Reboot and select proper boot device

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  1. Posts : 65
    Win7 Pro x64
       #1

    Reboot and select proper boot device


    I have/had a dual boot PC, XP and Windows 7, each on their own drive. Decided to dump XP and changed the dual boot via EasyBCD to Windows 7 only.
    It worked fine, then decided to wipe XP's drive.
    With the next reboot I have nothing, only "Reboot and select proper boot device"

    Decided to start afresh and reinstall Windows 7 with the original DVD but still above option prevailed.
    The only CD that opens normally is Linux and within I can see the Windows 7 drive with all the data intact. Therefore the DVD writer and both hard drives fine.

    I find no problems when using F8, the boot order is correct.
    What can I do to reinstall Windows 7?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,772
    win 8 32 bit
       #2

    The error means there is no bootable boot sector it's possible the boot files were on the do drive not on 7. When you reinstalled did you have another drive in? Remove other drives boot the DVD and do a repair
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 65
    Win7 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Currently I have two drives, one with the previous Windows 7 and another empty/wiped drive.
    I cannot reinstall due to "Reboot and select proper boot device"
    If the boot sector was on the now empty/wiped drive it makes sense.

    I ask myself when a new PC is purchased without an OS how do you install a new/fresh OS?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7,349
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #4

    Probably the win 7 boot loader option was on the Win XP boot loader. As you deleted Win XP, you can't boot Win 7.
    Is your win 7 a Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT disk?

    You don't need to reinstall Win 7. All you need is to make the win 7 disk boot able.
    Detach all other HDD from the MB (power or SATA cable) and boot from the Win 7 installation disk and do a boot repair.

    Where did you get your Win 7 DVD?
    Did you enter BIOS and set the CD / DVD as the priority disk to boot from?
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 3,772
    win 8 32 bit
       #5

    It should boot ok from usbor dvd if you set it a first boot drive
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 2,798
    Windows 7 x64, Vista x64, 8.1 smartphone
       #6

    lonny said:
    Currently I have two drives, one with the previous Windows 7 and another empty/wiped drive.
    I cannot reinstall due to "Reboot and select proper boot device"
    If the boot sector was on the now empty/wiped drive it makes sense.
    1) Still check that the empty drive partition is flagged as "inactive" and the Windows 7 partition is flagged as "active" Partition - Mark as Inactive

    lonny said:
    I ask myself when a new PC is purchased without an OS how do you install a new/fresh OS?
    2) You install fresh OS by performing Clean Install Windows 7. None of this will be any good if Windows 7 partition is not marked as "active" AND that is the only partition marked as "active", as I instructed in step 1).

    3) As the others have already said, you might not need Clean Install, because you can always repair the boot loader, and delete the unwanted boot entry in Boot Manager. Here is how Windows Boot Manager - Delete a Listed Operating System. If you still can access EasyBCD, then use option three, otherwise use option two.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 65
    Win7 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Megahertz07 - I detached both HDD and for the first time I could start from the DVD
    It is the original MS DVD that came with the PC when I purchased it.

    The second step is to do a boot repair but I do not know which option to select?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7,349
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #8

    lonny said:
    Megahertz07 - I detached both HDD and for the first time I could start from the DVD
    It is the original MS DVD that came with the PC when I purchased it.

    The second step is to do a boot repair but I do not know which option to select?
    Did you enter BIOS and set the CD / DVD as the priority disk to boot from?
    To do a boot repair the Win 7 HDD disk must be attached before you boot the installation disk.
    If it's a MS installation DVD disk, after booting from it you will see a Boot Repair option.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 65
    Win7 Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       #9

    "Did you enter BIOS and set the CD / DVD as the priority disk to boot from?" Yes
    It booted fine with the MS installation DVD

    I did not see the specific wording "boot repair" and selected as follows:
    1. "Choose a recovery tool"
    2. "Startup Repair" - took about 6 minutes
    3. After completion - "Restart"
    4. Removed the MS installation DVD

    Upon restart I'm back again to "Reboot and select proper boot device"
    Once again checked the BIOS to confirm the boot up order:
    Primary IDE Master = NEC DVD writer
    SATA3 WDC hard drive
    USB

    Whatever I attempted after all above it remains "Reboot and select proper boot device"
    Could the hard drive be faulty?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7,349
    Windows 7 HP 64
       #10

    lonny said:
    I did not see the specific wording "boot repair" and selected as follows:
    1. "Choose a recovery tool"
    2. "Startup Repair" - took about 6 minutes
    3. After completion - "Restart"
    4. Removed the MS installation DVD
    Yes, that is a boot repair

    Upon restart I'm back again to "Reboot and select proper boot device"
    Once again checked the BIOS to confirm the boot up order:
    Primary IDE Master = NEC DVD writer
    SATA3 WDC hard drive
    USB
    Whatever I attempted after all above it remains "Reboot and select proper boot device"
    Could the hard drive be faulty?
    Now try to set SATA3 WDC hard drive as the primary boot disk.
      My Computers


 
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