Startup Repair not Working on Windows 7 Home Premium

When I went into settings because the thumb drive with your files on it would not boot the PC, I managed to get to this page. It appeared when I accidentally clicked on "save and exit". It reads "Boot Override" and UEFI: Built-in EFI Shell is first in line. I can't upload the image for some reason. Should UEFI be the first in line for boot override?

It claims there is no OS on the thumb drive. I must be doing something wrong or missing a step. Went into settings and ensured that the thumb drive was first choice, but it went straight into startup repair. I cannot disable automatic restart on system failure.

Is it possible to use the second hard drive to repair the first? I only attach one at a time, currently. I needed to get work done, hence adding the second drive and installing Windows 7 Professional (only CD I have, apparently).

- - - Updated - - -

I booted the PC using the second hard drive, then connected the first. I was able to get into Disk Management. The Windows I need is on E: drive.

Have you tried booting it with both drives connected? It could be that something you need to boot is on the other drive (the one that does boot).

Another thing I would try is to make a Macrium Rescue CD, using your good system. Boot the CD however you do that on your system, and select the disk that is not booting, and have Macrium install the boot loader there.

Get the Macrium software here: Macrium Reflect Free Download - 8.1.7784 | TechSpot

michael diemer said:

Have you tried booting it with both drives connected? It could be that something you need to boot is on the other drive (the one that does boot).

Another thing I would try is to make a Macrium Rescue CD, using your good system. Boot the CD however you do that on your system, and select the disk that is not booting, and have Macrium install the boot loader there.

Get the Macrium software here: Macrium Reflect Free Download - 8.1.7784 | TechSpot

I always fear doing that. Never know what will happen. I will do it.

I unplugged the SATA cable and the wires pulled out of the plug. I won't be able to get back to this until I get a new SATA cable. (I had several spares, but cannot find a one.)

It sounds like when you installed Windows you had another HDD connected at that same time and the bootloader wrote to that dive and not your main drive, thus drive D. Or you messed with the bootloader in some way with the use of Windows 10.

I think at this point you need to repair the Win 7 bootloader.

Repairing A Broken Bootloader Or Master Boot Record In Windows 7, 8, And 10 – Techgage

Do not have a second hard drive plugged when repairing the bootloader.

Do not have a second hard drive plugged in when installing Windows.

Use something like EasyBCD or one of these to make it easy to dual boot two OSs.

- - - Updated - - -

One of these will read your HDD on another computer to retrieve your data on the now non bootable HDD. You just copy/paste data back and fourth to another HDD.

Or you can live boot Hiren's Boot CD and use one of these USB to SATA adapters to navigate the HDD that doesn't boot to retrieve your data. Hiren's BootCD PE

Amazon.com: Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0 Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives (Black) : Electronics

Amazon.com

If the HDD is NVMe.

Amazon.com

Should also work with an mSATA HDD. There are two versions of product there at Chinazon...

If you need it.

Amazon.com: Temdan USB to USB C Adapter 4 Pack,【2*Type C Female to A Male Charger Converter】&【2*USB C Male to USB Female】 for Apple Watch Ultra 8 9,iPhone 15 Pro Max 14 13 12,AirPods,OTG Adapt USB to USB C-Black : Cell Phones & Accessories

Windows 10 is on a separate PC. I had to do that because of what happened before.

I did not have a second hard drive when I attempted the many repairs of the startup. I only installed a second hard drive to install windows 7 so I could obtain the data from the first hard drive. The first hard drive has programs that cannot be replaced.

I have followed all the steps previously laid out for me.

Right now, I am sick due to allergies. I need access to my Windows 7 to get work done.

Thank you.

- - - Updated - - -

SIW2 said:

at admin cmd prompt type:

bcdboot e:\windows
(then press enter)
bcdboot e:\windows /s f:
(then press enter)
bootsect /nt60 all /mbr
(then press enter)

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem: ... It does read that File: \windows\System32\DRIVERS\fvevol.sys then Status: 0xc000000f.

I would love to start over, but some of the programs are no longer available or I have lost the keys to them.