Solved Accidentally formatted UEFI System Partition, now Windows won't boot.

[epic93]

Is there any way I can restore what was in that partition?

 

[theog]

   Information

We always assume you have made your Recovery Disks using the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Media Creator app the first day you had your new PC.​

& made the Startup Repair CD.
startup repair disc-create ​

Did you make the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disks?

You can Order ASUS recovery disks from here:
http://us.estore.asus.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=2860


Using the Start up disk.

Try doing a start up repair:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html?ltr=S
Note: You may need to do start up repair 3 to 4 times.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

 

[epic93]

No, but I'm downloading a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64 from digitalriver so I can try using its boot repair option. Is there a way to put that ISO on a USB drive so I can UEFI boot the installation/recovery?

 

[theog]

   Information

Boot up using the Startup Repair CD or Windows 7 DVD. (not the OEM manufacturer's Recovery Disk) If you have a Netbook, you will need a CD/DVD drive.
NOTE: Make sure no USB drives are plugged in.
Do not use a USB Pendrive for Startup Repair.
startup repair disc-create
​

Windows Vista or Windows 7 no longer starts, and the Startup Repair tool does not fix the problem

You need to boot the windows 7 x64 CD/DVD in UEFI mode.

 

[epic93]

I don't have the windows DVD.

Can I download and burn one from here?

 

[theog]

No, but I'm downloading a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 64 from digitalriver so I can try using its boot repair option. Is there a way to put that ISO on a USB drive so I can UEFI boot the installation/recovery?

I don't have the windows DVD.

Can I download and burn one from here?

Yes, you can.

 

[epic93]

Which one should I download?

 

[gregrocker]

I would boot the flash stick installer or DVD created from Win7 Home Premium x64 SP1 English Official ISO download to try running Startup Repair.

Recreate the partition NTFS Primary first to see if the repair utility will rewrite the UEFI boot partition. Let us know how this works.

It's not correct that Win7 will not repair from a flash stick. I've done it many times.

If necessary to reinstall then follow the steps in UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums.

You can access your files to copy them out using Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console .

In addition look over these steps for getting a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which compile everything that must be backed up first and the tools and methods which work best to get and keepa perfect install.

 

[epic93]

I'm having trouble downloading it from that site, are there any mirrors or torrents (of THAT EXACT ISO, not pirated/cracked copy)?

 

[gregrocker]

No. What is the problem?

Try another browser.

 

[theog]

I'm having trouble downloading it from that site, are there any mirrors or torrents (of THAT EXACT ISO, not pirated/cracked copy)?

If you can not download the ISO, order the official ASUS Recovery DVD.

You can Order ASUS recovery disks from here:
Essentio Recovery Software

 

[epic93]

Thanks for all your help, guys!

That things operational!

In case anyone else makes a similar mistake to what I did...
Problem: Formatted UEFI/EFI System Partition as something else

Solution (only valid for 64 bit Windows as 32 bit does not use UEFI as far as I know)
Download Windows 7 image from this page. Download this ISO if you were using Windows 7 Home Premium like I was.

When I tried to download it with Chrome, that didn't work. I used firefox to download it successfully, but your experience may be different. If it isn't 3.1 GB after you've downloaded it, try a different browser!

Write that ISO to a usb drive with RUFUS (make sure that partition scheme and target system type is set to "gpt partition scheme for UEFI computer")

Boot from that USB

Once it's booted it'll have a language choice. Click Next.

Click on Repair.

Now, it'll suggest a repair for you. Cancel that and click on Startup Repair.

And there you go, it'll fix that UEFI/EFI System partition and get you booting again!

 

[gregrocker]

That's the exact thing I suggested above:

I would boot the flash stick installer or DVD created from Win7 Home Premium x64 SP1 English Official ISO download to try running Startup Repair.

Did you have to pre-format the UEFI boot partition you deleted too as I also suggested?

Recreate the partition NTFS Primary first to see if the repair utility will rewrite the UEFI boot partition. Let us know how this works.

Thanks for confirming this as well:

It's not correct that Win7 will not repair from a flash stick. I've done it many times.

 

[aRoBB]

I know it's been awhile since anyone posted on this thread but I had to say "thank you sooooo much!! I've been working on this problem for a couple of days now and I just came across this solution a little over an hour ago and now my problem is solved.