Solved BOOTMGR fixes fail

[Hoggorm]

Hi

I have a brand new PC with an ASUS P9X79 motherboard and two harddisks C: and D: with Windows 7 on the C: disk.

My previous PC was a Dell laptop and I was assured I could insert the harddisk (running Windows Vista) from that computer, format it and have a third harddisk. So that's what I've done this evening...

Complete fail...

After entering the Diskmanager I formatted the new F: disk and restarted the computer.

The following message appears:

BOOTMGR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

Now I search for help on the internet and find various ways to fix this.

My first problem starts when I've run the Windows 7 install CD and tells the system to Repair my system. I then get the following message:

This version of System Recovery Options is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to repair. Try using a recovery disk that is compatible with this version of Windows.

Ok - so now I do not get any further

For some reason however I have a couple of times not seen this message and instead being shown the next page where I first tried to repar the system automatically. No luck with that...

The next time I came to the System Recovery Options (I do not know what I do, if I do anything. Most of the time the "not compatible version" error message appears) I entered the Command Prompt and wrote

bootrec /rebuildbcd

I can't remember what happens but it does not fix the problem. So the next time I write the following (found on a Norwegian help forum):

bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
ren C:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /rebuildbcd

"The operation completed successfully" message appears, I restart and no joy:

BOOTMGR is missing
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

I really hope you can help me with this problem! Please...

 

[Everlong]

In your BIOS, you should have a section where your boot device priority is. There should also be a section where you can set in which order the HDDs boot, so if the HDD is set to be the highest priority, within this there should be a section where you can set which HDD boots first. Try changing it to the HDD with Windows 7 on.

 

[Hoggorm]

Unfortunately that did not help... I even tried to disconnect all other disks as well so that the only disk in the computer was the one with Windows 7 on it.

I'm still stuck

 

[Everlong]

Keep only that HDD in and then boot in to Windows 7 recovery and in the command prompt try bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot again and then see if you can get in to Windows then.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Only connect old drive so C,D to pc. Did you do bootrec/fixboot and bootrec/fixmbr ?
both command succeeded succesfully? What error on normal reboot?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Very sure your windows version is 64bit???

 

[Hoggorm]

Unfortunately I'm unable to enter the Command Promt of the System Recovery. When I press Reapir system I get a message saying:

This version of System Recovery Options is not compatible with the version of Windows you are trying to repair. Try using a recovery disk that is compatible with this version of Windows.

That happens with all, or only one HD in the system.

Randomly I do get into the command propt yesterday, but after three hours of restarting this morning I only get the Wrong Windows Error above...

Quite sure its 64bit yes...

 

[Kaktussoft]

Boot from either your Windows 7 installation disc or Windows 7 System Repair Disc, and press Shift + F10 when at either screen below.

Now you are in command prompt

DIR C:\
DIR D:\
DIR E:\

What's your windows drive letter? (may be different as in running win7!)

DISKPART
sel disk 0
list part
sel part 0
det part
sel part 1
det part
sel part 2
det part
exit

Which partition is active? Also note the drive letter of active partition and its label. Give that information please


​

 

[Hoggorm]

Hi Kaktussoft,

I'm sorry, but I do not fully understand what to do...

I was able to open the command prompt using Shift-F10. Thank you. However now I'm unsure what you want me to do..?

Initially it sais:

X:\Sources

So I type (is that what you mean?)

dir c:\

c was the drive I installed Windows 7 on.

The following message appears:

Volume in drive C has no label
Volume Serial Number is xxxxxxxxx
Directory of c:\

all my folders on drive C and BCD_Backup and then it returns to

X:\Sources

Now I'm very unsure what you mean by the next part. So I try typing diskpart first.

DISKPART>

appears

Next I type

List part

"There is no disk selected to list partitions. Select a disk and try again"

What do I type exactly?

 

[karlsnooks]

Question:

Is your Win 7 version installed on the HDD the same as the Win 7 version on the DVD?

By that, I am not talking about home premium, professional,ultimate RATHER

Is the Win 7 DVD for 32 bit Win 7 OR
is the Win 7 DVD for 64 bit Win 7?

 

[Hoggorm]

Yes, it is exactly the same DVD I used to install Windows 7 initially about two weeks ago. i only have one DVD, and it is Win 7 DVD for 64 bit

 

[karlsnooks]

Hoggorm,

then something went wrong with your system.

The message you say about another version says that somehow a 32bit operating system got installed or that someone has swapped out DVDs with you and giving you a 32 bit DVD.

The end result: you can not use that DVD to repair your system.

I assume that you would rather not reformat and perform a complete install.

If you don't mind doing that then let me know.

Also the person who gave you the advice re DiskPart must have been behind on his sleep. Don't follow his advice. I repeat. Don't follow his advice

 

[Hoggorm]

Hmm...

Do you reccomend I make a clean install?

Actually this starts taking so much time I rather want to start all over again. But I would like to make sure that all three drives are formated and "clean" before I start. Is there an easy tutorial on how to make sure all disks are formated and "clean"?

 

[karlsnooks]

Is your Win7 DVD a purchased DVD or a copy of a purchased DVD or a DVD that you burned from an ISO?

If an original DVD then the label on the DVD will tell you if it is 64 or 32 bit.

Do you have the 25 character product key that you will need to install Win 7?

 

[Hoggorm]

Yes, I have the key. The DVD is burned from a ISO file.

 

[karlsnooks]

Excellent!

Disconnect all drives except for the one on which you want to install Win7.

boot up from the Win 7 DVD.

Go straight to a command prompt.

Use Diskpart to "clean" the disk.

Here is info for you:
==============================================================
==============================================================
GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT
USING YOUR WIN 7 DVD/UFD



BOOT TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING A WIN 7 DVD/USB STICK
Ø Insert your Win 7 DVD or Win 7 USB
Ø Power down your computer.
Ø Power up your computer.
Ø Boot up your computer from the Win 7 DVD/USB stick.
Ø When a screen is displayed asking for the Language to Install,
press the key combo of SHIFT + F10.
Do NOT click on Next.
Press the SHIFT + F10 key combo.

You will have a X:\Sources> command prompt.
X: is a ram drive created by Windows 7.
X: contains a mini-version of Windows 7 called a PE (pre-execution environment).

If you do not plan on installing windows at this time, you may now remove the DVD/USB stick.

If you plan on continuing with an install, then do not remove.

Execute the desired commands.
Use the EXIT command to return to the Win 7 installation procedure.
NOTE: UFD = Usb Flash Device = usb stick = pendrive = thumb drive


==============================================================
==============================================================

PREPARE A UFD/SSD/HDD FOR USE


Run CMD.EXE as administrator
WIN | type CMD.EXE | do NOT hit ENTER | CTRL + SHIFT + ENTER key combo |
ALT + y key combo

WIN=key with Microsoft logo on top

Type following commands and hit ENTER key after each command.
DISKPART starts the DiskPart program; the command prompt changes to DISKPART>
LIST DISK shows numeral assigned to disks
note the numeral assigned to your UFD/SSD/HDD
The numeral 2 will be used in this example
SELECT DISK 2
DETAIL DISK the info shown will confirm the correctness of your selection
CLEAN ALL the entire ufd/sdd/hdd will be overwritten with zeros
This can take awhile if capacity is large.
Any bad sectors will be so marked and avoided.
There will be no progress indication.
You must simply wait for the diskpart prompt to appear again. Keep the faith-the DiskPart prompt will eventually return.
----OR---------
CLEAN the first and last sectors of the ufd/sdd/hdd will be overwritten with zeros
Much quicker and will eliminate any boot info.

If installing Win 7 to a SSD/HDD,
AND you want to let the Win 7 installer create partitions, then
you are finished and can go directly to the EXIT statements.

CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY create a primary partition on the UFD/SSD/HDD
FORMAT FS=NTFS format the partition
ACTIVE the partition can contain operating system startup files
ASSIGN the next available letter is assigned to the UFD/SDD/HDD

EXIT exit from the DISKPART program
EXIT exit from the command shell

 

[Hoggorm]

Karlsnooks,

What is the difference between that procedure and installing Windows 7 from scratch (or as if it was the first time I wanted to install Windows 7?

Now I went for a dive into some boxes and found the original DVDs and tried both the 64 and 32 bit versions. Both of them states that I'm using a different Windows DVD than ehat is installed on the system. It might have something to do with the last HDD I installed that had Windows Vista on it. That was what started this mess, ref my first post...

 

[SIW2]

D/L this https://skydrive.live.com/#cid=B0A22789320E3247&id=B0A22789320E3247!320

the file to d/l is called NEW it is a .zip file - ( not NEW.7z )

rt click it >unblock>apply>ok

Then extract it and burn the iso as an image to a cd/dvd.

Boot it up on your sick machine.

Have a look round - you should be able to take screnshots and post up here what you find.

 

[karlsnooks]

Hoggorm,

Another chap explained to me the cause of what you are seeing.

You have a pre-SP1 DVD and you Win 7 on the disk has SP1. Crazy but true.

Thus if you were interested in making a system repair from DVD, you would need to:
Download the ISO for Win 7 64 bit with SP1
Burn the ISO to DVD.
Boot from the DVD.

Here is a link to a legal site for downloading Win 7 64 bit with SP1.

Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

 

[SIW2]

Karl,

Whoever told you that is mistaken.