Repair bootloader adventure - blinking cursor of death edition


  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    Repair bootloader adventure - blinking cursor of death edition


    Yesterday, I made the biggest mistake of my life, I installed Linux next to windows 7 (same hdd). Linux didn't like my computer so I decided to remove it. After some arguments with bootloader (I skip the details) merciful Grub (some GNU bootloader that replaced native windows bootloader during installation) allowed me to boot to windows. The first thing I did after booting is I removed the partition (4 partitions actually) with Linux and I expanded windows partition to fill the empty leftover space. I thought that Grub was somewhere over there and this will restore old windows bootloader. How wrong I was. Grub was still there so I launched console from windows repair CD and I typed bootrec /fixmbr and then bootrec /fixboot. Grub was gone. However, it was replaced by blinking cursor of death (blinking underscore character that stays there forever). Since then I was unable to boot to windows. This is what I've already tried:
    *startup repair from windows repair dics (it could not detect a problem)
    *bootrec /fixmbr, bootrec /fixboot
    *bootrec /rebuildbcd (it didnt do anything)
    *delete bcd and then bootrec /rebuildbcd (it actually detected windows installation)
    *recovery disk offered fixing boot error and I clicked "fix and reboot"
    *mark partition as active with diskpart (I wonder how can I check if it became active ?)
    *bootsect /nt60 c: /mbr
    *bootsect /nt60 all
    (For last 2 commands:
    it said "update may be unreliable since the volume could not be locked during the update: access denied" and later "successfully updated disk bootcode".)
    *install Grub back, it won't install on ntfs partition
    *chckdsk /F and then fixboot and fixmbr (it repaired something)


    There was absolutely no change after every method I tried.
    What I can do:
    *launch console from windows repair disc
    *boot live Linux from my usb

    It appears to be a bootloader problem or my computer has no idea where to find it. I didn't accidently delete all partitions. I can normally access hdd from windows repair console or Linux live + windows repair disc detects windows installation.
    Possible solution: install alternative bootloader. There are many bootloaders out there but I don't know which one to choose and how to install it.

    UPDATE:
    For some reason bootrec /scanos finds 0 windows installations

    UPDATE2:
    I've just found out (when I launched Linux from live usb) that there were 2 boot folders in c:
    "Boot" and "boot". I deleted "boot" (Linux leftover, other one has BCD file inside) but still no luck.

    UPDATE3:
    I tried:
    sudo apt-get install lilo
    sudo lilo -M /dev/sda mbr

    In my Linux live, nothing.

    UPDATE4:
    I tried boot-repair (Linux live):
    they said, It's repaired and displayed this website:
    Paste2.org - Viewing Paste _Jt80sAKa it's info about my partitions, mbr, bootsector etc.
    The blinking cursor was laughing at me and showed my middle finger after this

    UPDATE5:
    Nuclear holocaust method from here https://neosmart.net/wiki/recovering...ws-bootloader/ didn't work. How is that even possible ?

    Solution:
    Kind of overkill but I didn't want to waste any more time on this. Using gparted (linux live) I shrinked windows partition and I installed Linux back. Grub came back and he is my best buddy now. He let me boot to windows.
    Last edited by szpaq234; 27 Feb 2015 at 22:45. Reason: update
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 562
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #2

    Hi

    I have seen corruption in "C" drive file system causing blinking cursor problem.I would suggest ;

    1. Boot from install DVD ( important - don't use a USB stick and make sure nor is plugged to the system) and open a command window by pressing "Shift + F10".

    2. Enter CHKDSK C: /F to repair the file system ( if there is any corruption ).

    3. Run the FIXBOOT and FIXMBR commands again.


    Is this makes any difference.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I did, it repaired something but cursor is still there.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 562
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #4

    Hi

    Please try the below steps.

    1. Open the recovery console command prompt and enter bcdboot c:\Windows. This will recreate/reinitialize necessary boot files.


    2.If the problem persists, please download "Partition Wizard" bootable CD from Bootable Partition Manger | MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition. ( only 50 MB in size ). Boot from the disc and it will display the disk's partition structure similar to the below example.




    Please take a clear screenshot using a digital cam or smart phone and post it with next reply. This will help us understand the issue better.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Sorry, I should have posted this below (I've only updated my top post).
    Solution:
    Using gparted (linux live) I shrinked windows partition and I installed Linux back. Grub came back and I can boot windows again. I had to update grub entries in recovery mode and change a little bit the windows boot command options in grub.cfg
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 705
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #6

    Solution:
    Kind of overkill but I didn't want to waste any more time on this. Using gparted (linux live) I shrinked windows partition and I installed Linux back. Grub came back and he is my best buddy now. He let me boot to windows.
    That tells you windows is not corrupted, so very good.

    Review examples of how to restore windows booting after removing linux grub.

    How to Uninstall a Linux Dual-Boot System From Your Computer

    Should work, I have done so before.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 562
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #7


    Using gparted (linux live) I shrinked windows partition and I installed Linux back. Grub came back and I can boot windows again. I had to update grub entries in recovery mode and change a little bit the windows boot command options in grub.cfg

    Glad to hear that you managed to make Windows boot again :).

    Being said that the blinking cursor still remains as a myth. I still wonder why Windows refused to boot even after updating boot record.
      My Computer


 

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