Windows won't start - system files integrity check and repair 0x490

Ok so I went through all three startup repairs and restarts and it still doesn't work. Just like last night, it couldn't find any problems on the second and third repairs.

SFC scan did not find any violations.

You can try deleting bootmgr.

( "drive_letter:" is where Win 7 is installed could be c: d:, e:, ...! Use dir command or diskpart to see drive mappings)

From Recovery prompt:

drive_letter:
attrib -s -h -r bootmgr
del bootmgr

+ these commands:

bootsect /nt60 ALL /force /mbr - writes MBR and PBR's
bcdboot drive_letter:\windows - this command recreates bootmgr and \boot

Looks like you've made good progress. Did you have a chance yet to rebuild your BCD and fix the MBR? Any success with those steps?

I tried the bootrec.exe tool which worked successfully but didn't fix the issue. I then tried boyan's suggestion but the last line of the commands was not working. And now since I have no bootmgr, I can't even start in safe mode. When I try booting from the USB, it also no longer works.

At this point I think I'm probably stuck without a Windows install disc.

You can create a Windows install disc or bootable USB Windows Installer. The links are given in Greg's tutorial. All you need is a blank disc or a blank USB with at least 4 GB.

I am sorry not to mention that Recovery means Recovery CD / USB.

When you repair the booting on HDD you should always have some other media( CD/DVD/USB ) for starting/repairing the computer !
It is best to have a CD/DVD and a USB if optical or USB device fails.

You can copy bootmgr to root "\" using whatever LiveCD.

Copy of bootmgr can be found in \Windows\Boot\PCAT on your HDD.

writhziden said:

You can create a Windows install disc or bootable USB Windows Installer. The links are given in Greg's tutorial. All you need is a blank disc or a blank USB with at least 4 GB.

I don't know which tutorial you are referring to and I'm not exactly sure how I would be able to burn a cd when Windows can't even start in safe mode.

You would burn a CD or DVD on a different computer. See if you can use a friend's system or sometimes libraries have this capability.

Did you see my post #2? That is Greg's tutorial. See step 5. for the USB bootable option.

I was able to borrow a friend's install disc so I'm up and running now on a fresh Windows install. It seems that it also created a "Windows.old" folder that has all of my files so I didn't even lose anything! Thanks for the help guys.