My operating system is not found? but my HDD is accessible?

tigpoppa · 09 May 2014

Hi, I'm having an odd issue, when I sat my laptop down today i got a dreaded bluescreen of death. Then upon a restart it would say "Operating System not found". Running windows startup repair off a disc, it said the "root cause" is the "MBR" on the hard drive in my laptop. I am unable to access any boot options or anything windows related for the drive. In a panic I ordered a solid state drive haha. But I jury rigged my laptop HDD to my computer and got my files from it. So hmmm if the HDD works, how can I repair the boot sector? if anything I may stick it in the CD drive to use as a backup hard drive.

Any ideas how I can repair this MBR issue?

MilesAhead · 09 May 2014

This may be worth a try
MBR - Restore Windows 7 Master Boot Record

The best way is to use a tool that saves the MBR and writes it back from a boot disk. I say that because mbr fix usually leaves the partition table info alone. If that is corrupted it doesn't get fixed. Whereas a tool that saves the entire MBR and writes it back will overwrite the partition table. You need to save every time you make a partition change is the "drawback."

tigpoppa · 09 May 2014

I did see that link but I wasnt sure if it applied to me. The way I read that suggestion, was that it partitions my drive? I can see the drive right now. Plus its a laptop I dont think I can bootdisk into it as it has no disc drive? I have it connected to this computer I can see the file table and things is there a way to fix it that way? Or is the other way what I should be doing?

I dont know what to do but Im afraid to make it worse if that makes sense.

MilesAhead · 09 May 2014

Instead of a CD you would need to make a boot "repair USB" or thumb drive.

The part about partitions doesn't apply unless you changed the partitions on the system. If it came preloaded and you didn't do any drive partitioning then I would just follow the tutorial if you can get the boot USB made. Most laptops have a key to change the boot order. On mine it's F12.

The part about saving and restoring the entire MBR is just for future reference.

The good part is you got your data off. Worst case is you may have to reinstall if the repair doesn't work. Again you would need someone to help you by making a boot USB with the Windows image on it so you can install.

Also you could wait a bit and see if you get more suggestions. Someone may have a better idea than I. I'm on my first Laptop.(Had it since October last year. I've always had desktop machines. ) So I'm no lappy expert. :)

DavidE · 09 May 2014

This tutorial should help with creating the bootable USB flash drive.
Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool

tigpoppa · 09 May 2014

Congrats on your first laptop! For me its not my first but Im curious because ive had hard drives fail, but not just the MBR, usually they hmm die?

I get the make a usb boot thing, then so if its partitioned with data on it already what part do I skip? partitioning is dangerous words to me, i dont want to add any partitions or anything. I do have the HDD connected to this PC now can I run the CD from this computer?

Curious: could I run a command prompt from this computer the hard drive is attached to and get it to work? but on here its listed as drive l not drive c.

gregrocker · 09 May 2014

Everything that can be done is here for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start.

If it's infected it may not repair until disinfected so start with that, then check system files. You already know your hard drive is detected but you may want to test it and the RAM to be sure.

Once you know the System files are clean and intact and the hardware is good, confirm the 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) or C is Partition Marked Active then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

If this fails proceed with the rest of the steps in tutorial, or you can skip to the reinstall.

For an OS which is not found to repair, use the Bootrec commands in Step 7.

tigpoppa · 09 May 2014

Thanks, I did a diagnostic scan and nothing came up odd, also I did virus and malware scans nothing came up it seems.
ill try some of those steps. Hate to lose a drive it seems to work at least.

gregrocker · 09 May 2014

Which diagnostic scan and the exact results?

To best test HD run the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan (or Seatools if yours is not included) followed by a full Disk Check from the installation media or System Repair Disk's Command line.

tigpoppa · 09 May 2014

gregrocker said:

Which diagnostic scan and the exact results?

To best test HD run the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan (or Seatools if yours is not included) followed by a full Disk Check from the installation media or System Repair Disk's Command line.

Is this something I do on that computer or on this computer where the hard drive is connected now?
I ran the hardware diagnostic on the laptop the memory CPU all that checked out, Im kind of unsure actually how to check the hard drive itself. Spybot turned up no viruses or malware it seems on the drive.

*Problem solved: Thanks for the help guys, I took the advice from the links in this thread running some kind of chkdsk maybe or something and it said it found and corrected the errors. Drive is healthy again XD