Fixing Corrupted Boot Files

Although the Recovery Console is useful for replacing missing and corrupted boot files such as NTLDR and for fixing problematic MBRs, this is an area in which you should be careful. One of the most common reasons for MBR and NTLDR problems is a type of virus known as a boot sector virus-a virus that resides in the MBR.Once entrenched, boot sector viruses can set about corrupting other files, such as NTLDR. Boot sector viruses can also be difficult to get rid of because they can often survive even a full reformatting of a hard disk. Even if you use the Recovery Console to fix a corrupted boot file, you should not assume that you have gotten to the root of the problem.Fortunately, there are some fairly simple steps you can take to help prevent boot sector viruses from ever becoming a problem. First, all computers should be running good antivirus software that is kept up-to-date with the latest virus information. You should configure the antivirus software to perform full system scans regularly-scans that include the MBR. On most computers, you can also configure BIOS to prevent virus-like activity (which essentially means that it will prompt you before it allows any program to write information to the boot sector).