I was being prompted to "press any key"....maybe it is a bad cd, but I had just made it using recdisc.exe. I'm going to download a windows 7 install iso and burn it, maybe it will let me into the system recovery options, if not i'll do the clean install with diskpart clean first
Do you get a window that has the option to repair your computer while running the disk ?
You can see it on the 2nd picture under step #4 in this tutorial.
Clean Install Windows 7
no, i only get 3 options. Recover windows to this partition. Recover windows to entire HD, and Recover windows to a new partition and leave a blank Partition (paraphrased, but that was the gist)
If you can boot into Windows try easybcd: EasyBCD - NeoSmart Technologies
The free version is hidden at the bottom.
Did you make the repair cd from your pc ? I think I remember seeing somewhere that if you make a repair cd from a pc with a factory recovery partition, your repair cd will not have that option. If you download the iso and burn it, it probably will give you the option. Someone help me out here.
Just IMd Greg, maybe he will jump in.
You should be able to restore the vista/7 bootloader with easybcd.
Yes i did create it from the pc i'm trying to work on, maybe thats it. Well i'm gonna download a windows 7 install iso and burn it, see if that works, i'll let you guys know. I really appreacate all the help but i'm done for the night with it. internet where i am right now is pretty bad so it's gonna be a bit til i can get that ISO
The System Recovery Options are a part of the OS residing in a folder on C, not part of the OEM Factory Recovery which lives on its partition. The OEM only adds a hotlink on the Options to run its Recovery, which can also sometimes be made to autostart by setting it Active and rebooting.
Recovery Options are accessed on the Advanced Boot Options via the F8 menu at boot, or from the DVD or Repair CD. In your case it appears the disk isn't booting, that somehow Recovery has been marked Active so it will boot instead of C. This can be checked using PW CD.
Try booting into Recovery Options from F8, then from the DVD.
Do I need to burn partition wizard to a cd if i can boot into windows and just run it? because thats what i've done now and it does not show the recovery partition as active. Also, I have tried the F8 menu in boot, and when I select the repair option, again, all it does is boot directly into the recovery partition.
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