How to Fix the Master Boot Record (MBR) in Windows Vista in 2024

If your Windows Vista computer is having trouble booting up, it’s possible that the Master Boot Record (MBR) has become corrupted or damaged. The MBR is a critical piece of code located in the first sector of a bootable device that contains the necessary information to load the operating system. When the MBR is corrupted, you may encounter errors such as “Operating System Not Found,” “Missing Operating System,” or “BOOTMGR is missing.” Fortunately, you can fix the MBR in Windows Vista using the built-in recovery tools or a third-party utility like EaseUS Partition Master.

Fixing the MBR Using the Windows Vista Installation Disc

To fix the MBR using the Windows Vista installation disc, follow these steps:

1. Insert the Windows Vista installation disc into your computer’s DVD drive and restart your computer.
2. Press any key to boot from the disc when prompted.
3. Select your language, time, currency, and keyboard layout, and then click “Next.”
4. Click “Repair your computer” at the Install screen.
5. Select the operating system you want to repair and click “Next.”
6. When the System Recovery Options window appears, click “Command Prompt.”
7. In the Command Prompt window, type the following commands, pressing Enter after each one:

   bootrec.exe /fixmbr bootrec.exe /fixboot bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd

8. Type “exit” and press Enter to close the Command Prompt window.
9. Remove the installation disc and restart your computer.

If the MBR is successfully repaired, your Windows Vista computer should boot up normally.

Fixing the MBR Using EaseUS Partition Master

If you don’t have access to the Windows Vista installation disc or prefer a more user-friendly approach, you can use EaseUS Partition Master to fix the MBR:

1. Download and install EaseUS Partition Master on a working computer.
2. Launch EaseUS Partition Master and click “Bootable Media” on the toolbar.
3. Select “Create Bootable Media” and choose the type of bootable media you want to create (e.g., USB drive or CD/DVD).
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to create the bootable media.
5. Insert the bootable media into your Vista computer and restart the computer.
6. Boot from the bootable media and select “Fix MBR” from the main menu.
7. Follow the on-screen instructions to fix the MBR.
8. Once the process is complete, remove the bootable media and restart your computer.

EaseUS Partition Master will automatically fix the MBR and make your Vista computer bootable again without any data loss.

In conclusion, fixing the MBR in Windows Vista is a straightforward process that can be done using the built-in recovery tools or a third-party utility like EaseUS Partition Master. By following the steps outlined above, you can resolve boot issues caused by a corrupted MBR and get your Vista computer up and running again.