MBR Probs, can't run "bootsec"

[GerryWolfe]

System is a Gateway 4830 (I5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 1.5TB SATA internal, 1.0TB USB external, 320GB USB external, Win7 64bit HomePrem). The 1TB internal drive has multiple partitions (C: = Win7; D: = UserData, E: = Audio; F: = Video). I also have a partition with weekly Win7 backups using COMODO).

Recently played around with (trying to) install Ubantu on the 320GB external drive. It didn't install correctly, and ended up (I think) corrupting the MBR etc on the internal HD.

I have run CHKDISK /F to rebuild the MBR, said it worked OK.
I have also run Partitiion Wizard r5 to rebuld MBR.
Boot using the Win7 repair disk & get it to resolve startup issues.

This works for a few boots, then I get back to a messed up MBR again. I suspected the system may be going back to a corrupted restore point behind the scenes, so did a couple of checkpoints with a working Win7. No change.

Research indicates "bootsect /nt60 sys" should resolve the issue, but I can't run it ("volume could not be locked, access denied" even tho executing bootsect from D: in admin mode. I have successfully done "bootsect /nt60 all" and all the other partitions seemed to successfully lock. It looks like bootsect won't fix C: when C: is being used to execute Win7 from. Copied bootsect to D: and executed it there, same "access denied" issues with C:.

Tried running in command prompt mode from the rescue DVD, get a message to the effect that a subsystem is not present.

Agreed that bootsect will fix the problem? Any better solutions (I am a newbie with Win7).

Any suggestions would be GRATEFULLY APPRECIATED!!!

advTHANKSance,
Gerry

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Hello !! Welcome to SF !!

I'm not good at booting issues but this article is worth a shot

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20864-mbr-restore-windows-7-master-boot-record.html

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

[SIW2]

Hi ,

Post a screenshot of Disk Management.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-how-post-screenshot-seven-forums.html


Why do you suspect an issue with the mbr ?

What is the error message?

What is the issue - what happens ( or doesn't happen ) ?


What bit version of windows do you have installed ?

 

[GerryWolfe]

Hi Capt Jack!

I went thru these articles, doesn't work for me.

I don't have install disks. The Gateway has a "recovery partition". I did create a repair disk from Win7 and have been using this as part of my recovery.

Using the repair disk as mentioned in these articles, I had simply tried to execute the commands without doing the "select disk" steps etc. which explains some of my probs.

Following the instructions, I tried to execute the "bootsect" and "bootrec" programs, but they do not exist in the "boot" directory on the repair disk.

Hello !! Welcome to SF !!

I'm not good at booting issues but this article is worth a shot

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20864-mbr-restore-windows-7-master-boot-record.html

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

Hope this helps,
Captain

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Hello Gerry,

As i told you before i'm not an expert i asked one of colleague (SIW2) to look at this thread he an expert he will be assisting you on this issue.

Thanks,
Captain

 

[SIW2]

You don't need to change directory.

Boot the 7 repair disc. after it searches for installations, click Next, then select the command prompt.

You get a cmd window.

Type:

Diskpart

lis vol

( find the windows 7 volume letter , e.g. D , replace D below with the win 7 volume letter )

sel vol d

act

exi

bcdboot d:\windows /s d:

bootsect /nt60 d: /mbr

 

[GerryWolfe]

Followed SIW2's suggestions...

• volume # was 0, letter K... used K instead of D in the example
• sel vol K worked
• act came back with a message "there is no partition selected, pls select a partition and try again"
• bcdboot k:\windows /s k: came back with a message "failure when attempting to copy boot files"
• bootsect /nt60 k: /mbr came back with a message "K: does not connect"
• I tried "bootsect /nt60 all" and it came back with messages to the effect that it updated all partitions, including C:

I have done a couple of restarts since this, and it appears to be working. I will continue doing restarts & shutdowns, maybe this did it!!!

Fingers crossed,
thanks for the help!!!

 

[SIW2]

Please post a screenshot of disk management window:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/9733-how-post-screenshot-seven-forums.html

 

[GerryWolfe]

View attachment 78122

DiskMgmt attached.
rgds, g.

 

[GerryWolfe]

Crashed again during reboot.

• "Reboot and selct proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key" message
• Inserted the Win7 recovery DVD. When loaded, it did not show a valid OpSys. Did a Startup Repair. Went thru the results, found the last message "Partition table does not have a valid system partition. Repair successful". Clicked on "finish", it did a restart. Again, no valid OpSys.
• Removed the Win7 recovery DVD, clicked "finish" for another restart.
• This time, Win7 booted up OK from the internal HD.

AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!
I won't shut the system down until this gets fixed. Hopefully no other crashes / restarts.

:0(

 

[SIW2]

Hi Gerry,

Have a look for this text file and post it up:

C:\Windows\System32\Logs\Srt\SrtTrail.txt.

It may be the other HD's are interfering.

Make sure the HD containing Windows 7 installation is first in bios boot order

 

[GerryWolfe]

Finally came around a workabout.
Bootrec /RebuildBcd and Bootrec /fixboot kept coming back with an "element not found" message.
Eventually purchased Avanquest Partitiion Commander, and blew away everything on my main (1.5TB) hard drive. Re-partitioned, used the various MBR and BCD utilities, reloaded all the data and reinstalled Win7 from a fairly recent image file.
Eventually got everything back to (more or less) normal. I have rebooted many times over the last halfday, and it looks like it is stable and fixed.
Didn't find a solution to the root cause, but am up and running so I guess (hope!!!) it is resolved.

I thank all who provided suggestions, SIW2 in particular!

You guys are great!

 

[SIW2]

Glad you are up and runing again.

I am not familiar with the Avanquest app.

I don't think they do a free version to test out ?

Brave of you to buy a product that is an unknown quantity.