"Windows not installed on the drive from which it boots"

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  1. Posts : 207
    Windows XP Professional SP3/Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    "Windows not installed on the drive from which it boots"


    Hi, I'm trying to fully encrypt with Truecrypt the main OS drive but it halts with the following message:
    "Windows does not appear to be installed on the drive from which it boots"
    So this is my setup:
    - I have two physical drives, an SSD drive where Windows 7x64 is installed listed as "C" drive (Disk 0), and a 2nd internal HDD, listed as "E" drive (Disk 1).
    - When I go to Disk Management in Control Panel/Administrative Tools/Computer Management I find what seems to be the culprit preventing Truecrypt from continuing encryption. The C drive is listed as "Boot" drive but not "System" drive, instead drive E is listed as "System" as seen in the screenshot:

    I also noticed that "bootmgr" is located in the E drive and not in the C drive.
    So how can I make the boot drive C also be the System drive?
    Thanks
    Last edited by antares; 29 Sep 2013 at 01:45.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 207
    Windows XP Professional SP3/Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Well, I solved the issue by disconnecting the 2nd drive, doing a startup repair, and then reconnecting the E drive back. The bootmgr file still shows in the E drive's root directory, Can I safely delete it? Thanks.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #3

    It should be fine if you're sure the system boots from the C drive. First mark the E drive Inactive. Only the OS system drive should have the Active flag.
    Partition - Mark as Inactive
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 207
    Windows XP Professional SP3/Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks Britton!
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #5

    You're welcome. :)
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  6.    #6

    Antares, did you try booting from C HD without the other one plugged in? This is how to test it.

    If C is not now marked System Active boot then it still does not have the System boot files onboard as it must to boot itself.

    The way to assure this happens when running Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times
    is to first Mark Partition C Active before unplugging the other HD.

    Then after it boots on its own, plug back in the other HDD making sure Win7 HD remains set first HD to boot in BIOS setup, mark the other HD Inactive per Gary's instruction.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 207
    Windows XP Professional SP3/Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    gregrocker said:
    Antares, did you try booting from C HD without the other one plugged in? This is how to test it.

    If C is not now marked System Active boot then it still does not have the System boot files onboard as it must to boot itself.

    The way to assure this happens when running Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times
    is to first Mark Partition C Active before unplugging the other HD.

    Then after it boots on its own, plug back in the other HDD making sure Win7 HD remains set first HD to boot in BIOS setup, mark the other HD Inactive per Gary's instruction.
    Hi Greg, thanks for your reply. Originally both the C and E drives were marked ACTIVE, the C drive was also BOOT but not SYSTEM, and the E drive was also SYSTEM. The C drive lacked the bootmgr file in the root, but it was present in E's root. I finally solved the issue as I described above, i.e., unplug the E drive, then startup repair C, then plug E back again.
    But the real issue here is that all this should not have happened in the first place, as Acronis True Image Home 2014 cloning process should've automatically detected these settings and make the clone bootable.
      My Computer

  8.    #8

    As long as you tested that the C HD would boot by itself and it is now labeled System Active then it is fine. It would be reassuring to see another screenshot of Disk mgmt.

    The "Boot" flag only means the presently booted OS.
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  9. Posts : 22
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #9

    I was going to say, startup repair almost always fixes these issues.
      My Computer

  10.    #10

    Startup Repair when run up to three Separate times will repair, rewrite or write the boot files to the Active partition, but only as long as the correct partition intended to host the boot files and boot the OS is first marked Active, and is the only one marked Active. Mark Partition Active .

    We use this method here because it is the only one which tests and then repairs all boot parameters, including rewriting System Recovery Options to the F8 Advanced Boot Options which using Commands or BCD edits will not do.

    The partition labeled System is where the boot files reside and presently booting the System. Boot is only the label showing which OS is currently booted. In Partition Wizard the meaning for these two flags is switched.
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