Windows 7: An error occured while attempting to read the boot configuration data!

Hi, I was running Windows 7 on a Dell Vostro 3700 Laptop..After doing a spyware scan and finding and deleting all the entries I found, the next time I turned it on I get the error: oxc000000f "An error occured while attmepting to read the boot configuration data File: \Boot\BCD"

I have looked online for solutions and tried using the Windows 7 disc (a copy) and also tried using 3 recovery disks, these all fail because it just stays completely black with a cursor (left for hours even) or I get a error message something around the lines of "insert correct boot media into the correct boot device" and I have no idea what this means. I cannot do a repair because I can only get the Windows disc to load if I remove the hard drive?? this is the only way I have got it past the green loading bar, so I am stuck and have no idea what to do..it only seems to respond to cds if the hard drive is removed?.. this all happened very suddenly and now I have a very expensive £800 paperweight.. Any help massively appreciated!

To add to this - I also tried the command prompt typing the bootrec.exe code that I found on the internet..selecting command prompt from the option when the Windows 7 disc was loaded, but basically it came up with an error of some sort and it had a drive letter of X:/ on the command prompt ?? ..Also to get to this the hard drive was removed because like I said I cannot get the discs working with it in.. I'm guessing this means the hard drive is screwed but there is clearly a problem with the boot sector and I have no idea on repairing it now.

Go to your BIOS and set the CD as the first boot device, your hard drive as second.

If this lets you boot from the Windows 7 CD with the HDD installed run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

If that doesn't work, you may want to try rebuilding your BCD store this way:

Bootrec.exe Tool - How to Use in Windows Recovery Environment

Hi I cannot do either of these because unless my hard drive is installed then ALL cds are unresponsive and sit there on a black screen (tried 6 Windows 7 discs, and 3 recovery disks to no avail) and I also cannot get it to boot to safe mode because there is no option to, holding f8 does nothing and the only options are to change boot settings(go to BIOS settings) or f10, where I can select the boot media. Nothing seems to work for this should-be easy to solve issue. Getting ready on smashing the thing to pieces... I will never go to a main manufacturer again..

To be fair to Dell, a hard drive can fail at any time, regardless of who manufactured the computer or the drive itself.

Have you considered contacting Dell to see if they can send you a replacement hard drive or be given the chance to repair your computer? If it is still under warranty they should be able to repair or replace it.

Yeah I agree, just wish I got a desktop instead..hate laptops..and someone would come to collect it but they refused to say a price online and told me it would be said on the phone but that never happened and so I canceled on arrival, id rather try fix it myself than trust them, I got someone to try help this ridiculous problem on friday otherwise I will possibly give it to Dell..

OK, we can keep the thread open so you can keep us posted.

I hope your friend can fix it on Friday for you.

Were you able to go into the BIOS and make sure the CD is the first boot device and the HDD second?