Need Help: Fix Boot w/o Optical Drive


  1. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
       #1

    Need Help: Fix Boot w/o Optical Drive


    Hi guys, I would really appreciate help with this, because I'm getting very frustrated. I installed windows 7 ultimate onto drive B using drive A. So now, my system will not boot up if i remove drive A. I assume that the problem has to do with a missing boot file on drive B. I am able to run windows 7 from either drive and access all of the files from either drive. Please tell me how to make my drive able to boot on its own. I cannot use an optical drive, because i dont have one, and I have tried to use the windows repair iso from a USB drive but I wasnt successful.

    CPU: i5 2500k
    Motherboard: MSI PH61A-P35
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #2

    What do you mean by A: & B: Drives.
    A: & B: are Floppy Drives.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Lol I meant A and B just to make it simpler. The drives are really C and F.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #4

    So you have one HD drive, with two partitions,yes.
    &
    you copyed the DVD to partition 1.
    than install Windows to partition 2.

    Take a look at this tutorial:
    USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 222
    Win 7 Ult + Starter, XP Pro +Home, 2kAS, Linux Mint 8, SuperOS
       #5

    Assuming your %windir% is f:\windows (otherwise it should be c: etc)

    From an elevated command prompt run

    bcdboot f:\windows /s f:

    make sure that there is a hidden folder called F:\BOOT that contains the BCD data store and a file F:\BOOTMGR

    Shut down.

    Disconnect the C: drive

    Reboot

    On rebooting the drive should normally assume the C:\ drive letter
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    No, I have two, physical hard disk drives, and i want each one to be able to boot up independently without the other hard disk drive in my system. I think that the USB key idea might work but i would need an iso. file of the windows 7 dvd and i dont have that.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #7

    Install to one HD Drive at a time.

    One Licence key per HD Drive.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Okay I followed "fafhrd"s advice and after entering the command, it said boot files successfully installed. I checked the boot folder and the files are there, but I restarted it with only drive F attached and the same "insert proper boot media" error comes up.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 5
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    If I reinstall windows from the drive that I want to be able to boot up is there any chance that will fix it?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #10

    It would be better to use a USB Pen Drive or DVD Drive.
      My Computer


 

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