MBR) using its Automated Repair feature for Windows XP, Vista, 7 or eight:

Download Like shooting fish in a barrel Recovery Essentials. Choose your Windows version (XP, Vista, 7 or viii) before downloading.
Burn down the image. Follow these instructions on how to fire the bootable ISO image very carefully, as making a bootable CD tin be tricky!
Boot Easy Recovery Essentials
Choose Automated Repair choice and click Go along

Choose "Automated Repair" in Easy Recovery Essentials
Choose your Windows installation drive's letter (unremarkably it's C:\) and click on Automated Repair
Easy Recovery Essentials will now begin

Easy Recovery Essentials Starts the Process
Once the process is complete, click Restart
Done. Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8 should properly load now.

Windows XP, Vista, vii, 8 Loading Successfully

You can download Easy Recovery Essentials from here.

Set the MBR in Windows XP

Windows XP users can apply the fixmbr control to repair the MBR. Y'all need the original Windows XP installation CD to run Recovery Panel and run the fixmbr utility.

If you don't accept the Windows XP installation CD to run Recovery Panel, go to Fix MBR with Like shooting fish in a barrel Recovery Essentials.

The fixmbr control is only available for Windows XP and Windows 2000.

The instructions to run fixmbr are:

Boot from the Windows XP CD
At the "Press whatsoever cardinal to boot from CD…" message, printing whatever key to boot into the CD
When the Welcome to Setup screen appears, press R to open Recovery Panel

Windows XP Printing R for Recovery Console
At the "Which Windows installation would you like to log onto" question, type 1 and hit Enter, if your Windows XP is the only operating system on your difficult drive
At the "Blazon the Ambassador password" question, enter the password and striking Enter afterwards
Type fixmbr

The fixmbr in Command Prompt

If the "Are you sure yous want to write a new MBR?" message appears, press Y and hit Enter
Press Enter
Wait for the process to end. The fixmbr utility software will repair any damage to the master boot tape.
Remove the Windows XP CD
Blazon exit
Press Enter to restart your calculator

If you lot weren't able to boot your computer because of a damaged MBR, the in a higher place instructions should fix it and your Windows XP should start commonly.

If the fixmbr command doesn't work, try using the map command to become the right bulldoze proper noun where y'all want to repair the Master boot record:

Type map
Hit Enter
Wait for the output of the map utility:
```
C: NTFS 1024MB \Device\Harddisk0\Partition1 Due east: \Device\CdRom0
```
The in a higher place output is an instance. The output for your computer can be different, but note the drive alphabetic character for the item with Harddisk0, in this case C:\.

Fix the MBR in Windows Vista

Windows Vista uses a different utility to fix the MBR than XP does, the bootrec control.

You need your original Windows Vista installation CD/DVD to run the bootrec utility.

If you don't have the Windows Vista installation CD/DVD to run Command Prompt, become to Fix MBR with Piece of cake Recovery Essentials.

The instructions are:

Boot from your Windows Vista installation CD or DVD
Cull your language and keyboard layout
At the Welcome screen, click on Repair your computer

Windows Vista Repair Your Estimator Card
Choose the operating system and click Next
When the System Recovery Options window appears, click on Command Prompt
When Command Prompt appears, type these commands:
```
bootrec /FixMbr bootrec /FixBoot bootrec /RebuildBcd
```
Yous can type bootrec.exe for a full clarification of above commands.
Press Enter after each control
Await for the operation to finish. If information technology was a success, a confirmation message will appear on the screen.
Remove the CD/DVD from the deejay tray
Type exit
Hit Enter and restart your computer

You tin run Startup Repair for Windows Vista before running bootrec.exe to try and ready the kicking error automatically. The steps to run Startup Repair are:

Boot from the installation CD/DVD
Click on Repair your estimator, afterwards you select the language and keyboard layout

Windows Vista Repair Your Figurer Menu
Choose your operating arrangement from the list, click Side by side
When the System Recovery Options dialog appears, click on Startup Repair

Windows Vista System Recovery Options
Await for the process to cease. Restart your computer when prompted by the system

Another alternative is to completely rebuild the BCD, if the bootrec /rebuildbcd command doesn't work. When you are at the Control Prompt, type the post-obit commands:

bcdedit /export C:\bcdbackup c: cd boot attrib bcd -due south -h -r ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.backup bootrec /rebuildbcd

After each control, hit Enter.

Fix the MBR in Windows seven

You need your original Windows vii installation DVD to kicking into System Recovery Options and run Command Prompt.

If you don't take the Windows 7 installation CD/DVD to run Command Prompt, get to Fix MBR with Piece of cake Recovery Essentials.

The instructions are:

Boot from the Windows 7 installation DVD
At the "Press whatever central to kicking from CD or DVD…", press any central to boot from the DVD
Select a linguistic communication
Select a keyboard layout
Click Next
Select the operating system and click Next. The "Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows" must be checked when you select the operating organisation.
At the System Recovery Options screen, click on Command Prompt

Windows 7 System Recovery Options Screen
When Command Prompt successfully loads, type this command:
```
bootrec /rebuildbcd
```
Press Enter
Type the next command:
```
bootrec /fixmbr
```
Printing Enter
Type the side by side command:
```
bootrec /fixboot
```
Press Enter
Remove the installation DVD from the disk tray and restart your computer

If bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot doesn't work, try restoring the kick sector code of your Windows seven:

Determine the drive letter of your Windows installation CD/DVD past typing these commands in the Control Prompt:
```
diskpart select disk 0 listing volume
```
Await for the "CD-ROM" word in a "Blazon" cavalcade. This item is your CD/DVD installation bulldoze letter of the alphabet. If the drive letter is D:\, type these commands:
```
get out D: cd boot dir
```
If the drive letter is unlike than D:\, replace the 2d control with the bulldoze letter of the alphabet you have noted from the previous listing volume command.
Blazon this command:
```
bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr
```
Press Enter
Remove the CD/DVD from the disk tray
Type exit
Press Enter to restart your estimator

Ready the MBR in Windows viii or 8.i

You need the original Windows 8 or viii.1 installation DVD to repair the Master boot record.

If yous don't have the Windows eight/8.1 installation CD/DVD to run Control Prompt, go to Fix MBR with Piece of cake Recovery Essentials.

The instructions are:

Boot from the original installation DVD (or the recovery USB)
At the Welcome screen, click Repair your figurer

Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu
Choose Troubleshoot
Choose Command Prompt

When the Command Prompt loads, type the following commands:

bootrec /FixMbr bootrec /FixBoot bootrec /ScanOs bootrec /RebuildBcd

Printing Enter after each command and await for each operation to terminate
Remove the DVD from the disk tray
Type leave
Hitting Enter
Restart your reckoner and check if Windows 8/8.one tin now boot

If bootrec utility doesn't fix your Windows 8/8.1, try following the next commands to fix the EFI bootloader of the Windows 8/viii.i:

Boot from the installation DVD or the Windows 8 or Windows 8.ane recovery USB
Click Repair your computer
Cull Troubleshoot
Cull Command Prompt
Type these commands in society and hit Enter after each:
```
diskpart sel disk 0 list vol
```
These commands will select the beginning disk of your computer and the list all the partitions available on that disk.
Check for the book item that has the Fs column FAT32. The EFI division must be formatted under FAT32. If the volume number of EFI partitioning is "2", blazon the following command:
```
sel vol 2
```
If the volume number is unlike than 2, replace "two" with the number available on your reckoner.
Assign a letter of the alphabet to this partition, a letter that is different that those already available on your computer, for instance x:\. Type this control to assign the letter of the alphabet:
```
assign letter=x:
```

Await for the success bulletin to appear:

DiskPart successfully assigned the bulldoze alphabetic character or mount bespeak.

Type get out to quit the DiskPart utility:
```
exit
```
Type this command and replace x:\ with the letter you assigned before to the EFI partition:
```
cd /d ten:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\
```
Then type the bootrec command to repair the volume:
```
bootrec /fixboot
```
Now you need to backup the one-time BCD and recreate a new i. Type:
```
ren BCD BCD.backup
```
Type this command to recreate the BCD and replace the x:\ with the assigned letter of the alphabet earlier:
```
bcdboot c:\Windows /l en-us /due south x: /f ALL
```
In to a higher place command, Windows is installed on c:\. If the drive letter where your Windows 8/8.ane is installed is different, supplant c:\ with your drive letter.
Remove the DVD from the deejay tray
Type exit
Restart your computer

Windows 8 bootrec utility results screen

Windows viii bootrec utility results screen

Fix the MBR in Windows 10

You need the original Windows 10 installation DVD to repair the Master kick record.

If you don't have the Windows 10 installation DVD to run Command Prompt, go to Prepare MBR with Easy Recovery Essentials.

The instructions are:

Boot from the original installation DVD (or the recovery USB)
At the Welcome screen, click Repair your computer
Choose Troubleshoot
Choose Command Prompt
When the Command Prompt loads, type the following commands:
```
bootrec /FixMbr bootrec /FixBoot bootrec /ScanOs bootrec /RebuildBcd
```
Windows 10 Repair Your Computer Menu
Press Enter after each command and expect for each functioning to cease
Remove the DVD from the disk tray
Type exit
Striking Enter
Restart your computer and check if Windows ten can now boot

If bootrec utility doesn't fix your Windows 10 installation, try following the next commands to fix the EFI bootloader:

Boot from the installation DVD or the Windows 10 setup or recovery USB
Click Repair your computer
Cull Troubleshoot
Cull Command Prompt
Type these commands in lodge and hit Enter afterwards each:
```
diskpart sel deejay 0 listing vol
```
These commands will select the first deejay of your computer and the listing all the partitions available on that disk.
Check for the volume item that has the Fs column FAT32. The EFI partition must be formatted under FAT32. If the volume number of EFI partition is "2", type the following command:
```
sel vol two
```
If the volume number is unlike than 2, replace "2" with the number available on your computer.
Assign a letter to this sectionalisation, a letter that is different that those already available on your computer, for instance x:\. Type this control to assign the alphabetic character:
```
assign letter of the alphabet=10:
```

Wait for the success message to announced:

DiskPart successfully assigned the drive letter or mount indicate.

Type exit to quit the DiskPart utility:
```
exit
```
Type this command and supercede x:\ with the letter yous assigned before to the EFI partition:
```
cd /d x:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\
```
Then type the bootrec command to repair the volume:
```
bootrec /fixboot
```
At present y'all need to backup the old BCD and recreate a new ane. Blazon:
```
ren BCD BCD.backup
```
Type this control to recreate the BCD and replace the x:\ with the assigned letter before:
```
bcdboot c:\Windows /l en-us /s x: /f ALL
```
In above command, Windows is installed on c:\. If the drive letter where you have Windows ten installed is different, replace c:\ with your drive alphabetic character.
Remove the DVD from the deejay tray
Blazon exit
Restart your computer

Windows 10 bootrec utility results screen

More Information

Support Links

Easy Recovery Essentials for Windows – our repair and recovery disk.
It's an easy-to-use and automated diagnostics disk. Information technology'south available for Windows 8, Windows 7 and Windows Vista. It's likewise available for Windows XP and Windows Server.

Read more than at Windows Recovery Disks.
The NeoSmart Support Forums, member-to-member technical support and troubleshooting.
Get a discounted price on replacement setup and installation discs: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows seven, Windows 8, Windows 10, Windows xi.

Applicable Systems

This Windows-related knowledgebase article applies to the following operating systems:

Windows XP (all editions)
Windows Vista (all editions)
Windows 7 (all editions)
Windows 8 (all editions)
Windows 8.one (all editions)
Windows x (all editions)
Windows 11 (all editions)

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