how to restore vista MBR?

You could try the old fashioned fdisk /mbr to re-write the record on the
hard disk.

Use with caution as always.

Craig

"mhonzell" <mhonzell@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0D26BD2C-1D4D-4879-BB13-DC0F79B2E77A@microsoft.com...
> Performed a "Clean Install" of Vista using an upgrade disk. (No dual boot
> action.)
> To do this, had to set the BIOS to boot from the CDROM first.
>
> Everything worked great, until I rebooted and removed the Vista DVD. Now,
> Vista refuses to boot unless the installation DVD is inserted and the BIOS
> is
> set to seek it first.
>
> Tried formatting my primary and extended partitions on Drive 0 and
> reperforming the upgrade only to end up in the same situation.
> (Yes, this can be done with an upgrade disk.)
>
> Bootmgr is nowhere to be found on the system disk. System Repair won't fix
> the problem.
>
> What files need to be on the System Disk for a C: drive boot?
> What is the exact command needed to make the MBR look there instead of any
> other drive?
>
> Lastly, why doesn't it install correctly?
> (Put the correct files on the correct drive...)

You said you formatted you HDD? Is the primary partition on drive 0 set to
Active???
--

Bob Eyster
MS Windows Vista Premium



"mhonzell" <mhonzell@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5A45D499-E4E9-483B-80D5-1CEE8FB244AF@microsoft.com...
> Thanks, but that was done as stated, more than once.
> Vista still requires the DVD to be inserted to boot.
>
> If this clarifies:
> If I set the BIOS to HD First, CD Second, then the reboot gives me the
> message "Error Loading OS."
> If I set the BIOS to CD First, HD Second, but don't insert the Vista
> DVD,
> then reboot gives me the message "Error Loading OS."
> If I set the BIOS to CD First, HD Second and insert the Vista DVD, then
> it states "Press Any Key to Boot From CD or DVD...."
> If I press a key, it attempts to re-install Vista.
> If I do not press a key, it boots just fine and works accordingly.
>
> This implies to me, the MBR is pointing to a non-OS drive and fails to
> find
> needed files to boot from the HD.
>
> "Keith" wrote:
>
>> Hopefully this may help.
>>
>> When you do a "clean" install using a Vista upgrade DVD, you need to run
>> the
>> install (first pass) without entering the product key. After the install
>> completes and brings you to your desktop, run the install again from
>> within
>> Vista. Enter the product key and activate the product.
>>
>> I didn't have any issue with needing my DVD in the drive in order to boot
>> into Vista.
>>
>> Keith
>>
>> "mhonzell" <mhonzell@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:0D26BD2C-1D4D-4879-BB13-DC0F79B2E77A@microsoft.com...
>> > Performed a "Clean Install" of Vista using an upgrade disk. (No dual
>> > boot
>> > action.)
>> > To do this, had to set the BIOS to boot from the CDROM first.
>> >
>> > Everything worked great, until I rebooted and removed the Vista DVD.
>> > Now,
>> > Vista refuses to boot unless the installation DVD is inserted and the
>> > BIOS
>> > is
>> > set to seek it first.
>> >
>> > Tried formatting my primary and extended partitions on Drive 0 and
>> > reperforming the upgrade only to end up in the same situation.
>> > (Yes, this can be done with an upgrade disk.)
>> >
>> > Bootmgr is nowhere to be found on the system disk. System Repair won't
>> > fix
>> > the problem.
>> >
>> > What files need to be on the System Disk for a C: drive boot?
>> > What is the exact command needed to make the MBR look there instead of
>> > any
>> > other drive?
>> >
>> > Lastly, why doesn't it install correctly?
>> > (Put the correct files on the correct drive...)
>>
>> --
>> Keith
>>
>>

try using EasyBCD to fix the boot stuff

mikeyhsd@sport.rr.commikeyhsd@sport.rr.com

"mhonzell" <mhonzell@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:0D26BD2C-1D4D-4879-BB13-DC0F79B2E77A@microsoft.com...
Performed a "Clean Install" of Vista using an upgrade disk. (No dual boot
action.)
To do this, had to set the BIOS to boot from the CDROM first.

Everything worked great, until I rebooted and removed the Vista DVD. Now,
Vista refuses to boot unless the installation DVD is inserted and the BIOS is
set to seek it first.

Tried formatting my primary and extended partitions on Drive 0 and
reperforming the upgrade only to end up in the same situation.
(Yes, this can be done with an upgrade disk.)

Bootmgr is nowhere to be found on the system disk. System Repair won't fix
the problem.

What files need to be on the System Disk for a C: drive boot?
What is the exact command needed to make the MBR look there instead of any
other drive?

Lastly, why doesn't it install correctly?
(Put the correct files on the correct drive...)

On Sun, 25 Feb 2007 22:56:26 -0000, "Beck" <beck@none> spake thusly:

>
>"stealbean" <stealbean@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:stealbean.2ml1kz@no-mx.tabletquestions.com...
>>
>> 1. Reboot from Vista disk, select Startup repair in WinRE.
>
>Startup repair does not help, it does not find a startup problem

So then, a lack of a MBR isn't a startup problem? Interesting....

--
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A: Because it messes up the order in which people normally read text.
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NOTICE: In-Newsgroup (and therefore off-topic) comments on my sig will
be cheerfully ignored, so don't waste our time.

Just boot from the Vista disc, start the install, choose the repair
option and then choose command prompt. Type "bootrec /fixmbr" and hit
enter. That should take care of the issue.

The only reason I posted in this old thread is because this thread came
up in a search and now it contains the solution.


--
NaplesBill

Is there something that I can do if I don't have Vista disc? I have a
pre-installed Vista PC and a set of recovery discs. The recovery procedure
doesn't give me an option to get to a command prompt (just have system
re-store or re-set to factory settings options). Also I can boot to Vista
with another boot loader tool from a CD, but was not able to find any bootrec
command)

Thanks
Sree

"NaplesBill" wrote:

>
> Just boot from the Vista disc, start the install, choose the repair
> option and then choose command prompt. Type "bootrec /fixmbr" and hit
> enter. That should take care of the issue.
>
> The only reason I posted in this old thread is because this thread came
> up in a search and now it contains the solution.
>
>
> --
> NaplesBill
>

0k...

Boot from recovery disc........as it show the Recovery Wizard.
Press SHIFT+F10 (I have not tried with RECOVERY DISC)
It pop-ups CMD Prompt...
Navigate to: *G:\Boot>* G: is your CD-DVD drive
Execute the following command: > bootsect /nt60 SYS mbr


--
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Here is the fix that worked for me '*here*'
(http://www.lancelhoff.com/how-to-fix...-broken-vista/).

How to Repair or Fix a broken Vista MBR:

To Restore Vista MBR, please use the following simple solution.

1. Start your computer from the Windows Vista Installation DVD
2. Press a key when prompted to continue
3. Choose your language, time, keyboard and click Next:

Select language and preferences
4. Next, click "Repair your Computer":

Repair your computer
5. Now, from the System Recovery Options dialog, select the
"Operating System" you want to repair, then click Next:

System recovery options, choosing your Operating system
6. From the "Choose a Recovery Tool" dialog menu, select "Command
Prompt":

Recovery Tool Command Prompt
7. Type the following into the "Command Prompt Window":

bootrec.exe /fixmbr
bootrec.exe /fixboot

8. Remove the Vista Installation DVD and restart your PC.

If all goes well, this process should have enabled you to restore your
Vista MBR and you should now be able to boot back into your Windows
Vista Operating system.

TimeFreedom


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