Windows 7 will not boot after formatting Windows XP partition

inikay · 11 Dec 2011

Hi!

I had a computer with windows XP in an older Hard Drive and Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit on a newer one. Windows 7 was installed after windows XP.

On startup, I got the dual boot screen, and I could choose between both.

I didn't want the old windows XP, so I formatted that old Drive (using minitool partition wizard). Result: no boot now from windows 7... I read on Microsoft website that I shouldn't have done that, since the PC uses the startup files from the older operative system to start the computer on a dual boot.

Now, what can I do to make my Windows 7 installation work? The Hard Drive has everything untouched, of course, and all my files are there. I can always install it again and move my files, but that's a lot of work.

Is there any solution?

Thanks.

theog · 11 Dec 2011

As your HD set up is about the same, have look at my post here:
Follow this base tutorial:
Help me get windows 7 to boot (again)

inikay · 11 Dec 2011

Thanks, Theog. I don't know if this applies, as I had XP on the original one and not 2 HD with W7 like you did, but I will give it a try tomorrow and will let you know if it worked.

whs · 11 Dec 2011

You clobbered your bootmgr by deleting the XP partition. Run this program (it is the last entry on the webpage) which you have to burn to a CD and load from the CD reader (do not forget to change the boot sequence in the BIOS unless the CD reader is set as first already).

Once PW ("this program") is loaded, highlight your Win7 partition and make it "active - the control is under the Partition tab > Modify. Make sure there is no other active partition on the drive, else deactivate that other partition. And do not forget the APPLY which on the bottom left.

Now you can rebuild your bootmgr like this: Bootmgr is missing - Fix

theog · 11 Dec 2011

Did make sure you mark the old Win XP HD Drive INACTIVE:
Partition - Mark as Inactive

gregrocker · 11 Dec 2011

Boot the Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk,
press Shift + F10 at first screen to access Command Prompt,
mark Win7 partition Active: Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)

Next unplug the XP HD, move Win7 into DISK0 position if it's not, make sure it is set first to boot in BIOS setup.

Now boot the WIn7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Timesto write the System boot files to Win7 until it starts on its own.

inikay · 19 Dec 2011

Thanks, whs! PC is now up and running.

Set the W7 partition as active with PW, then I used Startup Repair, but it didn't work.

Went manual, but, for some reason, the last command failed.

Ran Startup repair once more and worked nicely

Thanks for your help and everybody else who contributed as well.

gregrocker · 19 Dec 2011

This is why Startup Repair often needs to be run more than once, after you confirm the Active partition.

whs · 19 Dec 2011

inikay said:

Thanks, whs! PC is now up and running.

Set the W7 partition as active with PW, then I used Startup Repair, but it didn't work.

Went manual, but, for some reason, the last command failed.

Ran Startup repair once more and worked nicely

Thanks for your help and everybody else who contributed as well.

Good. I am glad we could help. Stick around. There is a lot of exciting stuff going on here.