My Windows 7 wont boot

[kasfig]

When I purchased my Laptop (second hand) the previous owner had installed Windows 7 Ultimate on it. There were no backup / recovery / repair disks that came with the Laptop.

I made a back up of this Operating System using a program called Easeus To Do Backup.

I saved the image file thus created on a separate external hard drive.

What I should have done when making this backup using Easeus was select the "system backup" option.
Foolishly I chose the option of "disk/partition backup.

Afterwards I (also foolishly) formatted the laptop hard drive thus no doubt removing all boot sectors / recovery sectors/partitions that may have existed on this.

At a later date I "recovered" the Windows 7 image to the laptop hard drive.

However it wouldnt boot. When I switch the computer on the following message appears on the screen.

"Insert System Disk in Drive.
Press any key when ready...

Although I am not an expert it is apparent there is something vital missing . Could it be something called a "boot sector" or a "boot partition" In that case please can anyone advise if it is possible for me to put in place what is needed for the Operating System to boot again. Any advice would be most gratefully received, because if I cannot get it back I have lost Win 7 Ultimate

Yours with thanks in advance
Ian

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hello and welcome kasfig my own simple answer would be this mate after wiping the drive if you can and if you know the activation code for the version you are wanting. When choosing that you need to watch for language, an affixes like "old" or "N" as they are what it says and the N means it doesn't have WMP with it and make sure the SP1 is there.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

 

[kasfig]

Win 7 not booting

Hi Thanks
I appreciate your advice, which is very helpful - especially the link to downloads - what a fine resource

I have some good news for everyone since I posted the query

I tried recovery again using easeus and lo and behold using a different set of settings - It worked!

Happily now I have my win 7 ultimate back. - now I must remember to make a proper backup this time

best wishes and thanks
Ian

 

[gregrocker]

It's important to tell the app during Recovery that you want the MBR and Track 0 copied, if it asks. The WIn7 100mb System Reserved partition must also be included if it was present, and marked Active if it asks that, too. If not then C should be marked Active.

If an image Recovery will not start after reimaging then assure the 100mb System Reserved (preferred if you have it) or C partition is Partition Marked Active then run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hi Thanks
I appreciate your advice, which is very helpful - especially the link to downloads - what a fine resource

I have some good news for everyone since I posted the query

I tried recovery again using easeus and lo and behold using a different set of settings - It worked!

Happily now I have my win 7 ultimate back. - now I must remember to make a proper backup this time

best wishes and thanks
Ian

Ian now everything is tickety boo I (personally) always at times of installation and when that is settled in and after times like this is to back up the registry mate and save it to documents and a USB stick. It takes only a minute to do and is great for mishaps.
Just for future reference there is also another great program in Partition Wizard which gives not only partitioning and drive test features but now includes a really good recovery tool.
Best Free Partition Manager Freeware and free partition magic for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition.

For your backing mate this is really good
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html this also comes as a bootable form if you look in the tutorials