Windows Boot Manager error 0xc000000e

Hi all,

I am almost too embarrassed to post this but now it has come to the point where I'd rather be embarrassed than smash my laptop on to my head repeatedly.

I changed laptops and ended up using a 250gb hdd I had been using as an external hdd as the primary and sole hdd in my old MSI GX600. What began as a simple process became an unending nightmare where it became literally impossible for me to install windows on it through usb boot drive. The optical drive no longer works so the only option i have is USB.

I did manage to install Linux Mint on it through USB boot, but utterly failed at a windows install. At this point the laptop has win7 x86 installed (by a repair shop) and I wish to make a clean installation of win 7 x64, but that is proving to be impossible. No matter what source of iso I use or what tool I use, I keep seeing this screen when I try to boot from USB. I keep seeing this screen at boot whenever I boot from win7 bootable usb. (In this latest event, I was using Digital river ISO and used both the official microsoft tool as well as unetbootin multiple times)



What could I be doing wrong?

Win7 cannot be installed to a USB drive.

Borrow or buy a $5 USB flash stick, write the ISO to it using UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive which always works when others don't.

Wipe the HD while in external caddy using Diskpart Clean Command.

Reinstall the HD internally, enter BIOS setup to set the HD to boot first.

Trigger USB stick to boot using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first screen - it may be listed under HD's, removable or USB, expand listing if necessary. It might autostart for a wiped HD.

Thanks for the quick and helpful reply.

The first part went well, as after I created the bootable usb created by ultra iso I managed to get a 'booting from usb' message for the first time.

Unfortunately, hopes were quickly dashed when i saw that dreaded error message again.

I tried three things.

1. First i tried the bootable usb without doing the clean process you linked to.
same error.

2. Then I followed the link and in the end, I skipped the last step, step 11, where it linked to creating a new partition or volume, and put it back in the laptop and attempted to boot, same error.

3. I then connected the hard disk in a caddy again, created the new volume, reinserted it into laptop, tried booting from USB, a message popped up during boot that it was going to boot from USB, and then the same screen that I posted above.

All three times it said booting from usb and all three times the same screen as above. I think I'm losing my mind.

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. If an EFI BIOS you'll need to decide if you want UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS. If UEFI follow these special steps for Install, otherwise enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module to proceed with normal install:

Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here. I would use a fresh ISO written with tool in Step 2 as yours is in question.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

After install you can adjust partition size or Create new partitions for data, etc. in Disk Mgmt. You are creating the partition here for the purpose of wiping the HD and marking Active which overcomes certain install failures.

Thank you for being so patient and detailed in your assistance. However, I was not able to follow your instructions as I was unable to get past the 'booting from usb device' message followed by that error screen posted in the first post.

gregrocker said:

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

However, I have double and triple checked the iso, my source is the same as you have linked (Digitial River). However, even after using different USB flash drives, different iso's, two persistent problems remained.

1. UltraISO is the ONLY software so far which allows my Lenovo W520, running win 7 x64 (factory installed and fully updated) to create bootable flash drives. (I can't thank you enough for pointing me to that, as previously I could not create a bootable usb linux or windows flash drives and foolishly believed Microsoft's official tool created specifically for this purpose was able to successfully do that.

2. To try out a different approach, I tried installing Linux from USB and, lo and behold, I was unable to create bootable usb's for linux as well using official guidelines. Again, UltraISO is the miracle maker that made it possible to make a bootable Linux Mint 15 usb and I was able to install it in under 10 minutes without a single hitch onto my laptop.

However, the excitement was shortlived, because then I quickly shutdown the laptop, plugged in the bootable Windows7 USB and was treated to that loathsome error screen from the first post, again.

I know the USB is fine because I have been seeing the 'booting from USB' message flash on screen as well as checking through running MobaLive CD, which allows for checking of bootable USB's through a VM in the desktop environment without rebooting. It also allowed me to make sure that UltraIso was creating bootable USB's of both linux and windows where everything else was failing.

Previously, in 2010 I believe, I was able to install Win7 on this laptop (originally came with Vista 64 bit) through the optical drive. I have now considered the possibility that there is something in Win7 x64 or this laptop that does not allow installation through USB. I am now going to attempt to make an ISO of my Vista disc, and see if that allows installation (once I can locate that disc).

Or try to install Windows XP from USB, formatting away the Linux on the drive and then moving to 7 from there. Once again, thank you for your patience and detailed instructions on this frankly ridiculous problem and for reading my overly long posts.
Would like to know what you think is wrong here. Also, why am I unable to create bootable iso's from a very stable laptop with nothing besides UltraISO.

Can you pull the HD out to put in another laptop, or attach to an adapter cable for SATA 2.5 HD to USB, or to SATA mobo port on another PC, to run Diskpart Clean Command. This may force the USB stick to autostart or at least stop it from being blocked.

You can also try writing Partition Wizard to stick using Universal USB Installer to see if it will boot to wipe the HD, create a Primary partition for install, Modify>Set to Active, which prepares the HD as optimally as possible for install.

You can also borrow a USB DVD drive to try install, or replace your DVD drive if it won't boot.

You can also install if HD is installed or plugged in internally to another PC, then SysPrep to move HD to another computer.

Following instructions as provided, so far, tried

gregrocker said:

You can also try writing Partition Wizard to stick using Universal USB Installer to see if it will boot to wipe the HD, create a Primary partition for install, Modify>Set to Active, which prepares the HD as optimally as possible for install.

and same problem persists. I assumed that this laptop probably had BIOS issues that prevented installation from usb, but since I had no issue installing mint, that seems not to be the case. Going to try the other methods advised.

Have you tested the HD yet with maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, followed by Disk Check from the installer Command line?

Or since you have PW bootable stick now you can run HD Surface Scan followed by Check File System to do the same thing, although it will not be able to repair the HD as the other scans can.

Success!

I am making a new post just so the solution can have a post of its own and is easily readable.

1. I took that laptops harddisk, placed it in an HP 4530s, booted off a bootable Windows 7 USB (prepared through the amazing UltraISO software trial version), and installed windows without any issues.

2. I then turned off laptop, removed flash drive, booted into windows normally and let windows set itself up like it does.

3. Then, following instructins provided here:

gregrocker said:

You can also install if HD is installed or plugged in internally to another PC, then SysPrep to move HD to another computer.

I used the Sysprep procedure to prepare the harddrive (followed Method 1 from the link), and removed the harddrive from the HP laptop.

4. Placed hard disk back into MSI GX600 (which does not allow Windows to be installed off USB), and booted up, and it worked flawlessly. Setup windows, changed the necessary settings and took back control of the laptop (also installed Linux Mint 15 alongside later on).

So far things are working perfectly.

Could not have done all this without the immense amounts of help and guidance provided by gregrocker. Thanks again!

Edit: +rep ofcourse. Cannot up rep enough. :P