Can't Boot Windows 7 BSOD

Thanks again for the help!!

I tried to copy my files in the recovery console with no success, it kept going too the BSOD, same error in my original post.

I finally got it to restore from a system image from 7/2013 (roughly 9 months ago) that I had on an external HD.

It went through the entire process and when it came time to restart I get "No Boot Device Available" I started it again with the installation disk and it looks like the operating system in now D: instead of C: ??

Is there a way to fix this to boot, and is there any way to recover the files from the last 9 months. If I can't recover the files it is no big deal, I just want to get it working.

After I get it working I should probably figure out how to make system image backups on a regular basis (-:

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

Have you tested the HD with the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan since reinstalling it made it detected in BIOS? I would check to see if it is still detected, rely on the diagnostics to determine if it is salvageable. Then proceed with the repairs to see if you can get the image to boot. Often images will not be marked Active at transfer and need to be marked Active and have the repairs run as Steve outlined.

I went to mark the partition as active. I am assuming that the largest partition is the one I want?

It shows the following: Partition 1 OEM 39 MB Offset 31 kb
Partition 2 Primary 14GB offset 40 mb
Partition 3 Primary 581 GB offset 14 GB

Is it partition 3 that I need to make active?

If so, I have done that.

When running startup repair I'm getting: Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically

Under Problem details it lists:

Problem event name: StartupRepairOffline
Problem signature 01: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem signature 02: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem signature 03: unknown
Problem signature 04: -1
Problem signature 05: external media
Problem signature 06: 1
Problem signature 07: MissingBootManager
os version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033

The HD is showing up sometimes in the bios and sometimes it is not??

I've also tried the HD Diagnostics and couldn't get it to run.

Now I am seeing when restarting: Press any key to boot from CD or DVD....
BOOTMGR is missing
Press ctrl alt delete to restart

Any suggestions? Thanks again!

Found the BOOTMGR is missing tutorial and followed the instructions at the command prompt:
It came up as 0 installations found.

I am now following the Bootrec.exe instructions, will let you know the results.

It is showing an operating system now: Windows Home Premium Partition size: 595439 MB (C: OS

Often times on Dell the Recovery partition is the System partition, so if it doesn't start after running Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times with the large (C) partition set Active, move the Active flag to the second partition to try the 3 repairs again.

What HD Diagnostic extended CD scan are you trying to boot? Did you burn it to CD using Windows Image Burner? Does it boot in another PC?

What happened when you tried to boot the CD using the Dell F12 key at boot, then choose the CD/DVD drive to boot? Also what happens when you select Diagnostics from that menu? Does the HD and other hardware pass? Try also choosing Utility Partition to get a fuller suite of Diagnostics.

OMG!! It actually worked!! It went to the desktop!!! (-:

Been working on it for 4 days!! Thanks again for all the help!!

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to recover the files from the last 9 months (if even possible) as it
is now as it was on 7/2013?


This is an awesome forum!! It's great to know that there is help available when needed!!!

If you saved the drive which held the old OS then you can access the files from Win7 now, if necessary assigning a drive letter if it doesn't have one so it will show up in Explorer: Drive Letter - Add, Change, or Remove in Windows 7 - Windows 7 Forums

If you formatted over the drive then it is unlikely you can recover the files. I think that you were in the process of trying to do that and then when I checked back you had jumped to recovering using an image. Had you waited we could have helped you access the files if the drive is still good since they are always recoverable even if one must use a boot disk, and BSOD's which were interfering might have been allieviated.

There really isn't much we can't do here ever since Win7 beta when most of the fixes for the OS were developed right here. It just takes patience and total cooperation.

I did use a system image from an external drive to restore the HD. Does that mean the files were overwritten? If it is, it's no big deal, I'm just so happy to have my computer back!!! (-: I also learned a whole lot during this process, and found lots more to read up on!!

Hi Again,

Everything was working great, then Windows did an update and my computer wouldn't start?? I started with the Install Disk and ran startup repair several times and it seems to be working now??

I'm wondering what happened and how I can avoid that again? Also when it wouldn't start it took me to a BIOS screen that showed some kind of error (sorry, don't remember what it was) and said press F1 to continue, F2 to enter setup? Then I got press Ctrl Alt Delete to restart.

I am on that PC now, it seems to be working. Do I need to update the BIOS since I reset it to factory defaults when I had all these issues? If so, can you please point me to how to do that?