Windows 7: How to fix "Error Loading Operating System"

My post is for use with Vista & Windows 7, not for Win XP.



If using Win XP CD.

Type in command line
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (win HD)
CLEAN ALL
EXIT


Clean Install Windows XP - How To Perform a Clean Installation of Windows XP - Part 1 of 4

Why would you expect an operating system to be present if you´re wiping the HD, which point is to zero it out?

And even if it remained due to failure of the steps given, how would opening an OS command prompt facilitate wiping the HD from the OS you want to wipe out? Only the Roadrunner can erase himself.

Easier to just boot the XP CD using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first screen, delete all partitions and create new one, full format NTFS. Wiping the HD is overkill unless you have data you need overwritten with zeroes so it can´t be pieced together by forensic experts. It provides absolutely no installation benefit unless there is boot sector corruption which otherwise blocks the install, and then the simple "Clean" command is sufficient.

I put in the XP disc and tried to reboot and got the system error message that "DISK BOOT Failure...."

This sounds like a bad xp install disc.

You can get to a command prompt with an xp install disk also. After it loads some files you will see it say starting windows and gives option to install or repair. Press shift + F10 to get to command prompt to run diskpart or format.

TJG

Have you tried the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key, and then did you get a prompt to ¨"Press and key...?"

If so and it still doesn´t boot then confirm your ISO integrity and burn another DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed.

incidentally, the clean all does eliminate boot sector malware and any other malware from the computer.

It's not just a feature for the paranoid.

I did the following steps:

When you get to the X: prompt, then
1. remove the win 7 repair disc
2. insert the xp disc

carry out the diskpart commands as explained below:

Diskpart
list disk
select disk 0
detail disk

does the "detail" correspond to your disk?

If yes, then
CLEAN ALL


However, it's been 2 hours since I did CLEAN ALL and nothing appeared to happen. Is that usual? How long does it take CLEAN ALL to complete its process?

The diskpart CLEAN ALL was just completed.

I then exit out of diskpart and the command prompt. Shutdown and reboot from the XP disk but I got the following error again:

"DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER".

'Now insert the dvd for the os you want to install and boot to the cd/dvd.

My computer is working now! I was able to get OS installed successfully! Thank you so so so much for everyone's help!

Just fyi, for some reasons, I kept getting the Disk Boot failure when I put the XP OS in. Finally, I tried to put the Win 7 OS in and reboot my computer and it worked!

Again, thank you everyone. I really appreciate all your help.

Excellent.
Glad to hear that all is well.