Deleted System Reserved Partition

WtFidgE · 06 Jan 2012

Hey guys, I accidently deleted my system reserved partition

I only have one system installed on my pc, so no dual boot is needed or anything, I think it created a seperate system partition because of a windows.old folder, which has already been deleted now, because it took too much space.

So now when I start up my pc i get the error that my bootmgr is missing.

I tried repairing it by inserting the windows 7 dvd and using the repair, but when I click on windows 7 and i try to repair it it says it's the wrong version of windows. My language settings are set correctly so that's not the problem.

I then tried to do it by pressing shift + f10 to get into the command line and using the following commands:

Bootrec.exe /FixMbr
Bootrec.exe /FixBoot
Bootrec.exe /ScanOs
Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd

however the scanos and rebuildbcd can't find any windows installation..

If i put in my windows 7 dvd and i startup my pc, it works fine, because it then uses the bootmgr from the win7 dvd. So I thought, let's just copy the bootmgr.exe to my windows. But this didn't work either.

So how do I fix my problem? Is there a way to create a new system reserved partition with the correct bootconfiguration?

I've been surfing through the web but couldn't find any other solutions

Thanks

seavixen32 · 06 Jan 2012

Check this tutorial on how to run a Startup Repair.

Startup Repair

You may need to run it three times with a reboot between each one.

You can also use this tutorial to create a system reserved partition if you prefer this method.

System Reserved : Create Using Disk Management

The Windows.old folder will have been created when you upgraded to Windows 7.

Lemur · 06 Jan 2012

Weird. Can you copy the bootrec file? We had someone earlier that messed with the partition, ended up with a missing bootmgr, and solved it by copying the bootrec.

Solidwave · 06 Jan 2012

The system reserved partition is completely unrelated to the windows.old folder created when upgrading from earlier versions of Windows. Deleting windows.old shouldn't have caused this.

Boot to a command line using your windows DVD. Run diskpart and then type "list partition" at the DISKPART> prompt. Write down or photograph the results and post here.

gregrocker · 06 Jan 2012

You must mark the Win7 partition Active before running Startup Repair 3 separate times.
Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)
Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

You can get a visual picture of this using free Partition Wizard bootable CD, rightclick Win7 to Modify>Set to Active, then click on Disk # to highlight it, from Disk tab select Rebuild MBR, Apply - this may preclude the need to run the Repairs. You can also post back a camera snap if there are any probs.

Are you trying to boot your Win7 Installation DVD or System Repair Disk?
Tell us the licensed version on your COA sticker and we will provide an ISO file to burn to DVD to use for Repairs or if necessary Clean Reinstalling Windows 7

wanchoo · 07 Jan 2012

In my opinion the best way is to start all over again. Use a good Partition Manager's Booting Disk and create/resize all the partitions as you want without leaving any unallocated space and the Drive C preferably in the beginning and primary and active.

Then insert your Windows 7 installation DVD and the OS shall get installed on C Drive without an accompanying System Reserved Petition. Take its image and preserve it carefully as a matter of abundant precaution for use, if required, in the future. After that carry on as usual and install all the third party programs.

Fred Langa wrote an article a long time back that I have carefully preserved, regarding how to install Windows XP properly (http://www.informationweek.com/news/12803122). It is named "Langa's Letter: System Setup Secrets for Windows XP July 28, 2003" and what he said for XP then is equally valid for Windows 7 today. I have followed his advise meticulously on my machines and dozens of other machines of friends and relatives from XP to 7 and there has never been a problem to the best of my knowledge.

WtFidgE · 08 Jan 2012

@seavixen32: the problem is, like i said, I can't get passed selecting the windows because it says my version is wrong. And I tried creating a new system reserved partition, but the guide just shows how to make an empty 200mb partition named "system reserved"...
@lemur: bootrec file? u mean bootmgr file?

@gregrocker: the partition was already marked as active

And I'm booting my win7 DVD. My pc has been running for a long time using this windows. But last week i had to reinstall and then I accidently deleted the partition, so it's definitely the correct dvd ^^

gregrocker · 08 Jan 2012

You'll need a Win7 installer with SP1 for repairs or reinstallation which is why I specifically asked you which is your licensed version on the COA sticker.

AddRAM · 08 Jan 2012

Through trial and error last night ( marking C active etc. ) I was able to produce that same incompatable version error message, using the service pack 1 disc. I then dropped in my pre service pack 1 disc and windows was repaired after only 1 pass.

skan · 11 Mar 2013

Hello.

I would also like to create the 100MB system partition.
I cannot use the automated windows installation to do it because my Windows is located on an external disk and common installation and repair methods refuse to work on USB drives.
(I previously installed it with the deployment tool imagex, before I created a primary partition manually, leaving 100MB of unallocated space)
It works right but it hasn't created the 100MB System reserved partition.
Everything has been installed on to the C: partition instead.

How can I manually create that partition or how can I get Windows to use the unallocated space for it?
I cannot see the option to "tag" a partition as "system" (keeping it hidden and not primary) on diskpart or Easeus partition master.

Thanks