How to Fix the Master Boot Record on NTFS Partitions

Windows NT, 2000, XP, and Windows Server 2003 users having problems accessing or booting from an NTFS disk can use the FIXMBR program to rewrite a new Master Boot Record on the hard drive.

FIXMBR is available only through the Recovery Console feature of Windows NT, 2000, XP, or Windows Server 2003. To access the Recovery Console, you must boot up with recovery diskettes you made during installation of the OS or select the recovery options from the installation CD. FIXMBR has one function, just like DOS's FDISK /MBR: to write a new Master Boot Record on the disk drive.

To use FIXMBR follow these steps:

• Boot using your Recovery diskettes or setup CD and select the Recovery Console option.

• Log on to the drive/partition you wish to repair, typically C:\WINNT or C:\WINDOWS.
   
• At the command prompt, issue the MAP command to determine the device name for the disk partition you want to "fix"—typically it will be \Device\HardDisk0.

• At the command prompt, issue the FIXMBR command followed by the name of the disk partition to be "fixed." For example (press Enter after the command):

fixmbr \Device\

HardDisk0

• Type exit to leave the Recovery Console and restart the system.