Make w7 pro x64 bootable after cloning

Hi

Thank you all for your input.

I ran repair from a recovery DVD more than once now (3 at least with the one that just finished) but here is the thing - it's not able to fix anything. And I mean exactly that - it finds issues but is unable to fix them. "Startup repair cannot repair this computer automatically". Details are all unknowns and zeros. I don't think running it three times will change anything.

I have UEFI BIOS alright but it's in legacy mode so I don't think cloning tool causes a problem. Can it?

Again - the partition with Windows is active, I have installed Linux and GRUB detected Windows as a bootable system.

And now a question: isn't bootrec supposed to re-create boot manager/BCD for the current configuration?

I was hoping that it is possible to fix the current state. I would love to at least be able to diagnose the problem.
As far as reinstalling or creating a different image I think I will first try Dell recovery media I created - but that's my last resort.

j

Did Dell provide a Reinstallation DVD so you can get a clean reinstall instead of having all the crapware piled on? If not it's provided in Reinstall tutorial below along with official Win7 installer and tool to burn to DVD or stick. If you stick with the tools and methods given you'll get and keep a perfect install for as long as you do, infinitely better than the factory install craptured by the Recovery media.

Are you sure the BIOS wasn't set to UEFI when you made the image, even if you reset it to Legacy now? Those settings can be really tricky, are different for every BIOS, while the imaging app may simply not work for that one.


If you can boot free Partition Wizard to post back a picture of the full drive map and listings, we may be able to see the problem as often is the case. You can also use it to highlight the disk, then from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, OK and Apply which may help. Try the repairs afterwards again.

Did you try any of the steps I gave you, to which you didn't reply or answer my questions?

Had you actually read Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 you would see that the installation media is provided in the first step along with tool to burn to disk. You can then use this disk for the repairs you ignored.

hi gregrocker

Dell originally didn't provide a Windows 7 DVD but this is the disc I am getting now.

As to your earlier questions - the BIOS was in legacy mode when I got the laptop and I didn't touch it.
As I mentioned earlier I know alternative methods of fixing my problem but I wanted to understand what was wrong with the current setup. I used Microsoft tools to rebuild MBR but my primary OS is Linux and GRUB is in control of the 1st stage of booting, hence I think the problem is on the Windows partition itself.

I actually need to start using this laptop so I'm going to give up and just do a clean install.

Thanks again.

j

gregrocker said:

If you want to try a Dual Boot with Linux again these two approaches are what works best:

Thanks, I have Linux installed already (and I know I'll have to fix GRUB after installing Windows).

AddRAM said:

Not sure why you wouldn`t just do a clean install on the ssd from the beginning, doesn`t the pc have a Windows 7 COA ?

It doesn't.

Cheers,
j