Solved Laptop Won't boot Anything

[SoapDodger]

Hi Guys,

This is an interesting problem and one that has completely confused me! I am starting to think I have somehow currupted the MBR (master boot record). I know, how could I possibly do that :/ well I don't know.

I have recently had a rootkit virus which was removed, I then fully cleaned my hard drive and recoverd windows eliminating any partitions and reminence of the rootkit.

The problem:

I recently tried recovering from a backup image which jammed just before it started. Ever since then, I cannot boot windows. I cannot boot in safe mode. I can't access the recovery options and I can't get to the command line.

I have made a Windows 7 DVD which boots but then freezes when the mouse appears (before any windows appear). I made a GParted bootable disc to try and wipe my hard drive but this just brings up the DR-DOS. The same thing happens when I use my Ubuntu 12.04 boot disc, it also brings up the DR-DOS.

I thought at first this might be an issue with the DVD drive so I tried making a Ubuntu USB boot drive and that also bring up the DR-DOS

Within the DR-DOS I attempted to make a new partition, I can't create a primary or extended partion.

My question is what can I do? lol

Addition Info: I want windows 7 OEM installing which I have on disc. I am using Ubuntu to help troubleshoot but I will eventually want that on too. I simply used GParted to clean the hard drive but couldn't boot it.

My laptop is a Acer Aspire 5741, i3 processor, Hitachi 320GB HD

Cheers.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Is it possible that the Windows 7 DVD is bad? Can you try this method instead?

Burn the required Windows 7 ISO, downloaded from this location, to a bootable 4GB USB drive using this tool.

Boot from the USB, and see if you can get past the freezing mouse issue you described.

You mentioned a rootkit - do you know which one is was?

Regards,
Golden

 

[Kaktussoft]

UBUNTU (and problably GPARTED) don't have DR DOS!! How did you burn the ISO? I tnik you used NERO ... the wrong way. just doubleclick on ISO in win7 and follow the questions. Or use The Official ImgBurn Website

 

[SoapDodger]

Thanks for the quick replies. I didn't think it was a bad disc because my recovery disc's also crashed and I have used them before. However I did use Nero lol Thanks for the suggestions but A: I don't have a 4GB memory stick, B: I am using windows XP as my lovely windows 7 laptop is dead lmao

Suggestions?!?

 

[Kaktussoft]

• use a good DVD
• first wipe your disk. For example: How to Wipe Disk with partition manager? Partition Wizard Wipe Disk Help (use the quick method)

Partition Wizard found here: Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online (bootable CD is listed at bottom). Burn it with imgburn

 

[SlasherIT]

@Kaktussoft - There probably is no need. He already has an Ubuntu 12.04 Live CD or USB which already contains a partition editor - GParted, and can already do this.

To OP, boot Ubuntu 12.04 from Live CD, open GParted, and format all partitions and merge them, if you want to start completely clean. Then, install windows 7, and after that, Ubuntu 12.04. If you have any questions, please do ask.

 

[gregrocker]

I would wipe the HD as suggested using PW CD which will boot itself, since OP has problems booting a disk.

This will in turn force Win7 installer to boot itself to install.

If the freezing continues then boot the hardware tests in http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

 

[Kaktussoft]

@Kaktussoft - There probably is no need. He already has an Ubuntu 12.04 Live CD or USB which already contains a partition editor - GParted, and can already do this.

To OP, boot Ubuntu 12.04 from Live CD, open GParted, and format all partitions and merge them, if you want to start completely clean. Then, install windows 7, and after that, Ubuntu 12.04. If you have any questions, please do ask.

merging partitions and format doesn't refresh the MBR boot code!

 

[SlasherIT]

You sure? I'm pretty sure myself that you do remove the MBR when everything is wiped off the drive, including Windows...

 

[Kaktussoft]

You sure? I'm pretty sure myself that you do remove the MBR when everything is wiped off the drive, including Windows...

You talked about merging partitions and formatting. This modifies the partition table of course. Partition table is part of MBR. But MBR also has the bootstrap code and disk signature. Only disk wipe clears that stuff.

Master boot record - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[SlasherIT]

Alright then, cool, but GParted can do this anyway. .

 

[SoapDodger]

Using the suggested methods I have made a 'good' windows 7 disc. To my knowledge I now have 3 good bootable discs and none of them work. It doesn't recognize my Ubunutu disc or Gparted disc but that could be due to the fact I used Nero for them. It doesn't recognize my ubuntu USB boot nor does it start the windows seven boot disc

All the suggestions include creating yet another boot disc As it is I am going to CD's like meals. Is there any formatting software I can boot from my 1GB USB stick?!?

Cheers for comments so far

 

[Kaktussoft]

Using the suggested methods I have made a 'good' windows 7 disc. To my knowledge I now have 3 good bootable discs and none of them work. It doesn't recognize my Ubunutu disc or Gparted disc but that could be due to the fact I used Nero for them. It doesn't recognize my ubuntu USB boot nor does it start the windows seven boot disc

All the suggestions include creating yet another boot disc As it is I am going to CD's like meals. Is there any formatting software I can boot from my 1GB USB stick?!?

Cheers for comments so far

Universal USB Installer – Easy as 1 2 3 | USB Pen Drive Linux

But 1GB is not much!

 

[SoapDodger]

To make my USB stick I used UNetBootin? Is that just as good?!?

 

[Kaktussoft]

To make my USB stick I used UNetBootin? Is that just as good?!?

Almost the same so good as well. What ISO did you install on USB using UNetBootin?

 

[SoapDodger]

Ubuntu 12.04 Iso x64. The CD version but I read it would still work. Should I try it again downloading the file through UNetBootin?!?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Ubuntu 12.04 Iso x64. The CD version but I read it would still work. Should I try it again downloading the file through UNetBootin?!?

yes!! it should work

 

[SoapDodger]

I am downloading a more stable version 11.10 Live x64 through UNetBootin, I will try booting from that and if it doesn't work I think it could be hardward or MBR loss which is stopping it booting.

I'll get back to you when it's finished.

 

[SoapDodger]

I just tried booting from my Windows 7 CD again and I got the error message:

Couldn't boot CD: Could not find BOOTMGR

Any ideas?

 

[Kaktussoft]

I just tried booting from my Windows 7 CD again and I got the error message:

Couldn't boot CD: Could not find BOOTMGR

Any ideas?

You get different error messages all the time?
a file called bootmgr must be in root folder of dvd. It's the bootmanager. Can you find it?