MBR validate/fix/backup/ARK scan - my test

I'd like to share my test of free MBR tools :

1) "MBRbackup" : Backup/Restore MBRs / View Part. Tables -
2) "MBRcheck.exe" : Validate default MBR -
3) "aswMBR" : ARK MBR Scan/Repair -
4) "MBRutil" : commandline tool -
5) "MBRfix" : Backup/Restore MBRs -
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5) "GMER" - 2.1.18952, released 2013.02.13, - fails to start -
6) "MBRguard" - korean GUI only -
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not tested paid products :

7) "MBR Wizard"
8] "MBRtool" > "DiskPatch" - DOS only ?
9) "DiskHacker" - discontinued ?

 

Hi Gambla

I have used MBRfix several times for backup of MBR and restore. MBRfix has many nice features and allows for creating backups beyond the first 63 sectors. I backup also first 100 sectors also, etc. it is DOS based but fairly easy to learn.

You have it listed under "paid" products, but as far as I can see it is free, unless you are talking about something else. Here is the link I found MBRfix over a year ago.

http://thestarman.pcministry.com/asm/mbr/BootToolsRefs.htm#mbrfix

Other tools are listed there also. I have used MBRfix, BOOTICE, and they offer the features I like, in fact BOOTICE is extremely useful and has some great features. I do not see any need personally of any more features and flexibility than what MBRfix or BOOTICE offer. Both very good at what they do, with BOOTICE being a portable GUI app as opposed to a DOS based command line, although BOOTICE does offer command line syntax.

I have used MBRutil also, but it did not appear to work properly with newer OS beyond XP, at least for me. I think originally MBRutil was from Powerquest back in 2002 or 2003, but they were bought out by Symantec, but Symantec does still offer I think. As mentioned, it worked fine for me when I used XP. It appeared to work under Win 7 until I restored a MBR backup and still had a partition issue with it at one time, but at the time i restored a Macrium image and it restored the MBR from the backup and this fixed the issue, so in this case I learned that maybe MBRutil had issues with Win 7.

Just sharing what I have used and what has been extremely dependable.

Hope this helps in some way.

Jim

 

Thank you for your comment Jim,

you're right, using your link, MBRfix seems free to download. I came across this http://www.sysint.no/products/Store/tabid/402/List/1/ProductID/6/Default.aspx and here you need to "donate" first ?

I'll give BOOTICE a try the next days. It's always good to have a choice.

cheers,
gam

 

Hi gambla

You are welcome my friend. Here is the download area for MBRfix.

http://www.sysint.no/products/Download/tabid/536/language/nb-NO/Default.aspx

Scroll down to MBRfix and click download and you will get the mbrfix.zip file. No need to donate first that I can see, but it is an option for anyone who so desires to support their work. They do state on the link you gave that it is indeed free.

Hope that helps

Jim

 

Thanks Jim,
had it downloaded already.