Contents > Procedures

Partition Recovery:

Chapter 2. PROCEDURES.

2.3.1. Backing Up MBR Data.

The Master Boot Record (MBR) can be damaged in unexpected situations such as a virus attack or a power surge. When this type of damage is done to the hard drive, the computer becomes un-responsive and unable to start.

IT IS STRONGLY ADVISED TO MAKE MBR AND PARTITION BACKUPS EVERY TIME THE COMPUTER CONFIGURATION IS CHANGED (SUCH AS ADDING/REMOVING HDDs, PARTITIONS, LOGICAL DRIVES).

To allow for a recovery from a situation like this, back up your MBR partition information using these steps:

• Run Active@ Partition Recovery from a floppy disk.
• Select the hard drive MBR you want to back up.
• Insert a blank floppy disk and press [Ctrl+B].
• Information will be saved to a file named a:\<drivename>.mbr.

Figure 2-13 MBR Backup is Complete

Using this floppy disk, the Master Boot Record can be restored (see the next section for details).

2.3.2. Restoring MBR Data.

To restore partition information from backup follow the steps:

1. Insert the floppy disk containing the Master Boot Record backup file.
2. Run Active@ Partition Recovery with parameter -restoreMBR:

A:\> PR.EXE -restoreMBR=80h 

       This command will restore the Master Boot Record, Partition Table(s) and Boot Sectors.

3. Once completed, you can view partitions, logical drives and preview files. While exiting the program, save this information back to Hard Disk Drive if you want to.

The freeware version (previously called Professional package) of Active@ Partition Recovery allows you to save partition information from the backup back to the hard drive.

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