Boot windows 7 with no partition marked as Active?

[milk79]

I have windows 7 installed on my primary drive, but my laptop doesn't think there is an OS installed.
I don't know how, but I wonder if its been deactivated..

I was having trouble making a system image backup because windows thought there were system files on my D: drive which is just Steam and about 20 games, as well as my C:Windows. So my backup was about 600gb. I went into Disk Management and wanted to disable my D: somehow to make the backup. I right-clicked the Steam D: and marked as active and I didn't get the usual warning that this should have an OS installed if you mark as active. I deactivated it through command prompt and restarted the laptop. I never touched the C: in Disk Management but now my laptop doesn't think there is an OS installed..

Is there a way I can make the proper partition active or boot windows from a disk without reinstalling?
My Steam D: is made up of 2 harddrives in raid0 with 600gb of games on it and I'm really hoping I don't have to re-install windows.

 

[AddRAM]

Does this pc boot up properly ?

Can you post a shot of disk management for us ?


You need to run startup repair with your W7 dvd, but I`m guessing you don`t have one ?

 

[milk79]

No It won't boot, It says no operating system found. Try disconnecting any drives that don't contain an operating system.

I actually do have a Win 7 cd, and I tried startup repair a couple times but nothing changed.

 

[whs]

You better post a picture of your disk situation. Use the bootable CD of Partition Wizard plus a camera. The .iso you find in the last box of this webpage.

If you make images with Windows imaging, it will image all partitions that have bits of the OS - e.g. program files. If you want to image C alone, use free Macrium (it's a lot better anyhow). But make sure you do not forget to image the 100MB system partition at least once. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html?ltr=I

 

[milk79]

Could I Mark partition as active through command prompt?

 

[whs]

You can, but you are liable to make an even greater mess without knowing what the situation on the disk really is. That's why I recommended the bootable PW CD.

 

[gregrocker]

Everything that can be done is here for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start.

If you don't Mark 100mb System Reserved (preferred if you have it) or C Partition Active
before attempting repairs then it will NOT repair. You also may need to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times.

If this fails then start at the top of the steps because it may also not repair until disinfected.

 

[milk79]

Thanks, I set the system reserved partition as active and ran repair, and it booted right up. Now I just need to figure out why windows thinks there are system files on my Steam Harddrive so i can make a system image of just the C:

 

[Kaktussoft]

Thanks, I set the system reserved partition as active and ran repair, and it booted right up. Now I just need to figure out why windows thinks there are system files on my Steam Harddrive so i can make a system image of just the C:

Just make "system reserved" ACTIVE was enough. No reason to run startup repair afterwards.

Post screenshot of disk management please.

 

[milk79]

Here it is now

 

[Kaktussoft]

Thanks, I set the system reserved partition as active and ran repair, and it booted right up. Now I just need to figure out why windows thinks there are system files on my Steam Harddrive so i can make a system image of just the C:

What drive letter has steam harddrive? E or G?

 

[milk79]

E: is the steam drive. G is an external hdd

 

[Kaktussoft]

E drive is not involved in boot process. Can't you unselect that drive during system image backup?

 

[milk79]

No you can't unselect the E:
It must think there is some system files on it from an installer or something.. I move my whole steam folder and every installed game to an external hard drive now. All thats left on the Drive is 3 MKV movies and about 8 uninstalled ISO's in the games folder.

 

[milk79]

I removed all hidden files and ran ccleaner too

 

[whs]

With Windows Imaging you are not going to be able to deselect anything. The OS rules. If you want choice, use free Macrium.

 

[gregrocker]

Your configuration looks correct, however I would always want the Win7 HD to be DISK0 if your mobo allows plugging it there. Otherwise it is easy to derail the System Active partition to another preceding Primary partition during Repairs or a Reinstall. You can achieve this by swapping their cables. Make sure Win7 HD remains HD set first to boot in BIOS setup.

To clear whatever is making the Win7 imaging app think E is System, I would move the data off to wipe it with Diskpart Clean Command, then repartition it Logical following Partition / Extended : Logical Drives - Windows 7 Forums. Using Logical drives for data precludes problems.