Windows 7: Boot screen displays "mbr" no problems in recovery disk

Hello, I recently tried to install debian linux via a live USB, which didn't go too well. Basically, my mbr and general boot sector got messed up completely.

So I used the live USB to re-write the mbr of Windows 7 using "TestDisk" on linux, which let the OS show up in my win 7 recovery disk.

The first time, it started repairing straight away, and asked me to reboot. I did so, and the second time, it went to the list of recovery options, of which I selected repair system (I think thats what it's called... the first one anyway) which did some more repairs, and asked me to reboot again. This time, the repair CD still booted, but said there were no problems and the OS should boot perfectly fine.

This is not the case, removed the cd and I still just get "ctrl+alt+del reboot" on my boot screen. Any ideas what options I have from here?

this has happened to my uncles laptop before, it is quite mis-leading, if you have recently installed some modules of ram, sometimes if the size and speed dont match it will show that error, this is one of the reasons that that error comes up, i assume there are many more

Hmm, that can't be the problem in my case, I haven't done anything to modify the hardware.. all I've done recently is attempt to install linux as I said...

I have limited experience with linux, so the following may or may not solve your problem;

• Download a Live CD version of Ubuntu 11.10 (make sure that you download the amd64 Live CD if your system is 64 bit).
• Boot into the Live CD, ask to try Ubuntu which opens a new terminal window.
• Run the following commands:
  • sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
  • sudo mount --bind /dev /mnt/dev
  • sudo mount --bind /proc /mnt/proc
  • sudo mount --bind /etc /mnt/etc
  • sudo mount --bind /sys /mnt/sys
    (some of these might be redundant but some programs may give out some errors if these weren't run)
  • sudo chroot /mnt
• When in root, run:
  grub-install /dev/sda.

As I stated, I am not well versed in the use of linux, so ...

No luck with that, I tried it on my Debian live USB (which I was installing off) to no avail, grub says it cannot install onto the selected drive.Although my windows install cd has found a problem now, well see how that goes.

MBR - Restore Windows 7 Master Boot Record

Linux was mentioned within the Information Box, so maybe the tutorial will have more significance and be of a greater help.

Hope this helps,

Harry

Gave that a try, but to no avail...

Also, I'm now getting "ctrl + alt + del to reboot" on my boot menu now...

I guess you have tried this too: How to Repair the MBR on Windows 7

This is the last thing I can think of:

Use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

Hope this solves the problem,

Harry

Boot into Windows 7 DVD System Recovery Options or Windows 7 System Repair Disk to Mark Win7 Partition Active.

Then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Windows 7 starts and holds the System Active flags.

Be aware that sometimes GRUB can corrupt Windows 7 beyond repair when on the same HD. I would delete it completely and then for any future Linux Dual Boots use separate HD's booted only via BIOS, or Dual Boot Ubuntu with EasyBCD - NeoSmart Technologies Wiki

GO IT!!

Never been so happy to see that welcome screen...

Anywho, what worked was to use TestDisk on my debian live USB, and allow it to wriet its own custome mbr, which got windows booted enough for it to actually tell me to use the repair CD, which told me it would be repaired after a reboot. Which it is!