I am trying to access the bootsect.exe in order to remove grub

[ShayHamblin]

I am running an ASUS U-47 laptop and am trying to access the system recovery options. However, when I try and access them, which I have done from both the recovery partition as well as a system repair disc, I am only directed to the restore to jfactory preset wizard, which offers me three options; restore windows to entire HD, just this partition, or 2 partitions. I am trying to access the bootsect.exe in order to remove grub, and as far as I can see, the only way to do that is through the command prompt in the system recovery environment. Any help i can get would be greatly appreciated.

 

[theog]

To Remove Linux, take look at this post:
http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/178280-error-0xc0000225-boot.html#post1514443

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/62209-remove-grub-restore-windows-7-a.html

 

[ShayHamblin]

those are both great, but the problem is that I can't access the System recovery options, which both of those tutorials call for. When I try to access the System recovery options by either using the "repair" option in advanced boot options or by using a system repair disc, all that happens is that I am redirected to the ASUS factory reset menu.

 

[gregrocker]

Your Recovery partition may have been marked Active forcing it to run at boot. Follow these steps to recover Win7 from GRUB:

Burn the Win7 DVD for your licensed version from Step 5 of Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start, boot it to access System Recovery Options Command Line to Mark Win7 or it's 100mb System Reserved Partition (preferred if you have it) Active.

Then run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until Windows 7 starts and it's boot partition holds the System Active flags.

If this fails when System Reserved partition is marked Active, move the Active flag to Win7 partition itself and then try the 3 repairs again.

Be aware that sometimes GRUB can corrupt Windows 7 beyond repair when on the same HD. If problems persist I would delete it completely and then for any future Linux Dual Boots use separate HD's booted only via BIOS, or Dual Boot - Windows 7 and Linux - Windows 7 Forums.

If all else fails it may be necessary to wipe the boot sector of interfering code using Diskpart Clean Command before Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which steps are same for retail.http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

 

[ShayHamblin]

I did make a windows repair disc, what i'm trying to say is that i CANNOT access the windows system recovery options. where as when everyone else boots their system repair disc, they have the option to get to system recovery tools, my system instead brings up the asus recovery partition, which only allow me to reset my system to factory settings, which does nothing to grub.

 

[gregrocker]

Is it booting into the disk normally as shown in System Repair Disk tutorial? At what point does it divert to running Recovery?

It sounds like it's not even booting into the disk but instead booting into Recovery partition. 90% of time failure to boot the disk is due to user failure. How to Boot A Computer from CD or DVD - YouTube

Download free Partition Wizard bootable CD, burn to CD using Windows Image Burner. Boot CD to see if Recovery is marked Active. If so then rightclick on 100mb SysReserved (if you have it) or C partition to Modify>Set to Active, click OK, then Apply, try to boot again.

If that fails boot into DVD to run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times to repair or rewrite the System boot files to the Active partition.

 

[ShayHamblin]

i'll try booting into partition wizard to try that, but yeah, what i'm saying is that it isn't booting into the disc at all, even though i'm choosing to boot into the dvd drive from the bios. instead it is booting directly into the recovery partition.

 

[gregrocker]

Are you being prompted to "Press any key to boot CD?" If so this could be a bad CD. Will it boot in another PC?

This is why I first suggested burning the Win7 DVD to try it for repairs, and to have it to if necessary get the superior Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

The BIOS boot menu key on some Asus's is F8, but it must be triggered quickly or it will try to boot the HD, or if the Active flag has switched possibly the Recovery partition.

 

[ShayHamblin]

Windows boots just fine, i have to go through Grub to do it but it's running fine. And I know how to get to the boot menu. Perhaps i'll just do that clean reinstall

 

[gregrocker]

I'd wipe the HD first with Diskpart Clean Command, accessing DISKPART At PC Startup.

Then follow the steps in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 to get a perfect install you can preserve with a backup image.

 

[ShayHamblin]

I was being prompted to "press any key"....maybe it is a bad cd, but I had just made it using recdisc.exe. I'm going to download a windows 7 install iso and burn it, maybe it will let me into the system recovery options, if not i'll do the clean install with diskpart clean first

 

[AddRAM]

Do you get a window that has the option to repair your computer while running the disk ?

You can see it on the 2nd picture under step #4 in this tutorial.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

 

[ShayHamblin]

no, i only get 3 options. Recover windows to this partition. Recover windows to entire HD, and Recover windows to a new partition and leave a blank Partition (paraphrased, but that was the gist)

 

[townsbg]

If you can boot into Windows try easybcd: EasyBCD - NeoSmart Technologies

The free version is hidden at the bottom.

 

[AddRAM]

Did you make the repair cd from your pc ? I think I remember seeing somewhere that if you make a repair cd from a pc with a factory recovery partition, your repair cd will not have that option. If you download the iso and burn it, it probably will give you the option. Someone help me out here.


Just IMd Greg, maybe he will jump in.

 

[townsbg]

You should be able to restore the vista/7 bootloader with easybcd.

 

[ShayHamblin]

Did you make the repair cd from your pc ? I think I remember seeing somewhere that if you make a repair cd from a pc with a factory recovery partition, your repair cd will not have that option. If you download the iso and burn it, it probably will give you the option. Someone help me out here.

Yes i did create it from the pc i'm trying to work on, maybe thats it. Well i'm gonna download a windows 7 install iso and burn it, see if that works, i'll let you guys know. I really appreacate all the help but i'm done for the night with it. internet where i am right now is pretty bad so it's gonna be a bit til i can get that ISO

 

[ShayHamblin]

You should be able to restore the vista/7 bootloader with easybcd.

already tried, did nothing.

 

[gregrocker]

The System Recovery Options are a part of the OS residing in a folder on C, not part of the OEM Factory Recovery which lives on its partition. The OEM only adds a hotlink on the Options to run its Recovery, which can also sometimes be made to autostart by setting it Active and rebooting.

Recovery Options are accessed on the Advanced Boot Options via the F8 menu at boot, or from the DVD or Repair CD. In your case it appears the disk isn't booting, that somehow Recovery has been marked Active so it will boot instead of C. This can be checked using PW CD.

Try booting into Recovery Options from F8, then from the DVD.

 

[ShayHamblin]

Do I need to burn partition wizard to a cd if i can boot into windows and just run it? because thats what i've done now and it does not show the recovery partition as active. Also, I have tried the F8 menu in boot, and when I select the repair option, again, all it does is boot directly into the recovery partition.