What is the master boot record ? The MBR is the part of the operating system which allows your computer to boot or start . A damaged MBR is very common here are a few ways to fix it I have found useful , but before I go into those methods I think I should remind all of you that there is an alternative to repairing the MBR and that is using the advanced boot option I have been able to boot into the desktop many times by simply selecting start normally even when start up repair was suggested and there are other options as well for instance there is the last known good configuration option you might be more familiar with these methods and feel more confident performing them .Also windows 8 has new tools you might not be aware of in the advanced start up method 1 The first and most common way to repair the MBR is to boot with your install disk then click on the repair my computer option when you see it . Unfortunately most people don't have a install disk . To boot with a disk you can either simply put the disk in player and power off and on ,if this doesn't work tap f9 during boot this should bring up the boot manager then simply pick boot from disk or usb depending on what you have available . If you don't have a repair disk you can download the iso from a torrent do not use a torrent to reinstall windows under any circumstance since this will replace your os with a pirated one ,but you can use it to access the repair tools in os such as windows 7 and vista for xp download the recovery console from softpedia and the repair tools are built into windows 8 . To restore factory settings see my link restore factory settings .
2 If your running windows xp you probably have had it so long you either can't find the disk or it got damaged or lost . The recovery console is an excellent way of repairing the MBR . To find out how to do that watch this video .
3 If you can find some way to your desktop despite a damaged MBR you can download a program called Easybcd which is excellent for repairing the MBR . Once you have gotten to the desktop go into Easybcd click on BCD backup/repair then check off re-create /repair boot files then click perform action you will see a status bar appear when it disappears you should be able to reboot then . This is especially important when you want to get rid of a dual booted Linux distro first repair the MBR then delete the Linux partition or else you will render your PC unbootable since windows normally doesn't use grub to boot with .
4 One of the least known but easiest and free methods for rebuilding the MBR is using the Mini Tool Partition Wizzard boot CD once you download the ISO all you have to do is either burn it to a DVD with a program like imgburn or cdburnerxp or any other disk burning program you like . In windows 7 you just click on the ISO and select burn to disk ,or you can use a program like bootmyiso to get it on a usb flash drive . once done reboot your PC and tap F9 while doing so this will bring up the boot menu from there you can select boot from either DVD or flash drive you will boot in to Mini tool partition wizzard you will not need to go to desktop once there click rebuild MBR then click apply , then click exit in the upper left hand corner under general do not shut PC down . Once you exit from mini tool partition wizzards interface you will see Windows splash screen then the screen may turn black at this point be patient it may appear as if the procedure did'nt work ,but be patient it may take as much as five minutes before windows actually begins to boot .If none of these methods work you might have to consider restoring factory settings. My personal favorite is this method mini tool seems to be the easiest and most reliable method for rebuiding the MBR for me so far .As well as faster and more reliable than using Windows own repair disk . If however this procedure does not work it wil still give your install disk a better chance of working I have found . Also if Mini Tool has difficulty booting to its control panel use its built in safe mode .
5 Finally in windows 8 you have a tool built in called automatic repair to repair the MBR .
