Broken MBR/Boot/System Partition

[pifreak]

Previously I had Ubuntu Linux and GRUB, which pointed to Windows 7 and Windows XP

I formatted all the partitions and resized Windows 7 to use the entire disk.

I accidentally deleted the 100MB partition that contains the boot folder.

Nothing works to fix it. I really need help! I made a new >100MB partition and formatted it to NTFS with gParted, and copied the contents of my laptop's system partition (same exact OS, I thought maybe it would see it and be able to fix it to work with the desktop.)

So, what do you recommend? When I boot the DVD and go to repair installation, it doesnt see any O
S's. On startup repair, even doing it several several times with and without rebooting, it says the same thing.


at the end of the log:

Root cause found:
------
The partition table does not have a valid System Partition.

Repair action: Partition table repair
Result: Completed Successfully. Error Code = 0x0
Time taken = 2277ms

------------
------------

When doing the bootrec commands, it gives errors such as 'Element not found' or 'a device cannot function'

What on Earth can I do to get my pc to boot Windows 7 properly again?

pi`

 

[SIW2]

Is the 100mb a Primary partition?

If not, mark your main windows partition Active (assuming that is a Primary) - then run startup repair - will probably take 2 or 3 runs.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello pifreak, welcome to Seven Forums!


Here's a couple tutorials that may help with SIWs suggestions; if not you may need to wipe the entire HDD to overwrite Grub and start over.

Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

How to Mark a Partition as Active in Windows 7


After you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, use Step One of this tutorial at the link below to do a wipe (secure erase) to the entire Hard Disk Drive, running this "clean all" then using the outline in Step Two #2 to create/format and mark Active a single 100GB partition using diskpart will get you the best possible space to do a clean install of Windows 7 to; you can always extend the Windows partition to include the remaining unallocated space on the HDD / SSD or create additional partitions after the installation completes if you choose.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

DISKPART : At PC Startup


Be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

 

[theog]

All Linux code must be deleted.As you have had linux on the HD you need do a Clean all & full format.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html

Do a full clean & full format in command prompt.
1) Boot DVD & Press Shift+F10 (for command prompt)
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/119713-diskpart-pc-startup.html
2) Boot DVD, & http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/682-command-prompt-startup.html
(for command prompt)

Type in command line
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (win HD)
CLEAN ALL
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
SELECT PARTITION 1
ACTIVE
FORMAT fs=NTFS
ASSIGN
EXIT
EXIT


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

 

[pifreak]

*sigh*

There's no "linux code" or GRUB left over

I deleted everything on the disk except Windows 7. Then I resized Windows 7 to the entire disk. I didn't even realize I had deleted the 100mb system boot partition.

Assuming I have a 500GB NTFS healthy partition with Windows 7, but there is NO 100mb system partition with the boot info, is there any way to fix it without formatting?

There has to be a way to create the 100mb partition with gParted, make new boot information, and repair the installation. Please help!


Edit: I marked the 100mb partition BOOT and HIDDEN under manage flags in gParted (Linux live CD)

Now, when I boot the windows DVD it sees Windows 7 as an option on the recovery option.

I'm going to keep running start up repair, and then try the other commands to re-build the boot info. Any other suggestions while I try this?

Thanks everyone for your time...it's really appreciated.

 

[pifreak]

Is the 100mb a Primary partition?

If not, mark your main windows partition Active (assuming that is a Primary) - then run startup repair - will probably take 2 or 3 runs.

No, there must be some error. It is listed as "Logical" and the main installation is marked as "Logical" and "Extended"

How do I mark the 100mb as primary?

 

[SIW2]

You can either delete the 100mb and recreate it as primary, or you can convert it to primary using e.g. the free partition wizard boot disc.

Alternatively , you can do without the separate 100 mb system partition and have your windows partition as system .

To do that you would need to convert your windows partition to primary - partition wizard again.

I don't think you can do non destructive conversion with Gparted. ( You may be able to - haven't looked at it for a while. )


Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to boot computer directly to manage partition.

 

[pifreak]

You can either delete the 100mb and recreate it as primary, or you can convert it to primary using e.g. the free partition wizard boot disc.

Alternatively , you can do without the separate 100 mb system partition and have your windows partition as system .

To do that you would need to convert your windows partition to primary - partition wizard again.

I don't think you can do non destructive conversion with Gparted. ( You may be able to - haven't looked at it for a while. )


Partition Wizard Bootable CD allows user to boot computer directly to manage partition.

I deleted the 100mb partition. How do I recreate a PRIMARY 100mb partition with the Windows DVD command line?

 

[SIW2]

It seems you now have one logical drive and 100mb free space inside an extended partition - that's why 3rd party app. Partition Wiz was suggested.

 

[pifreak]

diskpart

cre par pri

for fs=ntfs quick

ass

act

exi

X:\Soures>diskpart

DISKPART>list disk

Disk 0 Online 465GB(Size) 118MB (free)

DISKPART> select disc 0

Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> list partition

## Type Size Offset
Partition 0 Extended 465GB 31KB
Partition 1 Extended 465GB 63KB

Which do I select, will this break anything?


EDIT: without selecting a partition,

DISKPART> cre par pri

Virtual Disc Service error:
There is not enough usable space for this operation.

 

[SIW2]

You woud create a primary as you tried to - normally. However, you can't do that in this situation - you need a 3rd party app.

 

[gregrocker]

The problem if 100mb System Reserved and Win7 partitions are within an Extended Logical Partition is that you must normally delete all but one of the Logical sub-partitions to get Partition Wizard bootable CD to Modify>convert to Primary.

Diskpart List shows a HD with 465gb size but also shows two partitions with 465gb size each. Something is wrong.

Please download and burn to CD free Partition Wizard from link SIW2 posted, then post back the accurate partition sizes and listings - a camera snap would be nice.

If you only have two partitions - 100mb and Win7 - then try to rightclick the extended Logical to Modify>Convert to Primary. If it won't allow this, then Delete the 100mb partition and try again. Next rightclick Win7 partition to Modify>Set Active. Then boot into Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, accept any offered repair. If it doesn't start, boot back into DVD/CD Recovery Options to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots until it starts.

It is incorrect that deleting GRUB alone will safeguard against corruption of Win7 which we see here a lot. The HD must be wiped if this is what has happened.

 

[pifreak]

I have plugged in the drive with a sata/usb cable, and I can see the contents. Using EASEUS Partition Master to "convert Logical to Primary" on the windows 7 drive

So, there will be one partition, Windows 7 as Primary. When this is done, how do I re-build the proper boot settings?

Edit: the pc threw an error...windows has a problem insert your boot CD to fix.
So I did and under repair your computer, it popped up saying it detected and can fix, do you want to restart?
so I did, and now it shows Windows 7 Home Premium and the 475819MB partition (C Seven-64 [name I gave it a while ago]

Now I go to startup repair.

Attempting repairs...
Repairing disk errors. This might take over an hour to complete.


I will have to check this after class and a meeting.

I'll keep you updated. Thanks for the help.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you mark Win7 partition Active?

It would be better if you would use free Partition Wizard bootable CD as it has helped fix hundreds of these issues here without fail. If three Startup Repairs with reboot on marked-Active Win7 partition do not work, then running Rebuild MBR from PW CD Disk tab sometimes does.

A camera snap of the drive map with listings of partition manager CD can also reveal other problems to be solved.

 

[pifreak]

embarrassed to say that I don't have any blank CD's with me here in my dorm.

I can install the Partition Magic on my laptop and use the cables if I need to.

I see:
Windows 7 Home Premium (recovered) | 476819MB | ( C: ) Seven-64
under System Recovery Options

I apologize that I am bothering you guys with this issue, I'll try my best to follow your instructions quickly and post an update.

 

[pifreak]

This is off my laptop and I have the drive plugged in with sata to usb cable.

While I have access to it like this it shouldn't be hard to perform things with it right?

 

[pifreak]

Ubuntu 9.04 disc
-> Boot from first Hard Drive
-> Boots Windows 7 fine and everything works.


Now I'm going to remove the CD and restart. IF it doesn't boot, then obviously there is a minor error.
(I think boot might be unchecked on the partition, if so, do I just check it with gParted?)

Thanks everyone, I'll post in a minute

 

[pifreak]

evidently my edit was eaten by flaky wifi.

making this post from my working Windows 7 pc now.

I don't need a 100mb partition. The drive is all one partition. It works and boots fine now. No GRUB. No Linux. No errors, fast boot. It's amazing.

I only had a problem because I was careless when I resized Windows 7 and accidentally ate the 100mb boot partition. Turns out you can circumvent that. It's kind of a silly idea in the first place.


I'm keeping my laptop with GRUB -> ubuntu/Win7 and I'll set up virtualization on my desktop.


Thanks for the help, everyone. I wasn't willing to give up or format.

Cheers~

pi`

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You can have your cake and eat it too, it can function from anywhere you put it as long as it's on a Primary partition; if you understand its uses, it really is very useful/helpful.

System Reserved : Create Using Disk Management

System Reserved : Multi Boot from Logical Partitions



Good to see you got it booting.