Desktop
Also know as the partition table?
What type of data does it contain?
Is it rebuilt if you repatition a hard disk drive?
What are the symptoms of a corrupted mbr?
If fdisk /mbr cannot repair it, are there any other options?
by dmiles
Short for Master Boot Record, a small program that is executed when a computer boots up. Typically, the MBR resides on the first sector of the hard disk. The program begins the boot process by looking up the partition table to determine which partition to use for booting. It then transfers program control to the boot sector of that partition, which continues the boot process. In DOS and Windows systems, you can create the MBR with the FDISK /MBR command.
An MBR virus is a common type of virus that replaces the MBR with its own code. Since the MBR executes every time a computer is started, this type of virus is extremely dangerous. MBR viruses normally enter a system through a floppy disk that is installed in the floppy drive when the computer is started up. Even if the floppy disk is not bootable, it can infect the MBR.
by gbrownlee
Poster rated this answer.
Thankyou for your answer
by knudson
I'd refer you to the URL http://www.ata-atapi.com/hiwmbr.htm for a detailed explanation of the master boot record.
One of the best tools for manipulating the MBR is Partition Magic from PowerQuest (now owned by Symantec.) See http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/ for details on that product.
by gbrownlee
Poster rated this answer.
Thankyou for your answer and URL. It also answered the next question I was going to ask.
by gbrownlee
This discussion is closed to new replies.
Sort by Trending