Issues when trying to boot from a USB recovery disk.

[syuyu]

Hi guy's I'm using a gateway FX 6831, windows 7 home premium with a failing harddrive so I recently bought a new one that I'm going to use to clone the first. So I wanted to use a rescue disk I created with Hiren's on a USB stick to do the job. I used to use it with this computer and some others with no problems. (I tested it today with another pc and it worked perfectly.) Now everytime I try to boot it up with my failing computer it gives me this message during bootup "remove disk or other media press any key to restart" I tried removing everything that was connected to the computer except for that one USB and it still gives me that message. If I remove the USB itself and press a key it continues to boot into windows instead. Any help would be very appreciated, thank you!

 

[Basil]

I am no expert so usual caveats, but I have had fairly similar issues. Have you tried the stick in a USB2 port? I don't think Windows 7 natively loads USB3 drivers at boot up from most recovery discs / sticks. Can you get to a point where it asks if you want to install any drivers? I always find a repair CD is more robust, I never have much luck with USB stuff.

 

[Supportacus]

Greetings,
Change your computer's boot sequence. You can do that in the bios.
One time I tried to re-install windows using a USB drive but couldn't access BIOS for password is forgotten...
I used sysprep.exe (I think It restores the system to the first state) and I was able to boot from usb.
You can also transfer your data to an external hdd storage (size depending on your personal data)
The easiest way is using a CD instead of a USB for Hiren's rescue disk.
More details about making the usb bootable.

 

[syuyu]

Thank you for the replies! Well I actually have gotten the USB method to work quite a few times on this very system so this being the first time it gave me any trouble it's at a really inconvenient time. Yes, I am trying to load it on a USB2 port currently. I'm almost tempted to go about the recovery CD method but USB method is a lot more convenient and if I cant load my recovery disk this time through the USB method it may become a worse problem in the future so I definitely need to figure this out. By the way I'm not sure if I was clear enough based on Supportacus' reply but i was changing the boot sequence, I can actually still boot normally into windows on my failing drive but the problems occur when booting into the USB.

 

[Ztruker]

Does your computer have a Fn key you can press at boot time to get to the boot drive selection menu? If yes, set the hard drive as the first boot device then DVD. Press the key at boot, select USB and see if that makes a difference.

 

[gregrocker]

What did you use to create the USB installation media?

Read over Clean Reinstall Windows 7 which compiles everything to get and keep a perfect reinstall.

Step 1 deals with obtaining media and correctly formatting the installer. Use the tool specified for whether you have UEFI BIOS or not.

You'll get and keep a perfect Win7 install to the exact extent you stick with the tools and methods in tutorial just like 1.4+ million others have done without a single complaint.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...dvd-download-tool.html?filter[2]=General Tips

 

[syuyu]

Ok so just to be honest with you all i know the ins and outs of booting from a usb rescue disk or setting up a different boot device in general, my problem is when I try to boot from a usb rescue disk that I know for a fact works on any other system im getting a strange error that tells me to press any key to retry instead of actually booting from the usb. Any ideas on that at all? I know you're all trying to help but please don't tell me how to access my boot menu again, I'm well aware how to do so.

 

[syuyu]

I don't currently need a clean windows 7 install I'm trying to save my files and settings from my old build.

 

[gregrocker]

What "rescue disk" is this and how was it written to the stick exactly?

You are trying to rescue your files now? If you have the Win7 ISO you can write it to bootable stick using Windows 7 USB-DVD Download Tool to boot to Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console.

Have you considered slaving the old hard drive to the present install to copy the files over, or to another PC?

 

[syuyu]

I was using Hiren's and just followed the instructions on Hiren's site to create the bootable USB.

I'll look up how to try that, as for slaving the drive over to the other one, I'm not actually all too sure how to do that.

Oh and i think the read/write head finally just failed on the HD I was trying to save so until i get recovery services to replace it i think I'm dead in the water.

 

[gregrocker]

As you have a laptop you'd need a converter cable to plug in the drive to USB. So I'd just boot into it while it is plugged in alone to rescue the files using a boot disk or the Win7 disk/stick to Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console.

You can also test the drive using the boot disk, Disk Check from the Win7 installer's System Recovery Options Command Line, or the maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan.

Then plug in the new drive and do a Clean Reinstall Windows 7. Be sure to read the backup steps in that tutorial first so you know what to try to rescue so that you get everything off the old drive, if it is even accessible.