Boot configuation problem, but my CD drive is broken

capetonian · 14 Aug 2015

This is the error message:

Windows Boot Manager Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the 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 Status: 0xc000000f Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

My CD drive is broken so I cannot use a recovery disc.
Please advise what I can do.

Many thanks

Arc · 14 Aug 2015

Do you have access to any other computer right now? If so, make a bootable flash drive.

https://rufus.akeo.ie/

capetonian · 14 Aug 2015

sorry, I am a bit confused. Yes I have access to another computer.

Arc · 14 Aug 2015

capetonian said:

sorry, I am a bit confused. Yes I have access to another computer.

capetonian said:

Status: 0xc000000f Info: An error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data.

Status 0xc000000f means {File Not Found} The file %hs does not exist. STATUS_NO_SUCH_FILE

And, the missing file is some of the boot files, so the computer is not booting up.

To make it bootable again, you need to use either the installation media or the recovery media. And as the CD drive is broken, the alternative way to use the media is a USB flash stick. Rufus (linked in my earlier post) will guide you to make a bootable USB flash drive.

The process you need to follow is.....

Make it sure that the 100 MB System Reserved partition is marked as active. Partition - Mark as Active
Run Startup Repair for three separate times, with restarts after every single run. Startup Repair: Run three separate times.

Make the bootable flash drive in the other computer and use it in the computer under discussion.

OK now?

capetonian · 14 Aug 2015

will try this and get back to you

capetonian · 15 Aug 2015

i used my external hard drive to save the rufus program. I marked the partition as active.
I don't understand the next step. Please explain.

capetonian · 15 Aug 2015

i have made the bootable usb disk but when I insert it into the broken computer there is no change

capetonian · 15 Aug 2015

i tried again and it selected the usb disc and said loading windows files but then the screen went black with a white cursor and nothing now happening

Arc · 15 Aug 2015

capetonian said:

i tried again and it selected the usb disc and said loading windows files but then the screen went black with a white cursor and nothing now happening

So it is not coming upto this page?

Do two further things.

1. Test the HDD using Seatools for DOS. Take both the short test and the long test. Let us know the result.

2. Download Partition wizard Bootable CD (the last one in the link). Burn it in a blank CD or in a USB flash stick.

Boot into Partition Wizards GUI following this instructions. When you are on the last screen, take a camera snap of the screen and upload the snap here.
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

We need to see the partitions and parameters.

capetonian · 15 Aug 2015

Before I saw your reply, by pressing shift key when I started it up and then F8 I managed to get it to safe mode and then system recovery options. Startup repair checked for 30 mins with the USB drive inserted and then said "failed to save startup options".
I took out the USB and then selected startup repair again. Now startup repair has been checking for problems for the last hour. Do I just leave it to continue, or should it have found something by now?