How To Fix MBR Boot Issue When System Reserved & OS Are Same Partition

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through fixing the Master Boot Record (MBR) boot issue that arises when the System Reserved partition and the Operating System (OS) partition are the same. This common problem can prevent you from booting into Windows, especially on MBR disks. By following these steps, you can resolve the issue using Windows installation media.

Step 1: Prepare Windows Installation Media

To start, you need to create a bootable Windows installation USB drive.

• Obtain a USB drive with at least 8GB of storage.
• Download the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool from the official Microsoft website.
• Run the tool and select "Create installation media for another PC."
• Choose your language, edition, and architecture (32-bit or 64-bit).
• Insert your USB drive and select it as the destination for the installation media.
• Follow the prompts to complete the creation of the bootable USB drive.

Step 2: Boot from USB Drive

Now that you have your bootable USB drive, you need to boot your computer from it.

• Insert the USB drive into the computer that has the boot issue.
• Restart the computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings (usually by pressing F2, F12, Delete, or Esc during startup).
• Change the boot order to prioritize USB devices.
• Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI settings. Your computer should boot from the USB drive.

Step 3: Access Command Prompt

Once you are in the Windows installation setup, you will need to access the Command Prompt.

• On the Windows Setup screen, select your language and click "Next."
• Click on “Repair your computer” located at the bottom of the window.
• Select “Troubleshoot,” then choose “Advanced options.”
• Click on “Command Prompt” to open it.

Step 4: Repair the MBR

With the Command Prompt open, you are ready to repair the MBR.

• Type the following command to fix the MBR:

  bootrec /fixmbr
  

• Next, type the following command to rebuild the BCD (Boot Configuration Data):

  bootrec /rebuildbcd
  

• After executing these commands, type:

  exit
  

• Close the Command Prompt.

Step 5: Restart Your Computer

After repairing the MBR and rebuilding the BCD, it’s time to restart your computer.

• Remove the USB drive from your computer.
• Select “Continue” to exit and boot into Windows.

Conclusion

You've successfully fixed the MBR boot issue caused by the System Reserved and OS partitions being the same. If the problem persists, you may need to explore further options such as checking disk integrity or reinstalling Windows. Always ensure you have backups of important data before making significant changes to your system. If you found this guide helpful, consider subscribing to channels like TechieTasks for more tech tutorials.