Boot Manager Error (Not sure if this is technically a BSOD)

[voiplo]

Win7 delivers newer and missing drivers it wants via Windows Updates. These drivers should have preference unless performance problems point to one specifically.

In WIn8 you don't even interact with drivers - it's all done in the background. These improvements were developed in Win7.

I did not suggest you "format" if rebuilding the MBR doesn't help your boot problem. Formatting is a nearly-insignificant step which would be done by the installer even if you forgot it. I suggested you wipe the HD of code to clear the boot sector.

Read the tutorials provided and feel free to ask back any questions.

In that case, is there a safe way of installing outdated drivers that aren't provided through Windows Updates? SlimDrivers or DriverMax? I would download it from the websites if I knew my exact part numbers, which I don't. Is there a way to find out via other tutorials or programs?

 

[gregrocker]

There shouldn't be any more than one or two drivers not provided by installer and/or Windows Updates after all rounds of Updates are complete.

As it explains in the tutorial you can import those from the Support Downloads webpage for your model device. It seems you have already located these. If need be they can be traced using Hardware Identification. Once installed Windows Updates will scan them to see if it has better ones.

Do not use driver finder programs which are obsolete in Win7.

 

[voiplo]

There shouldn't be any more than one or two drivers not provided by installer and/or Windows Updates after all rounds of Updates are complete.

As it explains in the tutorial you can import those from the Support Downloads webpage for your model device. It seems you have already located these. If need be they can be traced using Hardware Identification. Once installed Windows Updates will scan them to see if it has better ones.

Do not use driver finder programs which are obsolete in Win7.

Target volumes will be updated with BOOTMGR compatible boot code.
The system partition was not found:
The requested system device cannot be found.

I also typed in
bootrec.exe /fixmbr
And it said it was successful. It is still failing.

Edit: Just ran an Elevated Command Prompt and followed the same instructions and it gave me:
\Volume{....}
Updated NFTS filesystem bootcode. The update may be unreliable since the volume could not be locked during the update: Access is denied.
(I believe this is because I'm not in the Windows installation disk and my primary hard drive is active.)
\HD2\DR2
Successfully updated disk bootcode.

Bootcode was successfully updated on all targeted volumes.

 

[gregrocker]

Use the Win7 DVD (provided in reinstall tutorial) System Recovery Options, open a Command Line to use the Bootrec.exe tool which is demonstrated most fully in Steps 1-3 here.

Run a few Startup Repairs while you;re at it to see if it finds anything wrong with the boot config.

 

[voiplo]

Use the Win7 DVD provided in reinstall tutorial.

I did. That first error was with the Win7 DVD. The second edit was while booted up.


Target volumes will be updated with BOOTMGR compatible boot code.
The system partition was not found:
The requested system device cannot be found.

I also typed in
bootrec.exe /fixmbr
And it said it was successful. It is still failing.

This was with the Windows 7 DVD.

After it failed, I tried to do the same outside of the Windows 7 DVD and it passed with:
\Volume{....}
Updated NFTS filesystem bootcode. The update may be unreliable since the volume could not be locked during the update: Access is denied.
(I believe this is because I'm not in the Windows installation disk and my primary hard drive is active.)
\HD2\DR2
Successfully updated disk bootcode.

Bootcode was successfully updated on all targeted volumes.

 

[gregrocker]

So did this resolve your boot issue?

 

[voiplo]

So did this resolve your boot issue?

I tried repairing with Bootrec.exe tool, it said it was successful, but when I typed
bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr
it would tell me
Target volumes will be updated with BOOTMGR compatible boot code.
The system partition was not found:
The requested system device cannot be found.

I browsed the MBR tutorial thread and found a BSOD Guru post the following command line:
bootsect /nt60 all /mbr
So I tried this, it was finally successful, even the drives that wouldn't work with the statement with SYS were restoring now.
When I clicked restart, I got crazy white lines all over my screen, my computer restarted and I saw the boot menu distorted with crazy white lines, I got a BSOD.

 

[gregrocker]

Run Startup Repair to see if it resolves it.

I gave you the exact bootrec commands to run as demonstrated in the link I provided. I don't know why you veered off into comments in a tutorial before trying the steps given by us for your specfic issue.

By this time you could have already had your perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 in place, better than getting a new PC and better than 99% of users will ever have.

 

[voiplo]

Run Startup Repair to see if it resolves it.

I gave you the exact bootrec commands to run as demonstrated in the link I provided. I don't know why you veered off into comments in a tutorial before trying the steps given by us for your specfic issue.

By this time you could have already had your perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 in place, better than getting a new PC and better than 99% of users will ever have.

2 and a half hours ago, I said:
"I also typed in
bootrec.exe /fixmbr
And it said it was successful. It is still failing."

I did not veer off anywhere into comments, I followed the bootrec.exe instructions before you even told me to do them, which I mentioned. I've been trying alternatives in the meantime, since nothing you've suggested has been new to me so far.

 

[gregrocker]

That is only one of the commands. You want most importantly the rebuild commands I linked which back up and then rebuild your BCD:

click to enlarge

Click the links and see what all is involved:

Use the Windows 7 DVD (provided in reinstall tutorial) System Recovery Options, open a Command Line to use the Bootrec.exe tool which is demonstrated most fully in Steps 1-3 here.

 

[voiplo]

That is only one of the commands. You want most importantly the rebuild commands I linked which back up and then rebuild your BCD:

click to enlarge

Click the links and see what all is involved:

Use the Windows 7 DVD (provided in reinstall tutorial) System Recovery Options, open a Command Line to use the Bootrec.exe tool which is demonstrated most fully in Steps 1-3 here.

attrib bcd -s -h -r
Access denied - G:\boot\bcd

ren G:\boot\bcd bcd.old
Access is denied.

Bootrec /rebuildbcd
Scanning
Successful
Add installation to boot list?
Element not found no matter what I type here.

 

[voiplo]

Let my computer idle overnight. Woke up and my second monitor was in powersave mode, but my main monitor was not (it was on), it was hanging at a black screen and my keyboard and mouse were not doing anything to change it. Not sure if it shows up in a BSOD report.

 

[gregrocker]

Back up your files and wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command

Then Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Same steps for retail. Stick with the tools and methods given and you'll get and keep a perfect install.

 

[voiplo]

About 4-5 hours into the reinstall, got an unexpected BSOD, weird buzzing sound from it and the BSOD hanged at
Collecting data for crash dump... Initializing disk for crash dump...
So I never got a dmp file out of it.
The BSOD was during a spyware scan.

 

[gregrocker]

Test your HD with maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, followed by Disk Check if necessary from the installer's Command Line.

Next test your RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 5-6 passes or overnight.

Have you completed all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates with reboots. Are any devices still missing drivers in Device Manager?

 

[voiplo]

Test your HD with maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, followed by Disk Check if necessary from the installer's Command Line.

Next test your RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 5-6 passes or overnight.

Have you completed all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates with reboots. Are any devices still missing drivers in Device Manager?

100% updated, no missing drivers in Device Manager, no drivers with the yellow exclamation point, etc. I will try the two links.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you replace any drivers given by installer or Windows Updates besides Standard VGA display?

 

[voiplo]

Test your HD with maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan, followed by Disk Check if necessary from the installer's Command Line.

Next test your RAM - Test with Memtest86+ for 5-6 passes or overnight.

Have you completed all rounds of Important and Optional Windows Updates with reboots. Are any devices still missing drivers in Device Manager?

If you cannot locate a test for your hard drive - run the Hitachi DFT (for older systems designed for IDE drives - primarily XP and earlier) or the Seagate SeaTools (for newer systems designed for SATA drives - primarily Vista and later).

My primary drive is an SSD, will the Seagate SeaTools still work despite saying designed for newer SATA drives?

Edit: No, I didn't replace any drives other than my GTX 460 VGA.

 

[voiplo]

Did you replace any drivers given by installer or Windows Updates besides Standard VGA display?

I have not replaced any drivers.

The HD diagnostic passed with no errors, along with MEMTEST. Could the BSOD just have been bad luck? What was the error code on it, I had never seen it before compared to the other errors and BSODs I've had.

 

[gregrocker]

Work through these Troubleshooting Steps for Windows 7 to check it out, gather clues and learn more about your PC and the way to troubleshoot it.