Windows 7: GRUB bootloader problems

authorandrew · 28 Dec 2011

Hello,
This is a very urgent thread as this is my primary laptop and I need to be able to boot into windows ASAP. My friend installed Linux mint as a dual boot partition on my HP laptop alongside Windows 7. The installation went fine, but I wasn't happy he'd done so and tried to uninstall it.

Tutorials on the internet assured me I could use a Windows XP Cd (even with a windows 7 installed), and run fixmbr and the problems with GRUB would be solved. Only problem being the XP cd doesn't work; it gives me an error once it has finished loading its files.

How can I get the boot manager back? I also can't open the HP recovery partition because of the GRUB bootloader, which fails to recognize anything now that I've deleted the Linux partition. It seems to me I should have tried to delete GRUB before the partition, but blame the stupid tutorials for that, and my noobishness.

Anyways, any and all help as soon as possible is appreciated. Many thanks!

Andrew

Sardonicus · 28 Dec 2011

This may help.
Download EasyBCD 2.1.2 - NeoSmart Technologies
EasyBCD Download Registration Page — NeoSmart Technologies

gregrocker · 28 Dec 2011

Mark Win7 partition Active from the System Recovery Options Command Line: Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)

Then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 starts on its own and holds the System Active flags again.

You may have ruined the hotlink to run HP Factory Recovery and will need to use Recovery Disks to recover to Factory Condition. If you failed to make these disks when setting up your computer you can order them from HP Tech Support.

Or clean reinstall using a Win7 Installation DVD which is a vastly superior install without the huge load of HP factory preinstalled bloatware: Reinstalling Windows 7

authorandrew · 29 Dec 2011

Hello all,
Thank you for your links. I managed to restore the MBR through a Linux Mint live CD, so all is good. Thank you again!

Andrew

theog · 29 Dec 2011

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?

How to make HP Recovery DVD disks:
Recover Windows Vista Operating System Using HP Recovery - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

How to make HP Recovery USB disk:
Creating a Recovery Disk on a USB Flash Disk HP Pavilion dv6700z CTO Entertainment Notebook PC - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

or
You can Order HP Recovery Disks from here:
Compaq Mini CQ10-500 PC series*-* HP Notebook PCs - Order Recovery Discs for Windows 7, Vista, or XP - c00810334 - HP Business Support Center