bootmgr missing, then won't boot from cd, what next?

Interestor · 22 Jan 2013

Last night I tried to absorb a 3gb partition. Tried to shrink, delete... couldn't get it back into c:, so I just made it back into a partition, different letter. I left the disk manager open when I put the computer to sleep.

Alienware M11x r2.

Turned it on this morning, got the bootmgr missing. I dug out the original microsoft disk, plugged in my external firwire cd drive, and tried to boot from there.

The setup utility showed the cd drive after I plugged it in, but choosing it doesn't seem to stick. Then rebooting doesn't behave differently. Trying to reboot from network works, says cable not connected.

So, how do I boot from the cd in this case?

Other methods to get the bootmgr fixed?

Interestor · 22 Jan 2013

I can get into the setup and even boot order menu, but no windows or dos. So maybe I should ask how do I get a command prompt in this situation?

Interestor · 22 Jan 2013

Ok, I did magically get it to boot from the cd that came with the new computer.

However, there is no option to repair windows. All I can do is choose my language, keyboard, currency; then choose which partition to install windows. There is an option to "Load Driver" but any folder I choose (can even poke around existing c drive) gets a response about unsigned.

um, what can I do? (btw what is this damned Recovery partition for?)

Thank you

Kaktussoft · 22 Jan 2013

RECOVERY partition is to revert to factory settings. You will loose everything!
Did you delete any partition? You have a partition called RECOVERY and one with Operating System. Other partitions as well?

Kaktussoft · 22 Jan 2013

2. If prompted, press any key to boot from the Windows 7 installation DVD. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You will only have about 8 seconds to press this key.

3. Select your language preferences and click on Next. (See screeshot below).

4. Click on Repair your computer. (See screenshot below)

Kaktussoft · 22 Jan 2013

in "repair your computer", select "command prompt"

Code:

diskpart
list vol
exit

Which drive letters do you have (ignore the DVD drive letters shown there). Assume you see C and D

Code:

attrib  c:\bootmgr
attrib  d:\bootmgr

Which drive letter has file bootmgr on it?

Interestor · 22 Jan 2013

Ah, thank you for the response.

The current problem is that there is no option to repair on my cd.

Partitions: I have a little 37mb, then recovery 11.6gb with 3gb free, then the pesky empty 3gb one that I tried to absorb which seems to have cased this, then windows at 283gb with 4gb free.

---

Reading more I finally figured how to get a command prompt - shift f10.

Then I tried the following after I got into C:
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /RebuildBcd

All told me that they were successful. However, no effect, still bootmgr missing.

Is there more (or maybe correct) that I can do at the command prompt?

Kaktussoft · 22 Jan 2013

Interestor said:

Ah, thank you for the response.

The current problem is that there is no option to repair on my cd.

Partitions: I have a little 37mb, then recovery 11.6gb with 3gb free, then the pesky empty 3gb one that I tried to absorb which seems to have cased this, then windows at 283gb with 4gb free.

---

Reading more I finally figured how to get a command prompt - shift f10.

Then I tried the following after I got into C:
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /RebuildBcd

All told me that they were successful. However, no effect, still bootmgr missing.

Is there more (or maybe correct) that I can do at the command prompt?

Why did you rebuild MBR? Why did you rebuild volume bootsector? Why rebuild bootmenu?

Kaktussoft · 22 Jan 2013

You don't see option "repair your computer" as shown in #5 ?

Code:

diskpart
list vol
exit

What volumes do you see (ignore the dvd drives)

Interestor · 22 Jan 2013

Why did I rebuild... that is what I read.

No option to repair.

Volumes that I see are 1,2,3,4 like I listed.