Removed Linux - now unable to boot Win 7 (this one is different)

So I removed Mint 17 from my customer's dual boot laptop and now - no matter what I try - including every fix I can find via Google- I can't get Windows 7 to boot. (Actually that's not entirely true -- I'll get to that.)

I tried a Windows 7 Recovery disc. No joy.
I tried Boot-Repair. Still no joy.
I tried booting the W7 Recovery disc, going to the command prompt and running the procedure documented here. I get this message: The subsystem needed to support the image type is not present.
I tried to boot from a Windows 7 Installation disc (on USB) and it actually booted into the Windows installation that I'm trying to recover. I tried to run the bootsect command again but it said access was denied (probably because that's the active disc.)
So next I tried bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot (both said they were successful) - and it wrote the MBR to my flash drive toolkit. Now it boots fine - as long as that flash drive (which is now useless to me) is plugged in.

I am utterly and completely frustrated and exasperated. If this was my own laptop, I would already have smashed it with a sledgehammer.

HELP?!?!

if noting works do a clean install using the COA sticker found at the bottom of the laptop.

Hi there

When you installed Linux you should have ensured the bootloader was written to the Boot partition or to the / (root) partition. However to late to rectify that now.

Do the following -- I assume this system is not a UEFI one or you aren't booting from a GPT drive.

Boot your recovery disk so you can get into RECOVERY Command prompt.
Now as administrator (elevated command mode)

DISKPART

LIST DISK.

SELECT DISK nn where nn is the Disk nr of your "C" drive.

ACTIVE <========= if you don't set the disk as active it won't boot.

EXIT.
Then from the C:\ prompt type FIXMBR (assuming not a GPT drive).

Now try and do the recovery by repair windows (re-boot the recovery disk).

Should work.

Cheers
jimbo

As Jimbo says, you must be sure the correct partition is Partition Marked Active to run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times or it won't repair no matter how many times you repair it.

You can use the Partition Wizard option to mark Active then also do Partition Wizard Rebuild MBR - Video Help before the repairs which will maximize chances. If you do that then post back a screenshot of the full drive map and listings because there may be question as to which partition should be Active. Normally it's the System Reserved (if you have it) or C, but sometimes C is Logical which cannot mark Active, or a Recovery or other partition was originally the Active partition.

Keep in mind that if GRUB1 was on that PC it may never repair until wiped with Diskpart Clean Command to clear GRUB code from boot sector, but this has not been a problem with GRUB2. Everything else that can be done to start Win7 is in Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start including rescuiing files to do a perfect reinstall.