Unable to find hard drive due to missing mgr

001primal · 03 Apr 2016

Recently my system was struck with a missing mgr for my operating system. This has not been the first time I have been struck with this problem since I built my pc in 2012. I have resolved the problem about 4 times before. This time around though, my primary hard drive is not appearing on any means of detection that I know of. I have removed the SSD and placed it in a usb dock for my laptop to detect it and it could not be found in the laptop. I checked in my uefi bios on my main computer (which is the computer having the overall problem) and it could not be found there. I have used a windows recovery disk and installation disk and i am still unable to find it there. I have also used the bootable partition manager and it failed to work because it claims that it does not support windows server which I dont recall running. In the worst case scenario i would probably wind up replacing it, but i would like to know if there are any other means of solutions to format the drive being that it is clearly corrupt, if not, i would like to know what is causing these missing mgr errors on my pc.

mjf · 04 Apr 2016

001primal said:

I have also used the bootable partition manager and it failed to work because it claims that it does not support windows server ...

You say you had "missing mgr" errors. I assume you mean bootmgr missing? I also assume you tried some sort of system repair or repair install without success.

It appears at this stage you cannot even locate your OS SSD. I suggest you download the bootable Mini Partition Wizard and see if you can locate the SSD on your PC. I suggest you remove all over HDD sata connectors and even try moving the SSD to another sata port if the original port connection doesn't show it. Also, try another sata cable befor writing the SSD off. You can also certainly try on another PC/laptop and go through the same procedure
Bootable Partition Manager| MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition
If you cannot see the SSD even as uninitialized or unformatted then you may have a failed SSD.

Given you have had this problem multiple times a clean install is looking like an option anyway unless you have a good system image to reinstall.

001primal · 04 Apr 2016

I've attempted relocating the drive to other sata ports with no success. I have also used the software you mentioned as a stand alone with it saying that it does not support Windows server which I am still puzzled by. I also attempted slaving the drive using the same software on a laptop in an attempt to format and repair the drive. Thankfully this hdd does not have my personal data as that is on my secondary drive. I'm still confused as of why the boot mgr eventually happens every few months. I've always taken the extreme approach of a fresh install in my previous encounters with the missing boot mgr situation.

mjf · 04 Apr 2016

001primal said:

I have also used the software you mentioned as a stand alone with it saying that it does not support Windows server which I am still puzzled by.

It puzzles me as well. The bootable version of Partition Wizard shouldn't care about the OS version you have on the SSD but simply it's lower level characteristics.

You could also try booting from a light weight Linux distro (eg. Puppy Linux) from a DVD and see if the SSD is visible.

Otherwise I'd set the existing SSD aside and buy a new one if funds allow and do another clean install. A Samsung EVO 120 GB is quite cheap now.

001primal · 04 Apr 2016

i will most likely resort to buying a replacement drive, but the problem i am facing is the possibility that this problem will repeat itself with the boot failure. it happens every couple months (6 months i think was the last time the boot failure occurred).