BOOTMGR missing!

baarod · 20 Apr 2009

SIW2 said:

Hi baarod,

He tried that already. It is one of those oem non-standard partitions that doesn't allow you to change it or even add a drive letter with Disk Management.

Might be able to assign a letter with Diskpart.

I'd say then that's likely the problem. Just set the Windows 7 boot volume to also be the Windows 7 system volume using DISKPART to set it active and BCDBOOT to write the new bootfiles out. Then use BCDEDIT to write in the XP loader. Forget entirely about messing with something that you know your standard tools wont touch. Just bypass it and get a standard boot sequence established. You know if it were me, non-standard, hidden, OEM, reserved, etc partitions are immediately reclaimed as freespace with extreme prejudice. If I don't create it, control it or write it myself it doesn't last on my systems.

TheBull · 20 Apr 2009

Guys, my apologies, but I am now as confused as puke in a tumble dryer! Baarod would you mind giving me step by step instructions please?

SIW2 · 20 Apr 2009

Hi baarod,

The screenshot is a few pages back - so here it is again:

https://www.sevenforums.com/attachmen...-missing-3.png

Win 7 Boot partition (C) already declares itself as System, Active - yet is a logical drive within an Extended partition . Bootmgr is not on it.

I assume Win 7 bootfiles are on the Primary partition which also declares itself Active - that is the 1.46gb Toshiba recovery partition.

https://www.sevenforums.com/attachmen...-missing-1.png

https://www.sevenforums.com/attachmen...r-missing-.png

https://www.sevenforums.com/attachmen...-missing-2.png

SIW2 · 20 Apr 2009

Hi Bull,

The best thing for you to try is Unawaves suggestion - it won't do any harm, you are just copying the XP bootfiles from E to D and making an entry in bcd that points the right way ( hopefully).
Copy and paste these three files from E onto D.

boot
ntdetect
ntldr

You should be able to then see those files on the D drive in exactly the same way as you see them on the E drive.

Next, type cmd into start search box, when it pops up, rt click and run as admin. Then copy and paste the following directly at the prompt (this bit >) and press enter.

bcdedit /set {903469ec-2915-11de-9115-a3f5c358b8a0} device partition=D:

It should look like this ( yours will say C:\Windows\System32>):

BOOTMGR missing!-cmd-2009-04-21_033942.jpg

After you press enter you should get a message saying it was successful. Then close cmd prompt.

Reboot - see if you get XP boot option, and if it boots up.

TheBull · 21 Apr 2009

OK, guys. This what I did. I first tried Unawaves suggestion, but that didn't work, so I deleted those 3 bootfiles from E. I then managed to get that other drives name changed, and opened it. I then pasted those 3 files in there, but still no go. I am not sure whether or how I should change the command prompt instruction I tried with E though. I paste screenshots of that drive as well as disk management.
Thanks so much!!

Should I keep those 3 bootfiles in the H drive now, or should I delete them again??

unawave · 21 Apr 2009

1. Have you make this changes:
bcdedit /set {903469ec-2915-11de-9115-a3f5c358b8a0} device partition=D:

2. show us the content of "boot"(.ini) from drive H:

darkassain · 21 Apr 2009

ok this way more harder than it should be...
rename both the boot.ini and the ntdlr file and
you can put these two files in the C root drive...
NTLDR.zip
restart and you should see Microsoft Windows XP Professional along with Win7
AFAIK it should look like this...
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
although i havent done it with extended partition it should work

TheBull · 21 Apr 2009

[quote=darkassain;74530]ok this way more harder than it should be...
rename both the boot.ini and the ntdlr file and
Sorry, rename these files to what??

darkassain · 21 Apr 2009

[quote=TheBull;74567]

darkassain said:

ok this way more harder than it should be...
rename both the boot.ini and the ntdlr file and
Sorry, rename these files to what??

the file you have right now in your C:\ drive....
change the boot.ini to lets say boot1
and then copy the boot.ini in this zip file and restart your computer...

SIW2 · 21 Apr 2009

Hi Bull,

If you go to folder options and show file extensions , it may help.

At the moment you are seeing a file called boot. If you show extensions, you will see it is called boot.ini.

That may be less confusing.

Darkassain thinks boot.ini is pointing the wrong way and that the XP bootfiles wil be better on the C drive.

He suggests you change the name of your existing boot.ini to make it inoperative . You could change it to boot1.ini, or bootold.ini - as long as it is different. Also change ntldr to ntldrold.

He has posted another copy of the XP bootfiles - which he thinks you should put on the C drive and see if it works.