Corrupt MBR…ask about bootrec commands?

Question

I have a corrupt mbr and need to know if the following commands will delete my data or just create a new bcd area for bootstrapping?

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
c:
cd boot
attrib bcd -s -h -r
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /RebuildBcd

My friend had a MBR virus thing, the usual MBR fixing did not function normally. At any rate i was not going to risk any data. Fixing the MBR is not supposed to cut into any data, or damage the parttition tables (etc) . But stuff doesnt always go as planned, or work as designed. We HAD TO secure the data first. and we had to do so without exposing another drive , in "boot". So we transferred the data with net or links. in the end we decided to wipe everything, and start over. I dont understand it completly, but even if i did i would have to secure the data first.

surfasb · Answer 1 · 2011-12-29 07:30:34Z

up vote 3 down vote accepted

This will fix the BCD store.

To fix the MBR, you need to use bootrec /fixmbr

To fix the Boot Sector, use bootrec /fixboot

I can be difficult to tell exactly where the boot process is breaking. But in general it goes, MBR to Boot Sector to BCD store IIRC.

I usually just go in order to fix something. FixMBR, then FixBoot, then BCD. Or just let Windows repair, which is faster.

answered Dec 29 '11 at 7:30

surfasb
12.9k21337

	Thanks for the reply. Ok, thanks for being clear. However, I just want to make sure that either command whether it be BCD commands or the /fixmbr or /fixboot will NOT delete any of my data? Can you confirm? – JaJ Dec 29 '11 at 7:35
	Also, here is the last thread that I posted and I have yet to get my back into my data because of bit locker issues, superuser.com/questions/372371/…. – JaJ Dec 29 '11 at 7:35
	Ya, it won't touch your data or partition tables. – surfasb Dec 29 '11 at 8:46

feedback

Corporate Geek · Answer 2 · 2011-12-29 16:43:35Z

In case you need a visual guide to help you fix the MBR, check this step by step tutorial: Command Prompt - Fix Issues with your Boot Records. I hope you will find it useful.

2 Answers