Win 7 cannot start, restore or repair possible damage to MBR

Any reason you are pointing your efforts at c drive?

Just because I sound like I know what I'm talking about doesn't mean I do I'm a lowly housewife and mum

I can fix basic problems with my laptop, and Im competent enough to follow instructions etc but I'm also not stupid enough to go off attemtping repairs on something I know nothing about and frankly when it comes to command prompt other than knowing how to navigate around and copy my files to my external HDD I have no clue.

So I know windows in on my C Drive and I followed the instructions in the images posted on here which pointed to C: so that is what I did ...



Let me give a better description of what is happening :

I switch on the laptop and get the starting windows message, ( just as the windows logo is apperaing there is a flash of a bluescreen too quick to see ) then it goes to windows error recovery .. where my choices are launch start up repair or start windows normally.

if I choose Startup repair I get : windows is loading files ..

start up repair is checking files ( this only lasts about 5 seconds ) before it tells me Windows repair cannot repair this computer automatically

Now if I put the recovery disk in and chose f12 boot from disk ....

choose dvd option and press any key ..

windows is loading files

I get the screen to choose keyboard input method - searches for installations - finds windows on c:

choose next and it says your computer was unable to start, startup repair is checking your system for problems.

I am letting it go through this step again to make note of what happens next.

theog said:

Did you try ScanOs.

kilkennycat said:

umm no .... Never Heard of it to be honest everything I have tried so far I got from googling *cough*

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

/ScanOs
The /ScanOs option scans all disks for installations that are compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7. Additionally, this option displays the entries that are currently not in the BCD store. Use this option when there are Windows Vista or Windows 7 installations that the Boot Manager menu does not list.

Check to make sure Windows is on C: & maybe on D:.

I don't have an "R" on any of my normal 7 repair media - is that some kind of oem thing?

I would like to give you a copy of my custom repair media.

I don't feel disposed to post a link publicly for the whole world to steal.

I am very busy just now, but will be back later to help.

AEM,

weirdly no, not on the self made 64 bit recovery anyways. I do also have the 32bit disk that came with the machine *shrugs*

SIW , thanks for confirming that, I dont feel like such a plank now and that would be appreciated very much if it might help. I'm sure I'll still be here later banging my head against the desk

and Theog

*facepalm* ok so my brain is just mush from being at this till 2am and then getting up a few hours later with kids ...

I will run the scanOS when the current repair recovery is finished.

:)

Theog,

scanOs returns the following message :

total installations = 0

AEM,

interestingly, I didn't install 64bit over the 32bit. The machine came preloaded with 64bit ( toshiba advised creating the recovery because of the fact they only supply a 32bit recovery disk )

I have absolutely no idea why they would do such a dumb thing and I never thought to question it at the time

figured I'd be safe if I made a 64bit recovery myself .... appears I was wrong !

edited to add :

ok so the 32bit has detected and is now saying please select the item you use to install ( with option windowns 7 ) no sign of any 'R' ..... wondering if this is going to do complete reinstall or this is where you mentioned it looking like istalling from fresh