What is a Master Boot Record?
The master boot record, or MBR, is a section of the storage space on a hard disk drive that is used for the maintenance of data needed to initiate a boot of the computer. Generally, the boot record is housed in the very first sector of the hard drive, making it easy for the system to locate, read, and execute the files necessary to launch the application. All the codes needed to access the files, and begin the boot are included in the master boot record. There are several key elements of a master boot record that allow the section to function at optimum efficiency. One of the more important elements is the partition table. This table contains the basic directory that guides the process of reading and initiating the boot. The partition table will work in conjunction with some type of bootloading software in order to interact with the operating system and successfully complete the process. As with all sections of the hard drive, it is possible for the master boot record to become corrupt
