Partition table lost after Hibernate

[nabilalk]

Hey all,
Strange thing happened. After my last hibernate, Windows will not boot. After a few attempts to fix via Safemode, Hiren’s boot CD with MBR utilities, and a startup repair, my Win 7 partition is no longer listed in the MBR.

How can I get it back, or should I just reformat?

 

[lorddenis]

can you run windows in "Save Mode" ?

 

[nabilalk]

can you run windows in "Save Mode" ?

nope. Can I use a bootCD like Hiren's or a Live CD to access cmd and go that route?

 

[Francis93]

Reboot your PC. Press and hold down F8 until you see the Advanced Boot Options screen. Choose the option 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'. Enter the commands once you're in.

 

[lorddenis]

Found this article:
Partition recovery - understanding and recovering partitions.

maybe that will help you.

 

[nabilalk]

Reboot your PC. Press and hold down F8 until you see the Advanced Boot Options screen. Choose the option 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'. Enter the commands.

F8 won't get me into safe mode. How else can I get in?

Update: Ok, I'm into Safe mode with command via (F4).

What directory do I need to enter these commands into, because I keep getting a cmd"is not recognized as an internal or external command..." error. I have tried in C:\, C:\Windows\System32

also, some people have listed the commands on here as Bootrec and some with bootrec. Which is correct?

 

[Francis93]

Reboot your PC. Press and hold down F8 until you see the Advanced Boot Options screen. Choose the option 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'. Enter the commands.

F8 won't get me into safe mode. How else can I get in?

You can try Hiren's BootCD if there are no other options. There are Master Boot Record (MBR) tools included in the disc.

 

[nabilalk]

Reboot your PC. Press and hold down F8 until you see the Advanced Boot Options screen. Choose the option 'Safe Mode with Command Prompt'. Enter the commands.

F8 won't get me into safe mode. How else can I get in?

You can try Hiren's BootCD if there are no other options. There are Master Boot Record (MBR) tools included in the disc.

first post updated with progress

 

[nabilalk]

Rebuild MBR

Hi All,

For some unknown reason I have lost my MBR and Windows won't start

The partitions I have are:

Disk 0 Partition 1: System Reserved 100MB
Disk 0 Partition 2: Windows partition 50.8GB
Disk 0 Partition 3: Docs 247.2GB

Disk 1 Partition 1: Backup

How can I get Windows to recognize Disk 0 Partition 2 as the Windows partition and boot off that? Do I have to reformat?

I have Hiren's bootCD if anyone knows how I can use it, or I can rebuild the MBR from scratch, just could use some help.

Thanks!

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello nabilalk.





Before we make any specific recommendations will you please post a snip/screen-shot of the entire disk management drive map with a full description as to which drive/partition is which, so we can see what you have going on as there may be a fairly simple way to resolve the situation.

In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a snip of that.

How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Seven Forums

 

[nabilalk]

Hello nabilalk.





Before we make any specific recommendations will you please post a snip/screen-shot of the entire disk management drive map with a full description as to which drive/partition is which, so we can see what you have going on as there may be a fairly simple way to resolve the situation.

In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a snip of that.

How to Upload and Post a Screenshot and File in Seven Forums

I can't boot into Windows so I can't take a screen. But I did type in everything in the drive map. When I try to go back into Safemode I'm now getting a BOOTMGR is missing error.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

OK, I wasn't sure the snip just makes it easier to 'see' what's going on.



The issue is the partition that that you need to create the new boot files to has to be marked as "Active" so the repair utility will know where to create the new boot files to.

Is there a reason you don't want the "System Reserved" partition to continue as the boot partition as it was originally created for?

 

[nabilalk]

OK, I wasn't sure the snip just makes it easier to 'see' what's going on.



The issue is the partition that that you need to create the new boot files to has to be marked as "Active" so the repair utility will know where to create the new boot files to.

Is there a reason you don't want the "System Reserved" partition to continue as the boot partition as it was originally created for?

Oh that would be fine. I was under the impression the Windows partition was the one that needed to be made active. How do I accomplish this? I'm in the Win 7 installation DVD now and have access to the command line.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have a look at Option Two to start in this tutorial at the link below.

Do use the "System, Reserved" partition as that's what it's for.


Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

 

[nabilalk]

Have a look at Option Two to start in this tutorial at the link below.

Do use the "System, Reserved" partition as that's what it's for.


Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

@ the "list partition" cmd step.

The 100MB system partition that should be listed as Partition 1 of Disk 0 is missing. There is only 1 partition listed and its 298GB. Which is strange since in the drive map I posted, there was a 100MB system partition when I went to the Windows install menu. I have noticed that when using other disk partition tools, like Gparted, only the 298 GB partition was listed and only disk 0 was listed. When I went to the Win 7 install menu, 2 disks were listed and all of the partitions for each.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

OK then see if you can mark the Windows Disk 0 partition 2 as active and do the 3 startup repairs talked about in the tutorial to get it booting; any idea what may have happened, just because I'm curious?

 

[nabilalk]

OK then see if you can mark the Windows Disk 0 partition 2 as active and do the 3 startup repairs talked about in the tutorial to get it booting; any idea what may have happened, just because I'm curious?

In diskpart, only disk 0 is listed and only 1 partition the 298GB one. Should I mark that as active?

As to what caused this no idea. Last night i was using my computer, I hibernated it, and when I started it this morning, it wouldn't boot.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Sorry about that mate, I realized that after I posted.


Mark that as active and see if that will do it, don't forget to do the startup repairs.

 

[nabilalk]

Sorry about that mate, I realized that after I posted.


Mark that as active and see if that will do it, don't forget to do the startup repairs.

Which startup repairs are you specifically referencing? I dont want to make another mistake, so just checking to be absolutely sure.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Take the time to read this entire tutorial.


Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times