BOOTMGR missing!

[TheBull]

Guys, I desperately need your help here! I started installing Windows 7 on my boss'es laptop. But for some reason could not get Windows 7 to install on the partition we created. Now her laptop won't boot. It gives me the 'BOOTMGR is missing' error. She has XP on her system. How can I restore the bootfiles without a XP CD!!!

My arse is on the line here!

Thanks!!!!

 

[Orbital Shark]

If you have the Windows 7 DVD you can try booting off it & do a repair install if the option is there.

 

[TheBull]

I have the 7 dvd, and tried to do a repair, but could not, for windows 7 did not install. So I need to fix the bootmgr with something else.

 

[Orbital Shark]

You could try installing a fresh copy of Windows 7 but without formatting. This will move the entire contents of the hard disk to windows.old directory. From there you can access all the original Documents/Music/Pictures/Video etc so you can back them up. Once backed up or moved to the new user folders you could then delete the windows.old directory.

You may have a lot of 'administrator' nags from the UAC but that can be disabled. Also, were you trying to dual boot or was it just on a fresh partition.

P.S sorry for the late reply

 

[Orbital Shark]

Failing that there's always a copy of XP that can be downloaded on all good torrent sites.

 

[unawave]

She has XP on her system. How can I restore the bootfiles without a XP CD!!!

Boot from Windows 7 DVD
At first screen press shift + F10
enter:
bootsect /nt52 SYS /force

 

[TheBull]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate your help! Left my boss with her unbootable laptop for the night. Will try again tomorrow morning, and post back!!

 

[Fmjc001]

...I think a startup repair is your best option.

 

[Jacee]

You can borrow an XP CD and use her license key

Follow the instructions here for recovering XP:
How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install

 

[TheBull]

Just to report back. Thankfully got Windows 7 up and running on the partition I created, no data loss on her XP partition. I get the dual boot up screen with Easy BCD, but can still not boot into XP. Tried in Easy BCD, but to no avail. Hope you guys can help me on this one!!

 

[SIW2]

Hi Bull,

Go to folder options and unhide protected o/s files.

Can you find the XP bootfiles anywhere ?

Could you post screen shots of both partitions like this:



and also of Disk Management, like this:

 

[TheBull]

SIW2, I will be at work in about 30min. Will check. Where should I look though?

Oops, sorry, did not see the 2'nd part of your post with the screenshots. Will do it as soon as I get there. Thanks!!

 

[SIW2]

Just look on the partitions - Start orb, Computer, click a partition and in the window that opens, see what's there, and post a screenshot - need to unhide protected o/s files first.

Like this:



LOL - you saw it just as I posted this.

 

[TheBull]

Here are those screenshots. Thanks for the help!

 

[SIW2]

Hi,

How come you divided the HD up like that - unusual.

The 1.46gb partition has to be the active one containing the bootfiles.

You may need to rt click it in Disk Management and give it a drive letter.

Then post a screenshot of it's contents.

 

[TheBull]

I didn't devide it up like that. It was like that from Toshiba. I just created the 30gb partition for Windows 7. (Or maybe someone else devided it like, for this notebook originally came out with Vista.)
So I have to set the 1.46gb partition to active and give it a drive letter? Any available letter?

 

[YupYup]

I didn't devide it up like that. It was like that from Toshiba. I just created the 30gb partition for Windows 7. (Or maybe someone else devided it like, for this notebook originally came out with Vista.)
So I have to set the 1.46gb partition to active and give it a drive letter? Any available letter?

Just give it a drive letter and post the screenshot, then we will be able to tell if it needs to be the active partition.

Edit: Yes any drive letter

 

[TheBull]

When I right click it under disk manegement I don't get any options to give it a name or anything. There is just one option - description?

 

[SIW2]

Have a look at the 4.79gb one and post a screenshot of that if possible.

What happens if you select description on the little one?

Also, I can't read the characters - do any of the partitions say System , or Active in the Status column?

 

[TheBull]

My apologies for the delay. She (boss) went out for lunch, will post back a bit later.
Thanks for your patience and help thus far!