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Windows 7 Ultimate x64 won't boot without DVD in drive
I recently did a clean install of Windows 7 Ultimate x64
(OEM version) on a new hard disk. Installation seemed
to go normally, no obvious errors. Activation seemed to
go normally, no obvious errors.
My hardware is all brand new, and greatly exceeds the
requirements for installing this OS. HD is a Seagate
Barracuda SATA, 1 terrabyte.
The problem is that now the OS won't boot without the
installation media (DVD) in the optical drive. I find this
unacceptable.
I have read many, many posts about this problem, and
tried many, many, many proposed solutions:
- change boot sequence in BIOS (this shouldn't matter,
but I tried it anyway, and it doesn't help)
- boot from DVD and use "repair" command on installation
screen (tried numerous times to no avail)
- boot from DVD and use "command prompt" command
on installation screen, then type various things:
- chkdsk /r
- bootsect command
- various bcd commands
- various diskpart commands
- boot from gparted CD-ROM, set disk to active/bootable.
Nothing seems to help,
The OS works perfectly once it has booted.
I am confident that this is not a HD problem.
My instinct tells me that it has to do with something that
is supposed to be in the boot sector that's not, or that is
in the boot sector that's not supposed to be, or some
formatting problem or some cache.
Is there a way to clone the partition to a disk that boots
normally? I'm really hoping not to start all over again.
Does anyone have any ideas about how to solve this?
Thanks in advance,
Tom