Boot Issues

[SyphonX]

Recently I installed Windows 7 x64 RTM on my 500gb, on my 320gb I had XP and build 7600 x32 running, I decided to format my 320gb as i was switching over x64 (formatted using windows 7 disc), The OS refused to boot claiming boot files were missing, after running startup repair a few times it was fixed.
Now when I try remove my 320gb it refuses to boot and claims boot files are missing, having a look at my 320gb in computer management I see it has a second partition called system reserved, which has bootmgr and other files in it, so it seems windows 7 installed on my 500gb but put all the boot info on my 320gb, how do i create a boot section/folder on my 500gb so I dont have to keep my 320gb in my pc? Thanks

 

[Jonathan_King]

Remove your 320, and boot from your Setup disk. Then select startup repair.

If that does not work, try using Bootrec as explained in this post.

 

[SyphonX]

Remove your 320, and boot from your Setup disk. Then select startup repair.

If that does not work, try using Bootrec as explained in this post.

start up repair doesnt work, i tried the method in the post, first with my 320gb plugged in, it wouldnt give an installation path to a windows directory and claimed no copies of windows 7 were installed.
Without the 320gb plugged in, it didnt detect an OS at the repair screen but once in command prompt said one installation of windows 7 was found, it gave me an installation path but when i typed in yes, it said the element was missing (or something along those lines) I tried both command prompt procedures, both mentioned the missing element

 

[Jonathan_King]

Do you know how to mark a partition as active?

If not, hit the Start orb and type Diskpart.
Type "list disk" without qoutes
type "select disk n" n is the 500GB disk
type "list partition"
type "select partition n" n is the desired partition
type "active"

After you mark the partition as active, try running Startup Repair again, without the 320 plugged in.

 

[SyphonX]

Do you know how to mark a partition as active?

If not, hit the Start orb and type Diskpart.
Type "list disk" without qoutes
type "select disk n" n is the 500GB disk
type "list partition"
type "select partition n" n is the desired partition
type "active"

After you mark the partition as active, try running Startup Repair again, without the 320 plugged in.

ok, I made it active, now when i try to boot without the 320 it says bootmgr is missing, press ctrl,alt,dlt to restart, different from what i got before, but still the same issue

running the command prompt (with or without the 320 plugged) no installations of W7 are detected, if i try to remove the BCD store, the first command is succesful, but the second one fails

 

[Jonathan_King]

Startup Repair fails?

 

[SyphonX]

Startup Repair fails?

ok, i ran startup repair as you said (thought there wasnt much point before) and now its working 100%, thanks so much for your help, I'd rep you again if i could

 

[gregrocker]

Sometimes you have to run Startup Repair more than once, if there is more than one problem.

 

[Jonathan_King]

You are welcome. That's what we are here for!

 

[Razee]

Hello
I have a problem that is similar to this
Well i Have two HDD-s, one of them has 50gb the other has 500gb space
I have a windows xp installed on the smaller, then I downlaoded a pirated version(sorry:'D)and i installed it on the 500gb HDD but without a normal install disc, I just put the installer files on it and started installing , everything is fine, works properly, but when I try to format the smaller (50gb) HDD I can't it says " the windows cannot complete the formatting", and when I remove it from the pc I can't even start win7 on the other HDD
Is there any possible way to fix this without disk, cuz I don't have any at home, and i need it urgent
thanks in advance

 

[theog]

Hello
I have a problem that is similar to this
Well i Have two HDD-s, one of them has 50gb the other has 500gb space
I have a windows xp installed on the smaller, then I downlaoded a pirated version(sorry:'D)and i installed it on the 500gb HDD but without a normal install disc, I just put the installer files on it and started installing , everything is fine, works properly, but when I try to format the smaller (50gb) HDD I can't it says " the windows cannot complete the formatting", and when I remove it from the pc I can't even start win7 on the other HDD
Is there any possible way to fix this without disk, cuz I don't have any at home, and i need it urgent
thanks in advance

You may like to download from a good source like:
Buy Windows Products Windows 7 Special Offers Shop Your Favorite Store

How to Repair Win XP tutorial:
XP Repair Install

How to Clean install Win XP tutorial:
XP Clean Install

 

[gregrocker]

To start Win7, mark it's Partition active, remove XP HD, boot Win7 DVD or Repair CD, accept any offered Repair. If Win7 doesn't start, boot back in to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots until it starts.

Install a legal copy of XP to another HD with Win7 temporarily unplugged. After install, plug 7 back in, set it first to boot in BIOS setup. When you want to boot XP use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first screen.