bootmgr missing, then won't boot from cd, what next?

[Interestor]

Last night I tried to absorb a 3gb partition. Tried to shrink, delete... couldn't get it back into c:, so I just made it back into a partition, different letter. I left the disk manager open when I put the computer to sleep.

Alienware M11x r2.

Turned it on this morning, got the bootmgr missing. I dug out the original microsoft disk, plugged in my external firwire cd drive, and tried to boot from there.

The setup utility showed the cd drive after I plugged it in, but choosing it doesn't seem to stick. Then rebooting doesn't behave differently. Trying to reboot from network works, says cable not connected.

So, how do I boot from the cd in this case?

Other methods to get the bootmgr fixed?

 

[Interestor]

I can get into the setup and even boot order menu, but no windows or dos. So maybe I should ask how do I get a command prompt in this situation?

 

[Interestor]

Ok, I did magically get it to boot from the cd that came with the new computer.

However, there is no option to repair windows. All I can do is choose my language, keyboard, currency; then choose which partition to install windows. There is an option to "Load Driver" but any folder I choose (can even poke around existing c drive) gets a response about unsigned.

um, what can I do? (btw what is this damned Recovery partition for?)

Thank you

 

[Kaktussoft]

RECOVERY partition is to revert to factory settings. You will loose everything!
Did you delete any partition? You have a partition called RECOVERY and one with Operating System. Other partitions as well?

 

[Kaktussoft]

2. If prompted, press any key to boot from the Windows 7 installation DVD. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You will only have about 8 seconds to press this key.

​

3. Select your language preferences and click on Next. (See screeshot below).

​

4. Click on Repair your computer. (See screenshot below)

​

 

[Kaktussoft]

in "repair your computer", select "command prompt"

diskpart
list vol
exit

Which drive letters do you have (ignore the DVD drive letters shown there). Assume you see C and D

attrib  c:\bootmgr
attrib  d:\bootmgr

Which drive letter has file bootmgr on it?

 

[Interestor]

Ah, thank you for the response.

The current problem is that there is no option to repair on my cd.

Partitions: I have a little 37mb, then recovery 11.6gb with 3gb free, then the pesky empty 3gb one that I tried to absorb which seems to have cased this, then windows at 283gb with 4gb free.

---

Reading more I finally figured how to get a command prompt - shift f10.

Then I tried the following after I got into C:
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /RebuildBcd

All told me that they were successful. However, no effect, still bootmgr missing.

Is there more (or maybe correct) that I can do at the command prompt?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Ah, thank you for the response.

The current problem is that there is no option to repair on my cd.

Partitions: I have a little 37mb, then recovery 11.6gb with 3gb free, then the pesky empty 3gb one that I tried to absorb which seems to have cased this, then windows at 283gb with 4gb free.

---

Reading more I finally figured how to get a command prompt - shift f10.

Then I tried the following after I got into C:
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /FixBoot
bootrec /RebuildBcd

All told me that they were successful. However, no effect, still bootmgr missing.

Is there more (or maybe correct) that I can do at the command prompt?

Why did you rebuild MBR? Why did you rebuild volume bootsector? Why rebuild bootmenu?

 

[Kaktussoft]

You don't see option "repair your computer" as shown in #5 ?

diskpart
list vol
exit

What volumes do you see (ignore the dvd drives)

 

[Interestor]

Why did I rebuild... that is what I read.

No option to repair.

Volumes that I see are 1,2,3,4 like I listed.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Why did I rebuild... that is what I read.

No option to repair.

Volumes that I see are 1,2,3,4 like I listed.

Strange you have no option to repair.

I can't see you post what is volume 1,2,3,4!!

diskpart
sel  dis  0
list  part
list vol

 

[Kaktussoft]

attrib  c:\bootmgr
attrib  d:\bootmgr
attrib  e:\bootmgr
attrib  f:\bootmgr

Where is bootmgr?

 

[Interestor]

Yeah, strange Alienware disk I have with no repair option!

Partitions: I have a little 37mb, then recovery 11.6gb with 3gb free, then the pesky empty 3gb one that I tried to absorb which seems to have cased this, then windows at 283gb with 4gb free.

CAn I get this missing bootmgr repaired from the command prompt?

 

[Interestor]

I got a hit in e: (the recovery) says A SHR E:\bootmgr

 

[Kaktussoft]

I got a hit in e: (the recovery) says A SHR E:\bootmgr

Not in C,D,F,G?

 

[Interestor]

Nope. I got another on F: (cd) says R F:\bootmgr

 

[Kaktussoft]

What partition is active now?

diskpart
list vol
[COLOR=red]Now for all volumes you see (except DVD). For exmaple C,D,E[/COLOR]
[COLOR=black]sel vol C[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]det part[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]sel vol D[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]det part[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]sel part E[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]det part[/COLOR]
[COLOR=#000000]exit[/COLOR]

Which one is: Active=Yes?

 

[Interestor]

Volume C the os is active: yes

 

[Kaktussoft]

Nope. I got another on F: (cd) says R F:\bootmgr

Not interested in DVD/CD. Since DVD-drive F... I assume you have 3 partitions


WIN7 (your OS partition). Size very large. Drive letter C
TOOLS. A very small partition with drivers I think. Drive letter D(?)
RECOVERY. Size about 15GB. Drive letter E

Drive letters can be different if booting normally in win7!!

So only E has bootmgr?

diskpart
sel vol e
det part
exit

Is it active?

 

[Interestor]

E is not active