Windows boot configuration data file does not contain a valid OS entry

[Kaktussoft]

Yeah looks like it.. just files acer, book, clssetup, engis_drive, intel, oem, perflogs, temp and partition...
still don't understand this....

Looks likes old stuff.

Post #1 says:
No OS files found on disk=> It's a pitty... but true
Repair Action: Partition table repair=>why???? And what did it try to repair
Result: Failed error code 0X490=>quite normal general error message.

So why repair and what did fail. you'll never know.

 

[jdoherty76]

The machine was bought as a vista machine and I purchased a Windows 7 upgrade kit from acer. This has a key on it. I agree the recovery partitions may be vista but I could rebuild as vista and apply the upgrade kit again...I also have some backup disks I made of the system, drivers etc but I believe this was when I purchased the system. so could be vista as well. I also have a full copy of Win 7 pro but I don't think this would work with the upgrade key...

Is there any point in seeing if I could recover anything from this drive..

 

[jdoherty76]

Another mote point if I make the recovery partition an active partition the system tries to boot from this and gives me an option to recover my system. I can only assume to vista? what do you think?
and would utilities like Norton, acronis etc not be able to recover anything from the drives that are wiped..

 

[Kaktussoft]

The machine was bought as a vista machine and I purchased a Windows 7 upgrade kit from acer. This has a key on it. I agree the recovery partitions may be vista but I could rebuild as vista and apply the upgrade kit again...I also have some backup disks I made of the system, drivers etc but I believe this was when I purchased the system. so could be vista as well. I also have a full copy of Win 7 pro but I don't think this would work with the upgrade key...

Is there any point in seeing if I could recover anything from this drive..

What I would do is make a backup of the disk (sector-by-sector backup). Then download and burn a data recovery ISO to DVD and boot from it. Try to recover the things. Good luck with it.

Let this be an expensive lesson for you ... make backups regulary! External disks are very cheap nowadays. No reason to don't backup

 

[Kaktussoft]

Another mote point if I make the recovery partition an active partition the system tries to boot from this and gives me an option to recover my system. I can only assume to vista? what do you think?
and would utilities like Norton, acronis etc not be able to recover anything from the drives that are wiped..

I'm not a recovery expert... make a new thread for it.

Why recover to VISTA? You better clean install win7. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[jdoherty76]

I agree and thank you for all your help. how would I do a sector by sector backup please..

Also what about a rebuild will I go to vista and go forward again?

 

[Kaktussoft]

I agree and thank you for all your help. how would I do a sector by sector backup please..

Also what about a rebuild will I go to vista and go forward again?

Macrium reflect can do it File Size "make an exact copy".

Don't install VISTA... install WIN7

 

[jdoherty76]

Yes I agree re clean install of win 7 but not sure if my upgrade key would work with a full copy of win 7...

 

[jdoherty76]

thank you very much for all your time and trouble to help me with this I do appreciate this very much...

 

[Kaktussoft]

Yes I agree re clean install of win 7 but not sure if my upgrade key would work with a full copy of win 7...

It does. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[jdoherty76]

thank you.. you have been a great help...once I eventually get this up and running I'll need to ensure that I have a backup regime in place.. firstly to buy a big backup hard drive..

 

[jdoherty76]

I'll do as you recommended. I'll backup the drive first and then look for some tool that will be able to see beyond the errors..I'll search around the forums here to see what the best utility would be for this..

 

[jdoherty76]

a quick question how can I use macrium to backup my disk when I cannot boot from the disk..has this program got the ability to access my broken pc from my second pc?

 

[Kaktussoft]

a quick question how can I use macrium to backup my disk when I cannot boot from the disk..has this program got the ability to access my broken pc from my second pc?

Boot from CD/DVD with macrium recovery on it. Then you can backup from internal harddrisk to external disk for example.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

 

[jdoherty76]

Thank you greatly appreciated....

 

[jdoherty76]

Thanks again for all your help it was appreciated...A hard lesson learned eh... I'll sign off now thank you...

 

[magosh]

I had this exact same issue, almost to the letter. The only difference is that I initially had a different error message, but at the end when I was going through my disks, C: was completely empty.

Funny thing is, I was planning on doing a complete backup and upgrading to Windows 10 this weekend. So, if anyone else with this issue finds this thread: before you mess with partitions and start digging around in the BIOS, get the command line up with either a DVD or USB version of Windows, and then type:

c:

Then type

dir

If you see nothing, don't waste your time. Hope you have a recent backup.