Windows failed to start and can't find operating system

silvergreen said:

Well, it took me a while to run TestDisk (I had to ask for help from a friend) and just rebooted....only to get a new error message:

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem:

1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click next
3. Click "repair your computer."

Status: 0xc0000000e

Info: The boot selection failed because a required device is inaccessible.

Looks like I'm back where I started...?

You may have to do a repair install. That way you won't lose your data. At least we got it to a point where Windows shows up, it just can't be fixed.

See Repair Install

Do you have a Windows 7 install disc with Service Pack 1? I imagine you had Service Pack 1 on your computer, so you will need the appropriate Windows 7 disc (Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate) with Service Pack 1 on the DVD.

Edit: nevermind, reread your first post. Recommend searching google for official windows 7 iso and burning to disc.

Before doing the above, you could try the startup repair again and see if that does the trick. It could be that the file system is in better shape now? I'm hoping so.

And you may have to run the repair three times before it works, so run it three times and get back to me.

Thank you for the link, but I'm confused - doesn't that repair install tutorial begin with logging in as an administrator and states that a repair install can only be run from within Windows 7? I'm still stuck with an error message immediately after booting up and can't access Windows...

And sure, I can try running the startup repair again, but I'm not sure if anything's different. The last time I ran it I quit after 30 minutes because nothing had changed (should it let it run for longer?), and the Recovery Options menu still isn't showing an operating system.

I think you can do a repair install booting from the DVD. You just click upgrade instead of new installation. Edit: I stand corrected. You would have to do a clean install and just save WindowsOld so you can get your important data backed up.

The other option is to do a clean install and not overwrite the previous windows and keep it as WindowsOld.

silvergreen said:

Thank you for the link, but I'm confused - doesn't that repair install tutorial begin with logging in as an administrator and states that a repair install can only be run from within Windows 7? I'm still stuck with an error message immediately after booting up and can't access Windows...

And sure, I can try running the startup repair again, but I'm not sure if anything's different. The last time I ran it I quit after 30 minutes because nothing had changed (should it let it run for longer?), and the Recovery Options menu still isn't showing an operating system.

It depends on how badly the startup is damaged. I think I had to let it run for an hour on my girlfriend's parent's computer once.

There are a few other methods to try before going to the installation route, as well.

Is the startup repair still running?

Yes, it's still going.

Alright, if it is still going, you can probably cancel it. I don't think it's working. Another option is to start in the repair mode, click the command line utility, and type the following:
bootrec.exe /fixmbr
bootrec.exe /fixboot (may return an 'Element not found' message)
bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

This time, please make sure each step is spelled properly and runs.

Then try running startup repair three times.

Well, the message in the Startup Repair window has now changed to "Repairing disk errors. This may take over an hour to complete," so at least it's doing something. I don't remember seeing that message before; I think it always remained stuck at the initial message, which was something like "Searching for errors." Should I try letting it run to completion three times, and if it doesn't work, try this new set of commands?

Thanks for all your suggestions so far, btw.