No Bootable device after new windows 7 install

[philthewizzard]

Hi Guys, I've read many threads on this and tried many fixes none of which have worked.

Basically I've re-installed windows 7 on my laptop hard drive after having problems with my earlier installation, it was not allowing me to run .exe files so not allowing applications to start.
I decided to clean the hard drive and re-install windows 7. started the install process, I deleted all the partitions and did a full complete installation.
the laptop rebooted after the installation and all appeared to be OK, I remove the dvd from the drive rebooted and got the no bootable device message, I restarted and checked the bios and the hard drive was the first boot device in the list, the toshiba HD is being seen by the bios but windows just won't boot from it. If i leave the install dvd in the drive and don't press any keys it goes past the press any key to boot from the DVD prompt and windows then loads from the hard drive, if I remove the disk the no bootable device message re-appears.

I've tried everything I can find from searching including the bootsect commands, bootrec commands, other programs to repair mbr and even replace the mbr with a bootloader but nothing seems to work. I've tried the windows repair disc and run it 3 times, each time it fails and the log says bad disk however everything i test the disc with says it's fine. I ran the partition magic boot cd which would only boot in safe mode, for some reason the normal mode returns a "this cd doesn't work with windows server message" most strange. Anyway booted into safemode, deleted all the partitions and run the wipe disc command, filled drive LBA 0 to the end with all zero's which completed successfully. Reinstalled windows 7 again to the newly zeroed drive and once again exactly the same problem re-occured, everything seems fine if I leave the install dvd in the dvd drive and just let the prompt expire, the windows loads fine then from the HD but remove the dvd and it won't, i'm going mad and have now run out of ideas.

I'm getting the feeling that I can't resolve this, how is it that the drive will load windows if the laptop has a bootable disc in the drive but won't on it's own.

Please help me sort this out i'm so frustrated with it spent many days trying to resolve this issue.

Thanks

Phil

 

[AddRAM]

The pc won`t boot again after the install, it will take you to the window to put your name in. Don`t remove the dvd until you get to this screen.

And you HAVE TO press any key to start the install.

Try again.

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

 

[philthewizzard]

Confused

Hi Addram, this makes no sense to me, I've done loads of windows and windows 7 installs and never encountered this before, I didn't remove the DVD until windows had completed the installation and I logged in the my first desktop screen, I then removed the DVD and re-booted to see if all had gone well.

I've tried re-installing about 6 times, and even after I had completely wiped the hard drive back to factory default (all zero's) it still wouldn't boot directly from the hard drive, I'm beginning to think it's a Bios not recognising the drive problem however I've reset the bios to factory default as well, then reselected the boot sequence to put the hard drive at the top but still no joy.

What is the DVD being in the drive doing to alter the boot sequence as it seems that the Bios isn't able to read the MBR or that the MBR doesn't point to the bootmgr file? I just don't see what having the install DVD in the drive at start up is doing to overcome the loading problem.

Regards.

Phil.

 

[gregrocker]

Unplug all other HD's and peripherals,

Boot into BIOS setup, reset to defaults, save changes. If an EFI BIOS you'll need to decide if you want UEFI BIOS vs. Legacy BIOS. If UEFI follow these special steps for Install, otherwise enable Legacy BIOS or Compatibility Support Module to proceed with normal install:

Set DVD drive first to boot, HD second, set SATA controller to AHCI, Save changes and Exit.

Then boot into Windows 7 installer DVD or flash stick burned or written using tool and latest ISO for your licensed OS version here. I would use a fresh ISO written with tool in Step 2 as yours is in question.

At first installer screen Press Shift + F10, or enter System Recovery Options to open a Command Box, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK 0 (after confirming Windows 7 target HD #)
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=NTFS LABEL="WINDOWS 7"
ACTIVE
EXIT
EXIT

Next click Install Now, then Custom install to Clean Install Windows 7 to the partition you created. If it fails then report back at which step and the verbatim error message.

In addition read over these steps to understand the tools and methods which work best to get and maintain a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7. The steps are the same for retail.

If problems persist then test your HD with the maker's bootable HD Diagnostic
extended scan, followed by Disk Check run from Command Line in System Recovery Options