\Boot\BCD error, Windows 7

Hi,

As of last night I've had this error come up whenever I start my PC.

Code:

Windows Boot Manage

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix this problem:

1. Insert your Windows installation disc and restart your computer.
2. Choose your language settings, and then click "Next."
3. Click "Repair your computer."

If you do not have this disc, contact your system administrator or computer manufacturer for assistance.

File: \Boot\BCD
Status: 0xc0000001
Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

Now I tried booting Windows 7 from an ISO located on a flash drive but it never got past the Windows Starting logo and would just turn off my computer. I also don't have the disc because I upgraded from Vista to Windows 7 Professional x64 through the MSDNAA promotion for students last year. It was a digital copy which ironically is stuck on my slave drive. Does anyone know what else I can do? I was thinking about downloading a free OS (Linux) and trying to use that to replace the missing file. I have two hard drives in there, however both have data on them. I would prefer to not lose any, but my slave drive doesn't have all that much data on it that wouldn't be world ending if I lost it. Would this work or will I have to head out and buy a copy of Windows 7?

alucrid,

Lad, lad. Why didn't you make a system repair disk?

With a system repair disk, you can boot from the system repair disk and most probably solve your problem.

As a quick easy fix, I suggest you go over to a friends house with a blank cd/dvd in hand (cd is big enough).

Friend must also have 64 bit (not 32 bit) system,
follow following procedure to make yourself a system repair disk.

CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISK

START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disk button

GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING A SYSTEM REPAIR DISK

1) Make a System Repair Disk (WIN key| type Create System Repair Disk | ENTER key)
2) Insert System Repair Disk into optical reader.
3) Shutdown your computer.
4) Boot up your computer from the System Repair Disk (if needed, Power on button, immediately hit F2 key, change boot order to have boot from cd/dvd first).
5) Wait while a mini-version of Windows is loaded and finally the System Recovery Options dialog appears.
6) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog |
will show Select a keyboard input method |
NEXT button
7) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog
will search your system for installed versions of Windows.
8) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog |
select the Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows radio button |
NEXT button
9) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS |
will show Choose a recovery tool and list the following |
System Repair
System Restore
System Image Recovery
Windows Memory Diagnostic
Command Prompt
10) Click on command prompt | run any desired commands | type EXIT when finished
11) Remove the System Repair Disk CD
12) SHUTDOWN button
13) Power On your computer

I'll try this, I believe someone in my house has a laptop with a Windows 7 x64 version on it. Thanks. However, I just tried installing ubuntu on my slave drive through a CD and my computer restarts shortly after it boots through the disc and ends up in a loop until I manually shut it down. Could it possible be related to hardware rather than software? I just installed a new graphics card which possibly might be putting strain on my PSU. However I was using it just fine for two days before this happen though...I'll try your method first and see how that goes though before doing any more speculation. Thanks again.

Okay, I boot the system from the disk, Windows loads the files, Windows starts to the green loading bar with the "copy right Microsoft organization", computer shuts down and restarts itself. So I'm guessing this has something to do with hardware instead.

alucrid,

To help you fill out your "system specs", following is very useful:
SPECCY- System Information Tool
http://www.piriform.com/speccy

Operating System, CPU and Temp, Ram, Motherboard, Graphics, Hard Drives, Optical Drives, Audio, Peripherals, Network info.
Simply put—this is the best and it’s free!

If you have a External HD, you could copy & paste your data.
Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

Press the F8 key repeatedly at boot up or use the Startup disk.

Try this:

Startup Repair
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.

System Repair Disc - Create
System Recovery Options
System Restore
Repair Install

I can't use that program since I can't use my computer, however I do remember what I used to build it.

Windows 7 Professional x64
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
At the BIOS the CPU is at 45 C
2x G.SKILL 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Foxconn P45A-S LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
Gigabyte GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x 15 HDCP
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
Seagate Barracuda 7200 ST3160812A 160 GBs
LG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech Black SATA Model GH20NS15
Rosewill RP500-2 500W ATX12V v2.01 Power Supply

theog said:

If you have a External HD, you could copy & paste your data.
Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console

Press the F8 key repeatedly at boot up or use the Startup disk.

Try this:

Startup Repair
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.

System Repair Disc - Create
System Recovery Options
System Restore
Repair Install

Unfortunately there isn't a repair option for me. I've already tried safe mode which just comes up with a black screen and cursor, and the other options lead to the same result of the computer restarting a few second after the loading bar appears.

alucrid,

I'm a llittle confused here.

If you boot from the system repair disk,
then
are you not choosing the 'System Repair" option from that list of possibilities?

Also read the links referenced by theoog.

Pity that you didn't use Windows 7 Backup & Restore feature to create a system image on an external drive but that's water under the bridge now.

Alucrid,

Did you or did you not

1. insert the system repair disk,
2. turn off computer,
3. boot up computer (be sure you changed to boot 1st from dvd),

This should work regardless of what's happened on your hard drives, why?

You are booting from a DVD.

karlsnooks said:

Alucrid,

Did you or did you not

1. insert the system repair disk,
2. turn off computer,
3. boot up computer (be sure you changed to boot 1st from dvd),

This should work regardless of what's happened on your hard drives, why?

You are booting from a DVD.

I am booting from the repair disc, then pressing F8 to get the list to come up, but for whatever reason the Repair option isn't appearing.

stop pressing the f8 key.

Just wait and you'll see some options.

I'm goiing to boot up once again from the repair disk myself to try to understand why we are not getting to the necessary place.