Fix MBR - Comments Page 2

Al, not sure if the installation of Vista on your PC wiped some of the drivers but you can check it out this site..

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/dell-inspiron-531-desktop/4869-3118_7-32486097.html?messageSiteID=7&messageID=2485444&cval=2485444;2490951&ctype=msgid;cmsgid&commentMessageID=2490951

problem...fresh installation of windows xp system...after installing antivirus the system starts immediatly reporting all .exe files have been corrupt...any solutions?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Try a different A/V product?!?

hi

i've got a serious problem with my machine and i'm thinking about executing the fixmbr command in the recovery console.

problem:

when i power on my PC, about 2 seconds after the windows logo (with the 3 green squares running across under it) disappears, the PC restarts. and it keeps doing that. i tapped F8 on one of the restarts and i selected the option which disables the automatic restart if there is a boot failure. the error message i then saw was this:

STOP: c000021a {Fatal System Error}

The Windows Logon Process system process terminated unexpectedly with a status of 0xc0000034 (0x00000000 0x0000000)

The system has been shutdown.

Microsoft has a support page on this - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156669 but the problem is i can't get to any command prompt. safe mode doesn't work, last known good config doesn't work. i haven't seen the windows logon screen in days now! the PC just keeps restarting again and again and again! also, rather strangely, when i insert the windows xp cd into my cd drive and go in to the windows setup, i select install a fresh copy of windows, go past the agreement screen, and then i don't have the option of repairing my already-installed copy of windows! i have no idea why it can't detect my installed copy of windows! plus, if i go to the recovery console from the cd, my windows installation doesn't show up in the list! strangely enough, if i fire up the recovery console without the cd - when my PC boots, i'm always asked whether i wish to start windows xp or the windows recovery console - it does detect my installation of windows!

i have already tried the fixboot command in the recovery console (the console that's in my PC, not on the disk) but it didn't fix the problem. i've also tried copying the ntldr file from the windows cd to my c: but that also didn't work.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Search this site for info on TESTDISK, it may help.

Everyone seems to assume you have an XP installation CD. I've only purchased HP machines in the past few years and they don't include the OS disks but they have a Recovery Partition at the beginning of the disk (sometimes shows up as D: drive).

So how do you repair the MBR on a machine like this? Does it know not to try to boot the OS from the recovery partition and try to boot from the following one? Thanks for any tips.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I don't think the recovery partition is typically bootable. In your situation, I'd recommend TESTDISK. See http://askbobrankin.com/hard_drive_recovery.html

I think i might have this problem with Windows vista. When I tried to reinstall vista, its froze on the last step of installation (Completing installation...) I had waited for about 5 hours at this point and still nothing. I restarted PC and Vista screen with loading bar at bottom appeared. The loading was tasking very long at it seems to stay in that position until I had to shutdown.

Quick question, if I do reboot my computer does it mean I lose all my files and stuff?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I hope I am misunderstanding your question. Rebooting simply means shutting down and restarting.

Monty, I suggest that you get a copy of Winternals ERD commander, boot off the CD, and run system restore as far back as you can. Hey presto. Works a lot more often than you'd think and has saved me countless times.

Hi, I am maneesh joseph. I want to know about how to fix the MBR after the formatting of one Ext2 partition. In my system i am using both Windows Xp and linux. I formatted the linux partition. Then at the boot time it shows that "error 17". What will i do.can you explain........

I recently cloned my 60 gig HD to a 160 gig HD, using a compaq computer. The new hard drive works, but when I put the old HD in a non- Compaq computer, it will not load. (It still loads fine on the Compaq).

I tried using the fixmbr command, it said the mbr was a non regular one; I told it to repair anyway. Nothing happened.

I then used the fixboot command, but to no avail. Is there anything else I can do to get this drive to load?

I don't want to have to start from scratch, as there are a lot of programs on the HD, and I'm trying to avoid a 12+ hour re-install.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I wonder what Compaq could have done to make the drive unusable in other machines... Try the TESTDISK program...

I receive the message 'error loading operating system'. My PC does not boot from safe mode and I cannot boot from CD because CMOS settings does not allow me to change the boot priority to CD from IDE.

EDITOR'S NOTE: That's very odd... how would you first load the OS onto the hard drive if you can't ever boot from CD?

Usually if you have destroyed your MBR, (or, like me have removed the partition where grub resides (for dual boot, yes)) there is an easy fix. Sift through your old floppies, and get a DOS floppy from it. Boot it, and type "fdisk /mbr". Job done.

No need for XP boot cd's (some pc's just come with a re-install disk, no possibility to boot into repair console from M$) or Administrator passwords. Just a good old floppy.

PS: I have to take back my words to my friend Jan; I now agree floppy drives can be good for something after all :)

i have a problem -- i have dual boot in my system. in c drive i have vista and in d drive i have xp installed.and my problem is that my system only boots vista not xp and i want my boot operatig system to boot by choosing. i have tried everything to fix it.but no progress.

sometime it says ntldr file missing or sometime it says problem in mbr so i dont know what to do so can you help me out.

i dont want to format all drive and again install so please help me out from this problem

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sounds like the FIXBOOT command might help you.

I am receiving messenger service pop ups from system to alert.stating(Stop! immediate attention required) windows has found critical systems errors in my registry. and one from another registry cleaner... I have used windows recovery to fix my mbr several times and I still receive this message pop up, I have even re installed my windows xp several times... how can I resolve this issue? please help me I cannot even play a pc game without interference.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Here's a page with instructions on how to turn off the Windows Messenger Service: http://www.itc.virginia.edu/desktop/docs/messagepopup/

I have a compaq laptop and needed to format it. It came with a recovey partion. After running the recovery program i got a an 'mbr error' when booting. When using a xp cd it says that it doesn't detect a hard drive. Any suggestions about what to do? Btw, before running the recovery program there was no 'mbr error'.

EDITOR'S NOTE: That means your Master Boot Record on the hard drive got whacked. You can use the Recovery Console (http://askbobrankin.com/recovery_console.html) or look on this site for the TESTDISK program link.

I have a problem with my harddrive.Last day, I found a bad sectors in my c: partition and I've changed my first boot sector on my harddisk using XP boot CD and then restarted my computer.At that time, my harddisk was known in CMOS detection setting. It clearly show my HD informations such as cylinders,heads,sectors,etc..). Then, memory detection is ok. But, HD detection has error. HDD error.. Press F1 to resume.

So,How can I detect my HD? It only show in CMOS. But actually can't detect. Please help me!

EDITOR'S NOTE: If your BIOS cannot detect the drive, there is a serious problem with the disk. You may need a data recovery service. See http://askbobrankin.com/hard_drive_recovery.html

I have a really serious problem which i havnt been able to solve in over 6 months. I have an Acer Travelmate 3290 Core 2 Duo notebook. The problem is, when I bootup, the normal bootup screen stays up for about 10 mins and then the screen displays "Operating System not found". I tried changing the order in Boot Setup, but the Hard Disk is not detected. I know the HD works becouse i connected as an external hard and it's detected without a problem. The funny part is, when the HD is not in the laptop socket, the bootup screen barely stays up for 2 seconds. Hope someone can assist me.... Thanks....

EDITOR'S NOTE: DId you try any of the suggested fixes to repair the master boot record?

I had a dual boot Windows XP and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation 4 Update 4 system. I needed to remove the RHEL so it could be reinstalled fresh for some documentation and testing. So with the mindset of "no guts, no glory" I did the steps above i.e. fixmbr and then for the heck of it also did a fixboot. The system rebooted fine into Windows XP. There were no GRUB complaints, problems, or any issues. I can only vouch for RHEL WS 4 U 4 and not other Linux flavor.

Im getting a GBUB 21 error and I cant even get to the recovery console! When booting from XP CD, it gets to where its supposed to ask you if you want to install or repair but I get a BSOD and a stop error with an error in dmboot.sys

Anything I can do?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, the problem could be a damaged Setup CD, a defective CDROM drive (or cable), or flaky RAM memory. I would swap them out in that order to resolve.

THIS IS TO : Lima

IF you're running on a windows xp os then you should be able to change the boot sequence with some ease. 1. restart you computer then press the key required to enter Setup which is usually F9. 2.go to The obvious option to change your boot order

HI, I put a lot o load work onto my maxtor 40 gb HD as I let the PC on all the night almost every night for downloads... well the problem is today morning the computer was freezed and doing this clicking noise, boot disk failure on reboot no symptoms before that (a year and a half since I own it). Then I ran a bartpe cd, in the first run it didnt recognized the drive but did recognize my secondary HD a Western Digital 160 gb, I was freaked out then I ran the bartpe again and this time there was the Maxtor drive fully functional I even did copies of my important files into the secondary drive. then i tried to boot again...nothing "boot disk failure insert... blah blah". now in the second intent of booting the OS started and here I'm what could have possibly caused this. No recent HW adds just some deep cleaning yesterday morning (the computer worked nice that whole day after that).sorry for the lenght of the post.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Sounds like your boot record got hosed. If the FIXBOOT command doesn't work, try the TESTDISK program mentioned often on this site.