Can't boot into Windows unless I do something counterintuitive

[DCSeven]

I THINK I have all of this spelled out as it goes. It's gotten to be a blur.

I created a Windows repair disk and now my laptop won't boot into Windows (7 Pro 32-bit) unless the repair disk is in the optical drive. I ran the repair option three times (as instructed elsewhere on here) to where it says there are no problems. But now the only way for me to get into Windows is - and here's the part that's driving me totally crazy - is to leave the disk in the optical drive but change the boot order to hard drive first, optical drive second. If I leave it to boot from the optical first, I get a BOOTMGR missing error.

I also tried using the AOMEI Partition Assistant (also as instructed elsewhere) but, when I right click on the system drive, there is no option to Rebuild MBR. And, as always seems to be the case these days, I don't have the install disk.

I'm at a total loss here. HELP!

(PS - I know it says I'm running 7 Ultimate-64 bit under my avatar but this is my laptop which is Pro 32-bit)

 

[Snick]

Hi DCSeven ,

Try Last known good configuration - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[RolandJS]

free and fee Macrium Reflect offers a function to repair boot files and process -- maybe take a look and try it?

 

[SIW2]

DCSeven

post a screenshot of disk management window and/or Aomei main window so we can see all the disks and partitions.

when I right click on the system drive, there is no option to Rebuild MBR.

Unlikely there is anything wrong with the mbr code, but fyi you need to select the disk (not a partition ) to get the rebuild option

 

[DCSeven]

I'd forgotten about Last Known Good Config. Tried it - I noted changes in my desktop so it did go back, but it hasn't affected the boot problem. Still have to play with the repair disk boot sequence thing to get in.
(I could very well be wrong but I'm willing to bet you've got to be the same Snick I knew from WinMX LOL)

I couldn't find anything free on the Macrium Reflect software and don't have the $$$ to put out for a possible fix.

Here's the screenshot:

 

[SIW2]

admin cmd prompt:

bcdboot c:\windows /s c:
then press enter
bootsect /nt60 all /mbr
then press enter

 

[DCSeven]

admin cmd prompt:

bcdboot c:\windows /s c:
then press enter
bootsect /nt60 all /mbr
then press enter

Boot files were successfully created, but I got a "bootsect is not recognized as an internal or external command" message.

 

[RoWin7]

...
...I couldn't find anything free on the Macrium Reflect software and don't have the $$$ to put out for a possible fix.

Here's the screenshot:

Macrium hid it here: Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

 

[DCSeven]

Macrium hid it here: Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

Downloaded and installed... saw no option to repair boot and didn't find any reference to it in their help pages or knowledge base.


I do have to say that I know just enough about computers to get in trouble. Kinda obvious since I'm here.

 

[Snick]

Fix Boot Problems - Macrium
How to fix Windows boot problems (Restore ... - Macrium KB

 

[SIW2]

Here you are:

View attachment Bootsect.zip

Unzip the file

Rt click and run as administrator on the bootsect.cmd

 

[DCSeven]

I want to thank everyone for their contributions and suggestions. But, this #$@% thing almost got tossed into the fire pit. Instead of watching what probably would have been an interesting demise, it's going back to the seller on Amazon.