Solved "BOOTMGR is missing, Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart"

[synnchan]

I've been getting this problem lately when I turn on my computer. When I press the Ctrl+Alt+Del combination, the computer does restart but sometimes it still gives me the same screen again, so I need some luck to get past it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It's extremely bothersome.

This is how the screen looks like:

Why am I getting this problem now and how can I fix it?

 

[Brink]

Hello Synnchan,

This may be able to help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/104341-bootmgr-missing-fix.html

 

[synnchan]

I'm with a problem here. I have no blank CD/DVD to put my System Repair Disk into. So I created a virtual drive (G: ), and put the System Repair Disk there.

But my computer has my physical drive (D: ) set as the first boot order. I need to access my computer's BIOS to change the first boot order to my virtual drive (G: )

But I don't know how to access my computer's BIOS. I need to know what key to press.

This is my computer's information:
http://speccy.piriform.com/results/UXFpiUlJksrlp8LgwolOwPu

 

[Berton]

What is the G: drive? Don't think a virtual drive can be made bootable but one of the USB drives could be used and the BIOS set to boot it first.

Using a CD or DVD for the Repair disc is the cheapest way to go but one could also use a USB Thumb/Flash drive. I'd use the smallest size necessary for holding the files and since it has to be bootable it'd be best to nothing else on the drive or disc. During the writing of the data it most likely will delete anything on it.

My Repair disc is on a DVD-R but you should be able to use either a DVD+R or DVD-R disc in your Optiarc DVD RW AD-7280S ATA Device. It probably is a Multi-Format model but don't use the RW discs.

 

[DavidE]

Try the DELete key to enter BIOS.

 

[synnchan]

I just went to the local store and bought a DVD-R, then wrote the System Repair Disk on it.

But now I have a really weird problem. When I turn on my computer, this screen doesn't show up:

What should I do now?

 

[Brink]

How did you create it?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

 

[synnchan]

Through here:

 

[Brink]

In that case, you may need to boot to your BIOS, and check to see if you have your "boot priority" set to have the CD/DVD listed 1st and you Windows drive 2nd.

Afterwards, see if you are able to boot from the DVD.

 

[synnchan]

I kept pressing the Delete key to enter BIOS mode and that sent me to a completely blue screen with a black square in the center. That scared the hell out of me.

Why can't I just get things done.

 

[Brink]

In that case see if you may be able to keep tapping the F11 key (I believe is for MSI) during boot-up to enter the boot menu, and select to boot from the DVD.

 

[gregrocker]

Is it possible the hard drive has had its boot order changed to another, or that the hard drive is not even detected any longer in BIOS setup?

Do not be afraid to enter BIOS setup. Tap the key vigorously until it shows the Setup screen, and then move between the tabs to find where your storage devices are listed. Do you see the hard drive? It may be listed by its serial number which can be googled to find the make/model to run bootable HD Diagnostic .

If you have more than one hard drive: which is set Primary?

And in the Boot Priority order, what is the priority given that specific hard drive?

Did you read the blue screen with black square in center? Try again and see if you can snap a pic.

Unplug all other hard drives and peripherals to troubleshoot this.

If the Win7 repair CD refuses to boot, then try the installation disk provided in Step 7 of Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start. If that won't boot then try the flash stick boot. If necessary unplug the DVD drive to boot stick.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

 

[Brink]

You're reading my mind Greg.

I'm thinking the HDD may have bit the dust, but wanted to try the usual solutions first as well before moving on to scanning the HDD at boot with SeaTools to verify if the HDD is dead or not.

 

[synnchan]

Well guys, I have good news.

I finally found out the reason behind the problem. It had to do with a flash driver of mine. If I leave it connected to my computer and turn it on, maybe it screws up the boot sequence or whatever and windows thinks the flash driver is the main thing instead of my C:.

But if I turn my computer on without the flash driver connected, the "missing bootmgr" screen never shows up. I'm feeling rather dumb for not figuring things out earlier, but at least now I did.

 

[Berton]

Sometimes the BIOS is looking to a different drive than [usually] C: for the boot files and gives that problem. While in the BIOS see if the USB is set as the first boot device. I've also seen it on older computers when a CD or DVD was left in the drive when shut down, next startup was looking for boot files on the disc.

 

[gregrocker]

Was the stick ever formatted to be bootable? This can happen if so.

You can move the data off the stick and wipe it with Diskpart Clean Command to clear the boot code
then repartition it in Disk Mgmt.