Unable to boot after clean install Win7 Ultimate 64-bit

gregrocker · 15 Mar 2012

The OS which is booting is on C which we know because of the Boot and Page File flags.

However the boot files for C are on the 1tb HD unlettered partition as shown by the System Active flags. This is problematic.

The way to fix this is to mark C Active: Partition - Mark as Active

Power down to unplug 1tb HD, boot into BIOS setup to set C as first HD to boot in BIOS, after disk drive.

Now boot into System Recovery Options on Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to write the System boot files to C, until Win7 starts and C holds the System Active boot flags.

If this fails I would proceed to test both HD's with Seagate SeaTools extended CD scan, if it passes wipe the target HD with Seatools, try install with all other HD's and peripherals unplugged.

Duzzy · 16 Mar 2012

As I thought the boot files have been written to the second hard drive, Disk 1.
Like Gregrocker said above you should unplug the second drive before installing and then setup should create the System Reserve partition and place the boot files there and mark it as active.

Once you can boot into Windows you can reconnect the second drive and delete the boot files from the second drive safely. I wouldn't recommend it as a permanent solution but you would be able to boot now without Hiren's if you boot from the second drive.

The reason that made me think you had two or more Hard Drives is because Hiren's searchers all found drives and boot's the first Windows 7/Vista bootloader (bootmgr) it finds and if it doesn't find one it then it searchers for the Windows XP bootloader (NTLDR). So because Hiren's could boot it I new there had to be a bootloader somewhere that had no problems booting if there was no bootloader on your internal drives it would have booted the Windows Installer from the USB if it was still plugged in.

EDIT: Gregrocker beat me to it but he gives some better advice that might save re-installing. Also I said "I wouldn't recommend it as a permanent solution...." thats because of what he said, "This is problematic."

Commander Turk · 16 Mar 2012

O.O

Argh! why didn't i notice that... i'm an idiot... >.<

I powered down the pc disconnected the TB hard drive ran the installer again restarted... it started working properly! folks thank you for all your help going to keep your advice in a word document for future referance in case someone i else has similar porblems

KUDOS ! :)