====== x86PC - Master Boot Record ======

===== Master Boot Record (MBR) =====

Some notes on MBR used in classic/legacy BIOS-based system.

  * first sector of a partitioned storage
    * also known as disk boot sector
    * contains a partition table (info on how the disk is partitioned)
  * classic MBR
    * 446 bytes executable code
    * 64 bytes partition entries (4 primary partitions)
    * 2 bytes boot signature (0x55 0xAA)
  * modern MBR
    * 218 bytes executable code
    * 2 bytes (always 0x00?)
    * 4 bytes disk timestamp
    * 216 bytes executable code
    * 4 bytes disk signature
    * 2 bytes (always 0x00?)
    * 64 bytes partition entries (4 primary partitionss)
    * 2 bytes boot signature (0x55 0xAA)
  * primary job of embedded code is to boot/load Volume Boot Record (VBR)
  * superseeded by GUID partition table (GPT) - [[wp>GUID partition table|Read more @ wikipedia]]

[[wp>Master Boot Record|Read more @ wikipedia]]

===== Volume Boot Record (VBR) =====

  * first sector of a partition on a partitioned storage
    * also known as partition boot sector

[[wp>Volume Boot Record|Read more @ wikipedia]]