Windows 7 maybe thinks it's on (E:) and not (C:)

AlexTF · 23 Jan 2014

gregrocker said:

Elsewhere under storage there should be a SATA controller setting. You may need to highlight it and click Enter to see if you can change it's setting. What are the choices?

I guess its SATA operation and it says ATA & AHCI

gregrocker · 23 Jan 2014

If three Startup Repairs don't fix it then I'd cut my losses and rescue files using the booted Win7 disk via Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console or Paragon Rescue Kit Free Edition 11.0 Free CD.

Then do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 making sure to read over and understand all the steps first, especially the Note to Dell OWners at the end.

AlexTF · 23 Jan 2014

gregrocker said:

If three Startup Repairs don't fix it then I'd cut my losses and rescue files using the booted Win7 disk via Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console or Paragon Rescue Kit Free Edition 11.0 Free CD.

Then do a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 making sure to read over and understand all the steps first, especially the Note to Dell OWners at the end.

I'm going to try Paragon since my Local Disk says I have no users and it also says in the command prompt I have 0 windows installations

SIW2 · 23 Jan 2014

If you try lis vol at diskpart instead of lis par, hopefully you will see which is active and the letters assigned to your windows volume and your active volume.

Then worth exiting diskaprt and running :

bcdboot windowsvolumeletter:\windows /s activevolumeletter:

E.G.

bcdboot E:\windows /s C:

bootsect /nt60 all /mbr

See if that helps.

If not, then do as Greg suggests and clean reinstall.

AlexTF · 23 Jan 2014

So if I do a clean reinstall I will get Windows 7 back but no my files right?

SIW2 · 23 Jan 2014

Normally it will save the existing contents into a folder called windows.old if you don't format the install partition.

Try the above 2 commands first .

AlexTF · 23 Jan 2014

SIW2 said:

Normally it will save the existing contents into a folder called windows.old if you don't format the install partition.

Try the above 2 commands first .

Alright I ran it and it says Volume 3 F OS NTFS Partion 697gb so i guess it's on F: could you give me the exact command line

AlexTF · 23 Jan 2014

AlexTF said:

SIW2 said:

Normally it will save the existing contents into a folder called windows.old if you don't format the install partition.

Try the above 2 commands first .

Alright I ran it and it says Volume 3 F OS NTFS Partion 697gb so i guess it's on F: could you give me the exact command line

Here is a photo of what I see

gregrocker · 23 Jan 2014

I would not count on Windows.old saving your files if you don't format the partition before install, too risky.

I would rescue your files first if you value them.

If you can get into Startup Repair as your screenshot shows you can, then you should be able to browse for your files to copy them to external flash as shown in Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console.

But first try SIW2's commands.

SIW2 · 23 Jan 2014

Looking at that pic, I would try:

diskpart
(press enter)

sel vol f
(press enter)

act
(press enter)

exi
(press enter)

bcdboot f:\windows /s f:

(press enter)

bootsect /nt60 all /mbr

(press enter)

Worth a go. Sometimes the commands do the job when startup repair can't figure out what to do.