Windows 10: Rebuild MBR - Missing System Partition

Windows 10 old Motherboard cratered a while back. While troubleshooting I'm afraid I have made it worse, although not sure if that was really possible. I would like to reinstall without loosing my installed programs etc. I have backed up the drive in question.

Windows 10 WILL NOT BOOT. Will not repair, ran through multiple attempts with self repair and using installation media. I was following How to Restore Deleted EFI Boot Partition in Windows 10/7 | Windows OS Hub only to find out that the disk is not setup as GPT but Basic.

Does anyone know of a way to restore/rebuild the MBR and partition on a basic BIOS based installation? I have access to a newer NUC as well and can run the drive in that too.

I have attempted to follow fixMBR/RebuildBCD procedure with no positive results. Failed doing that before trying the deleted EFI partiion procedure above.

Any suggestions?

:)

 

clone MBR HD to bootable GPT partition?

Hi,

1. You cannot convert mbr to gpt without data loss. otherwise, you can follow directions here:

FROM WINDOWS RECOVERY CONSOLE:

To change a master boot record disk into a GUID partition table disk using a command line

• 
  Back up or move the data on the basic master boot record (MBR) disk you want to convert into a GUID partition table (GPT) disk.
  
• 
  Open an elevated command prompt (right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as Administrator) and type diskpart. If the disk does not contain any partitions or volumes, skip to step 6.
  
• 
  At the DISKPART prompt, type list disk. Make note of the disk number you want to convert.
  
• 
  At the DISKPART prompt, type select disk <disknumber>.
  
• 
  At the DISKPART prompt, type clean.
  

2. I'd suggest converting your vista drive to a virtual machine, load that up on your windows 10 system and use a program like virtualbox to run it.

 

Convert only one partition on the disk from MBR to GPT

Follow the steps listed here on using GPTgen. He also lists how to create and restore backups.

https://blog.bramp.net/post/2010/08/30/converting-mbr-to-gpt-without-deleting-your-partitions/

 

Lost default photo viewer after profile rebuild


Thanks Brink. I've tried those steps before i started searching Google. After the profile rebuild i don't have the Photo app listed to choose to make it default in either the system settings for default apps or the Open With option.

I can't even find it doing a search. Seems to have been removed somehow with the profile rebuild, which doesn't make sense.

Might be helpful to list what i've done I've done the open with check, the choose default program in the system menu, tried that in device manager default programs also. I've checked the programs and features Turn windows features on/off and it's not listed there (never thought it was but that was a suggestion), searched the MS Store, it's not listed there either.

I don't like playing in the registry unless i have defined steps and haven't found anything for this yet, just the Win7 version like in my OP.