Windows 7: Bootloader gone, Windows stays.

so,

i installed linux on one of my partitions as an alternative os. i went through a couple of versions before i was happy and then discovered i had deleted my windows bootloader somehow. i had previously had linux installed through wubi on the same partition but deleted it to try something else.

pc boots fine into linux but gives me no os choice. my 7 drive is fully intact.



is there a way to remedy without reinstalling 7?

thanks.

If you have a Windows 7 DVD, just boot from it and use the "Repair your computer" option and try the "Startup Repair". If that fails, with the same DVD, boot to it and then use the "Command Prompt" option instead and use the following commands:

bootrec.exe /fixmbr
bootrec.exe /fixboot

If that doesn't fix it, let us know.

I'm going to go try this now. Will this work from a bootable USB?

Yes, make sure Windows 7 partition is marked Active first, then run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times from booted DVD Repair console with reboots:
Partition - Mark as Active
Startup Repair

It may require using free Partition Wizard bootable CD to "Wipe" Linux partition as GRUB can corrupt Windows 7, even its repair.

Hello theplatform, welcome to Seven Forum!



A wipe is Option Three in the tutorial at the link below.

Partition Wizard : Use the Bootable CD

thanks for all your advice guys.

in the end i could not get the repair to work. i opted for a clean install instead for speed and refresh purposes.
sadly now my linux boot loader is gone but 7 is my important system anyways. not such a big deal since i keep all my data on another seperate partition anyways.

cheers

Glad to see you at least got it running, thanks for the update.

I had to do a re-install of Windows 7 and I also lost the GRUB so I can't access the Linux Mint install I had on a 50mb partition.
Not quite sure what to do about this.
Fact is I wasn't really doing much in Linux. I installed it to experiment with but I've been diverted by experiments customizing Windows.
It was reassuring to have it there in case Windows wouldn't boot but that was the only real reason for having it.
I might just format that small partition and keep it there ready for Google OS when it comes along.
Can anybody foresee any problems if I just format that partition?

Thanks, John

Hello johnwillyums.





Will you post a snip of disk management so we can see it before any recommendations are made?

Thanks!

Hi Ted

Here's a pic of disk management. The Linux Mint install is on Disk 2.
The 49.12GB partition and the 2.14GB partition.
As I say a reinstallation of Windows 7 on that drive knocked out the GRUB loader.
At boot I used to start in GRUB so could choose Mint at that point or go to 7 or Vista which would bring up a regular Windows boot screen.
I'm not really bothered about getting back this Mint install. I had done virtually nothing with it so I've lost nothing.
I've been to busy customizing Windows 7 with one of Mr Grim's themes to play with Linux.

So. I'd like to either regain access to it or just wipe it and leave that partition for another Linux install or Google OS, if it ever appears.

Thanks for your interest, John