Bootmgr is missing +other questions

[laggy]

Recently I installed 7 to a small partition on my second hard drive (D: from now on), just to see how well it would run on my old-ish computer (without uninstalling my XP on my first hard drive (C: from now on) yet). Everything seemed to be going well, so I went back and formatted my XP drive, and installed 7 again, thinking I would just format D: after I got 7 installed again.

Well, for some reason, it left the D: installation partition as the system partition, but 7 was booting into the C: installation. However, when it did this, it took the drive letter off of D:, and there wasnt any way I could access it in windows.

Well today, I was trying to free up the space on D: so I could start using it again. I used Paragon Partition Manager to delete D: and then split that hard drive into two logical partitions (E: and F. Everything was fine until I rebooted. I started getting "bootmgr is missing" error.

I put my 7 dvd back in, and tried running the boot repair wizard, no dice. I tried running bootsect /nt60 c: /mbr, still no dice. I tried a few other solutions (bcdedit /rebuildbcd) and still nothing.

So i decided just for "fun" to install 7 onto F: (since i already had some downloaded files in E: from earlier when I first formatted), just to see if I could get into windows and find a solution to the problem. Install goes fine, but now when I get in windows me E: partition isnt assigned a drive letter, and its assigned as the system drive (according to diskmgmt), while F: is the boot drive. Why did it do ANYTHING to E: when I told the install to go on to F:

So, now is there anyway I can fix the bootmgr is missing, and make C: my system/boot partition? And is there some way to access my data that is stuck on E: that doesnt even show up in "My Computer"?

 

[gregrocker]

Unless you have a lot of data to back up, the easiest way at this point would be to wipe your entire drive by booting from the Win7 installer and using CUstom advanced tools to delete/create/format. Install and enjoy. Add other logical storage drives as needed.

These Chinese puzzles with multi-boot are nice brain teasers, but we are on our fourth one now today, and they are never easy. Better to reinstall once perfectly since you are just dabbling with trial installs now anyway.

 

[Uber Philf]

The only way i can think of, is using the windows 7 CD to delete you C, D and F drives, install W7 onto your 1st drive, then once its installed, check My computer, and your old "E" drive will now be either "D" or "E". (not sure if the DVD drives comes first). the reinstall should fix the bootmgr problem. and hopefully render your "E" drive open and useable.

 

[laggy]

Oh, as soon as I posted i was able to manually add a drive letter to the partition, and access it in windows. My "boot" folder is located on that partition now, and i really dont want to have to format it to get everything working again. Would it be possible to just move that whole folder over to C:, then format the new win7 partition that i installed on a little while ago, and be good to go? or probably not?

 

[Uber Philf]

Im kinda confused, youd like to move your files to the 1st HDD, and format the 2nd HDD?

 

[laggy]

Sorry, I'll just show you what I mean with a picture.

Imageshack - helpme

Ok, in this picture R: (that i don't want to have to reformat and lose the data) and C: are on my second hard drive (i dont have anything on C: but a clean 7 install).

I want to be able to use the 7 install that is on D:, then format C:, hopefully without having to reformat R:


Edit: why is my bootmgr.sys file in my R: partition instead of where windows is installed on C:?

 

[Uber Philf]

Right i see now, one thing before i can give a verdict, when you boot up, do you get an option to boot into the W7 install on the D Drive?

 

[laggy]

No...but if i run bcdedit /scanos it shows up as an installed OS

 

[Uber Philf]

hmm.
Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

download that, install it.
Go to View Settings, and can you please tell me what it shows.

 

[laggy]

There is one entry in the Vista Bootloader.
Bootloader Timeout: 30 seconds.
Default OS: Windows 7
Entry #1
Name: Windows 7
BCD ID: {current}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows



I want to use D: though

 

[Uber Philf]

OK here's what you need to do:
1. go to add/remove entries
2. go to the bottom where is has the operating systems, and select windows.
3. In type select VISTA/Longhorn
4. Name it "D W7"
5. for Drive Select "D:"
6. Select Add entry on the right at the bottom
7. Click save at the top, and then check View settings,a nd post back what it says now.

 

[laggy]

There are a total of 2 entries listed in the Vista Bootloader.
Bootloader Timeout: 30 seconds.
Default OS: Windows 7
Entry #1
Name: Windows 7
BCD ID: {current}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows
Entry #2
Name: D Windows 7
BCD ID: {86b566f6-c1e1-11de-9b46-b808314fefbb}
Drive: U:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows

 

[Uber Philf]

hmm, not what i expected, but restart and you should get 2 boot options, your 2nd HD C drive and your new "D Windows 7" drive.

 

[laggy]

Nope, no two boot options, it just booted up into C:

Actually, when I first rebooted, i got "bootmgr is missing" error again, but when i put my win7 cd back in and rebooted again, it loaded up into C:

 

[gregrocker]

You have two drives marked Active, but I think running Startup Repair from your Win7 installer should sort it out for you. We had a guy the other night with his boot files on an active storage drive who unplugged it to allow Startup Repair solve the problem. It can be plugged in again later to act as a proper Data drive, but you may have to get those files out to avoid conflict.

 

[Uber Philf]

Thats not the reaction i had in mind. I'm not sure, i don't know the reaction it will have if you to get rid of the C drive OS in the bootmgr, it will either give you the bootmgr is missing error, or it will boot into your other OS.

It's completely up to you if you want to try, but i do warn you, you may lose your information on your R drive.

Go to Add/Remove entries, and select C drive Windows 7, and click delete up the top, and give a reboot.

If you do get the "bootmgr is missing error, i think your looking at a Full format of all your drives and to start from scratch, its a bowl of spaghetti right now.

 

[laggy]

Ok, so I moved over my whole boot director, bootmgr.sys, bootsqm.dat, and bootsect.bat over to my D: drive, shut down my computer, completely unplugged my second hard drive, and booted into the repair utility. It told me there was an error it would attempt to fix, then rebooted, and I'm in my win7 install from D: now!

Finally...lol

I really appreciate all the help guys.

Hopefully all I'll have to do now is plug my other drive back in, format the old win7 installation, and delete the boot information from R:

 

[Uber Philf]

And lets hope this works.

 

[laggy]

Well, I dont know exactly what happened, but everything seems to be working as I intended it to now.

Although I can't delete boot stuff from my Downloads partition, it doesn't seem to effect anything, and I'm able to boot into windows fine now.

Again, I really appreciate the help. I've been trying to fix this all day, but every single guide or whatever that I could find just didnt quite apply to me. Really needed some 1on1 help from someone who knew what they were talking about. Appreciate it very much.

Repping now

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks for the rep laggy. I'll bet Startup Repair restoring the Active flag to Win7 drive settled the issue when you plugged the other drive back in. There can only be one Active drive and Win7 isn't lettin that flag go now!

Otherwise if you don't want those boot files in your storage, you could move your files off that drive long enough to format it and then replace them.