Solved BOOTMGR is missing or edit windows boot options while try 2 INSTALL 7

[labayou]

Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. Gateway desktop all-in-one model zx4951. Recovery media not made by owner 2 years ago when purchased. I tried to make the recovery discs but the program wont launch, it's probably corrupted. I couldn't open some other files, has some corrupted files, Trojans, and lots of malware. Backed up all personal files (at least one file in every photo folder was corrupted).
Began reinstall from recovery partition (Alt-F10). When it comes up it says to WAIT and I have waited for 3 hours. Turn off computer. Decided to reinstall Windows 7HP64 using my retail UPGRADE disc. It WAS stalling at SETUP (waited 2 hours). Turned it off. Tried to repair with that disc, stalls at SETUP after I click the language and keyboard.
Tried repairing windows with that 7HP64 disc...stalls in the same place.
So...I tried to install Windows 7HP 32bit because I have that disc as well...NOW I am getting BOOTMGR is missing. But I am trying to INSTALL. So I decided to use an external cd/dvd and I get the same thing.
WHY WONT IT ALLOW ME TO INSTALL? This computer IS a touchscreen. Cant see why that would matter, but I guess at this point I am out of ideas.
I also went into BIOS (the only thing I CAN access) and disabled usb, audio, and lan controllers but that didn't work either so I reset the defaults. The drive is not making any unusual noise and the system is not running hot.
I am at the end of my rope/ideas.
I hope someone can help me reinstall Windows 7HP64 on this system. Thanks for reading.

 

[AddRAM]

Download the Windows 7 Home Premium iso and burn to a usb flash drive.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

 

[labayou]

Thank you I am going to try that. Loading an iso to an 8gb flash drive now. Will update soon. Thank you for helping me.

 

[gregrocker]

Be sure to delete all partitions during install using the Drive Options from Steps 7 and 8 of Clean Install Windows 7.

If you use the flash installer, set HDD first to boot in BIOS setup, then trigger stick using one-time BIOS Boot menu key given on first screen.

It sounds like your disk wasn't booting if you were getting that error.

If you have any further problems wipe the HD first using Diskpart Clean Command

 

[labayou]

Thank you for the tips. I just finished creating the bootable flash. We are having bad weather and I don't want to start installing since the power has blinked already a few times. Going to wait till tomorrow to get started. But I will post back to say that it worked and all is well . I sincerely thank you for your help and your time. Back at it tomorrow.

 

[labayou]

After an hour of waiting on "Setup is starting" (from usb boot) with a circling cursor and no apparent hard drive activity, I give up. But this system will not give me access to startup repair. It loads the window asking if you want to install or repair. I click repair and the System Recover Options windows comes up with the circling cursor but it goes no further. And no operating system is in the list of OS. The RESTORE YOUR COMPUTER FROM AN IMAGE you created is checked so I cannot click LOAD DRIVERS. Even if the USE RECOVEY TOOLS was checked I cannot click LOAD DRIVERS because of the circling cursor...it's as though the system is doing something but it's not. Same as all previous attempts to reinstall or repair. HOW TO I WIPE this drive and reinstall Windows 7? I have never seen this before. Need the old Dos! HELP PLEASE

 

[labayou]

I decided to try to access the recovery partition using a Vista 64 dvd. Got further than using the W7 disc. It is asking me to locate the SETUP files, so at this point I switched the disc from the Vista disc to the W7 disc. Then it finally does load items found in COMPUTER. Drive C marked as ACER, Drive D marked as "local disk" Drive P marked as PQ service (office I think) and BOOT (X). Also it shows the (E) where the W7 disc is. If I select C it says there are no files. If I select D it gives me Programs...I NEED HELP ANSWERING THIS QUESTION. Where are the files it wants? It is asking for me to "Select the installation media for the device and click ok to select driver.

 

[gregrocker]

The issue is never a driver. That error means the installer is bad. Write a confirmed ISO from Step 1 in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to flash stick using the tool in Step 2, or UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive. Be sure to Format first, before Write.

To access the Command Line to wipe with Diskpart Clean Command you'll tick System Recovery Options and not Restore from an Image.

If problems persists test the HD with the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

 

[labayou]

Will give this a try. Thank you.
No I guess I'm not. There is nothing wrong with the retail version disc and I cant get to diskpart because I cannot get into any recovery.
So I stuck a Vista HP 64 disc (complete/retail) in the drive and so far so good.
It went to the page to set up language and keyboard. Then on to INSTALL or Repair. I hit install. Then on to chose which kind of installation, I chose CLEAN. Now I am waiting...but at least I can get this far. It will not get past SETUP (which should not even BE the first screen after chosing language and keyboard).
Wish I knew why this is happening. If I can get Vista on there, then maybe I can get 7 back on later.

 

[labayou]

Well Vista installed normally. Now do I have to activate it before attempting to install Windows 7HP64 upgrade? I think not..Windows 7 is installing...

 

[gregrocker]

This is why I linked you to the latest official Win7 installer to burn to DVD or write to flash stick. You must have missed that post just above.

Then do a Clean Install Windows 7 deleting all partitions using the Drive Options shown in Steps 7 and 8, to create and format new during install.

 

[labayou]

I did burn Windows 7 from this website to an 8gb flash drive. Stalls at PLEASE WAIT. As it has been with the retail upgrade W7 disc. As mentioned it did install Vista. Then I began installing 7 over Vista and it paused @ EXPANDING FILES 20%. Rebooted and said the registry was corrupt. On a new install. CLEAN install. So now I'm trying to get Vista back but it's stalled at Please Wait.
I have done a CLEAN install every time. Always delete previous partitions BUT (because I got further with the Windows 7 installation than I ever have) it showed something this time that it never did. There is this PQ partition (oem) that I SHOULD have removed. Can THAT be interfering with this?

NO WAIT.. after about 15 minutes it moved again. WHEW! It asked for my product key (which I DID enter on the previous Vista install but I wont this time). I got past that...now I am doing the CUSTOM VIsta Home Premium 64 install. When it lets me. It takes sooo long. That's ok...it's actually DOING something. Whew. This is not my computer. And I have reinstalled the different versions of Windows many times. I don't understand this one though.
I am going to try to get Vista on her. Get it running. Then I guess I will have to try to install Windows 7 again. I cant believe how much trouble this machine is. It CAME with Windows 7hp64. Surely I can put it back??

 

[labayou]

BTW I very much appreciate your help. I am afraid I will have to give her her computer back with Vista on it.
Please hang with me till I figure this out.
Now I did not see the PQ partition. But I will when I try to install W7 after it accepts Vista. THEN I will remove that PQ thing. I have read that it is a recovery partition for Acer. So that must be what is corrupted and the last W7 install failed because of it. Hope I CAN remove it when Vista finishes and I'm ready to install 7.
There is several ways to do that, I will try them all.

 

[gregrocker]

If Vista can be installed then Win7 can be. But I would check for a BIOS update while you have Vista on there in case one needs to be installed from Windows. This could be the only reason Vista can be installed but Win7 cannot, unless the Win7 installer is still bad.

Boot the installer, at first screen press Shift + F10 to access Command Prompt, run Diskpart Clean Command. This will overcome most install failures. If Win7 won't budge then use Vista disk or Partition Wizard

If not reset the BIOS to defaults, set SATA controller to AHCI, try again.

If Win7 disk install fails, try install from flash stick writing the ISO to stick using UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive

If that fails boot the HD maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan. The disk may be bad.

 

[labayou]

Hmm I think you are a little ahead of me. I did use disk part to delete the EISA (PQ by Acer) partition of the primary disk 0. In disk management it is now gone. I hope it was what interfered with the install(s) of W7.
The BIOS is the same version listed on the Gateway website. The W7 installer came from a retail disc AND from a flash drive created by instructions and download from this website and both failed at setup.
Now that I have access to cmd I am running chkdsk. Not finished yet but it found in stage 4 of 5: replaced bad clusters in file 69275 of name \pagefile.sys. It's still running...
Oh and the sata controls IS Ahci already, and bios is at default. I know next to nothing about AHCI. Should it be?
Will boot the installer next.

 

[labayou]

Why we have to have 1TB INTERNAL hard drive is beyond me! All those hours wasted using chkdsk on blank space! Ok, so I should use diskpart to clean. Well I think the problem was that PQ unlabeled recovery partition that I left on there the last time I tried W7. So I am going to waste some MORE time trying it again, because I love wasting time and cannot follow directions that I asked for. So I am going to try to upgrade the Vista once again. Fingers crossed. Still I thank you and I will probably have to follow your diskpart instructions after all. I just gotta try this first. No not upgrade, going to use the flash drive version.

 

[labayou]

Well that worked and taught me a time-consuming lesson! If the recovery partition does not work AND if you cannot create recovery media using it AND you do not have recovery media already created then it must be deleted before you can install THAT version of Windows again. By installing an EARLIER version of Windows I was able to use DISKPART to remove that partition (it had no drive letter) and then allowed to install the correct OS. Thank you GREGROCKER and ADDRAM for your help and for staying with me. I was pretty worried because I am not a "real tech" just a hobbyist that loves the challenge and was feeling like I broke her machine worse than when I got it. But Windows 7 is now updating and it's working fine. THANK YOU!

 

[gregrocker]

This is why I suggested to run Diskpart Clean Command which resolves most install problems by wiping the HD to give a clean slate for reinstall.

Glad you got it going. Stick with the other tools and methods in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 and you will get and keep a perfect install for as long as you do.

 

[labayou]

I shoulda listened to the help I asked for. I wasn't comfortable using diskpart but it's a great tool. Thanks!