Got a Damaged Master Boot Record?

MBR Error

Although those messages sound pretty scary, there's a good chance your hard drive is still intact. In most cases this problem can be fixed with a simple procedure that repairs your Master Boot Record (MBR). When you start your computer, the BIOS (basic input/output system) looks for the MBR on the first sector of your hard drive. The MBR tells the BIOS which partition on the hard drive contains the operating system.

So... if the MBR is damaged, the BIOS can't locate and start the operating system. When your BIOS detects a damaged MBR or boot sector, you'll see ominous messages like Invalid partition table, Error loading operating system, or Missing operating system. In some cases, dark clouds will apppear on the horizon, and you may hear the distant rumble of thunder. But fortunately, the Recovery Console offers some tools to help clear up the problem.