No OS installed, need to do a factory restore.

[jmanwithplan]

Vista install disc doesn't seem to do anything. It acts like there is no CD in there, even though I have it set to read the CD first before hard disk.

 

[Kaktussoft]

yes.

you have vista install disk?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Vista install disc doesn't seem to do anything. It acts like there is no CD in there, even though I have it set to read the CD first before hard disk.

Sure it's a vista install disk? Change BIOS and set CD/DVD as first boot device!!
Does it also not work on VISTA machine itself?

 

[jmanwithplan]

It works on vista machine, but doesn't work with windows 7 machine.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Vista install disc doesn't seem to do anything. It acts like there is no CD in there, even though I have it set to read the CD first before hard disk.

Select in BIOS (problem machine) to ONLY boot from CD. Just as a test. Does it boot from CD? If not what error message? Try again withoud DVD inserted. What error?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Yes, I just found that out. I'm thinking about purchasing it. It's a lot cheaper than having a professional look at it. I'm sure there is another solution to make an ISO bootable from a USB.

sure there is!! But the problem is:

• It's an image meant to be on CD/DVD. So the program knows how to lookup files on CD/DVD file system. So not on NTFS or FAT32 file system.
• It does support more file systems for it's own files to lookup. Probably it's linux (?) So it must be a linux partition. maybe ext3, ext4 type(?)
• partition boot sector must load the correct file!! the linux bootmgr.

It's not as easy as you think!

 

[jmanwithplan]

With vista CD in the drive, and CD set to the only boot priority (the others disabled) I get the message - "no boot device available, press f1 to reboot, press f2 to enter setup) Without the CD, I get the same message.

It's weird though. I tried a paragon recovery disc, and it worked, and a windows 8 disc worked a little bit, and a ubuntu disc worked, but they only worked once and then they didn't work.

 

[jmanwithplan]

And about ISOs being booted from a USB - It has something to do with writing a MBR to the USB. There is a program I tried before that did it. And I also did it with Joli OS - which is linux. I forget the name of the dang program!

This other program you mentioned is just for burning windows 7

 

[Kaktussoft]

With vista CD in the drive, and CD set to the only boot priority (the others disabled) I get the message - "no boot device available, press f1 to reboot, press f2 to enter setup) Without the CD, I get the same message.

It's weird though. I tried a paragon recovery disc, and it worked, and a windows 8 disc worked a little bit, and a ubuntu disc worked, but they only worked once and then they didn't work.

When did you do that? Now none of them work? always "no boot device available" now?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Does CD/DVD spin? So it has power? Try to boot from CD/DVD and the after "no boot device available" it says press f1 to reboot. press f1 then. Does it work then?

 

[jmanwithplan]

When I first started troubleshooting. Yes, none of them say no boot device available.

 

[Kaktussoft]

And about ISOs being booted from a USB - It has something to do with writing a MBR to the USB. There is a program I tried before that did it. And I also did it with Joli OS - which is linux. I forget the name of the dang program!

This other program you mentioned is just for burning windows 7

Not the MBR! the mbr on disk just starts the bootsector of first active primary partition on th disk. You mean the right bootsector has to be placed on that partition. And all files place on that partition. (first make partition ext3 or ext4 or so)

you mean UNetbootin - Homepage and Downloads ?

 

[jmanwithplan]

Yes, I get the same message. I can hear it spinning, and there is a green light on the CD/dvd drive. It wouldn't work before if I just rebooted, but it would work If I turned it off while the CD was still in the drive and turned it back on. Now that doesn't work.

 

[Kaktussoft]

When I first started troubleshooting. Yes, none of them say no boot device available.

But does it spin (so power is available)? Is data cable inserted fine (both on mainboard and dvd drive itself)? difficult to see anyway if it's a laptop

 

[Kaktussoft]

Yes, I get the same message. I can hear it spinning, and there is a green light on the CD/dvd drive. It wouldn't work before if I just rebooted, but it would work If I turned it off while the CD was still in the drive and turned it back on. Now that doesn't work.

very strange if that's true. It should work on reboot and cold boot. reboot is even more likely to work as it is spinning already then.

Maybe cable problem (not inserted nicely). Just let's wait till win7 download iso finishes downloading (how long still)?

How many partitions are still on harddisk? only recovery partition?

 

[jmanwithplan]

about 20 minutes left.

 

[Kaktussoft]

But are win8, win7 and or ubuntu partitions still on that harddrive? Or did you format them? or deleted them?

 

[jmanwithplan]

(from my memory) There is an OEM partition that is 39 MB ( I guess that is the bios files ? ) There is the recovery partition, which is 14 GB, there is the OS installation partition which was formatted (and split) So it's 250 GB, and the other is 250 GB.

 

[jmanwithplan]

I was never able to instal windows 8 but I was able to use the recovery tools in the CD to format C:, but the ubuntu installation froze up (a problem related to drivers I believe - it wasn't compatible with my computer)

The reason I formatted C: was because I figured I could somehow get to the advanced boot options to do a factory install.

 

[Kaktussoft]

so OEM partition. very small, probably windows 7 speical drivers for laptop hardware.
RECOVERY partition to go back to factory settings.

And 2 Other partitions. Both about 250GB. Both 250GB have been formatted. So totally empty now? No important files, and windows stuff on it. Please confirm

If you reboot you still see message "bootmgr missing"? If so, most likely one of the 250GB partitions has been marked active