Screwed my install? Wont boot!

[ussj4brolli]

well, i got an SSD, had everything running perfectly.
1 OCZ 30gb <----this is my os now...
2xhdds raid-1 << all my games/isos, installs, ect

Now, in windows i could not delete the small 100mb partition and the empty unallocated partition to merge it with the rest of the HDDs (the raid setup)

It went:
|100mb partition||unused partition (this used to be the OS before i deleted it before installing the OS on the SSD||installs/movies|

picked up Free Download Partition Wizard
Told it to delete the 100mb partition, and merge all the partitions into one. Rebooted the computer like it asked..now it wont boot...
WTF?
trying things right now....any help??

 

[Tews]

It sounds like when you told it to merge all partitions that your MBR got borked... If you are totally unable to boot into any mode ( safe ) then your only option sounds like a reinstall.... Partition managers can be dangerous, always use with care...

 

[ussj4brolli]

It sounds like when you told it to merge all partitions that your MBR got borked... If you are totally unable to boot into any mode ( safe ) then your only option sounds like a reinstall.... Partition managers can be dangerous, always use with care...

But the HDDs that i was working with, had nothign to do with the OS at all... its just ALL my data!

 

[Tews]

Good Luck then....

 

[ussj4brolli]

Good Luck then....

Thank you.
Ok, any ideas here.
booted the install CD, but i cant see my Vertex when i click on repair my computer. (first screen after selecting language)
BUT, when i select install...it brings up the normal screen w/ all of the drives partitions asking where you would like the install to go..it reads the vertex, and my partitions are still intack on the HDDs.
Edit: I have the USB stick inserted containing the raid drivers

So, im thinking the 100mb partion contained the freaking boot files still, and windows was using those (how retarted)

How do i get the install disk to see the vertex..?
Its pluged in sata-5 (IDE mode)
The raids are in sata1 and 2 (RAID)
the boot order is correct (vertex first)

 

[ussj4brolli]

- Any way to copy someone-elses bootmanager (looks as tha thats what its missing) and copy it to this? (don want to reinstall OS..but...if i have to.. )
Have a usb stick, can see both hdds in a screen from within the CD

Also- Tried the "start-up repair" option in the cd..and its a no-go because on the creen before the selection to "start up repair" and all of the other diags, if dowsnt show my OS in the list....(but it IS there..i see all of the files and things on another screen)

 

[Tews]

That wont work either, as each configuration is different, so are most master boot records.... so that leaves you with..

(don want to reinstall OS..but...if i have to.. )

 

[ussj4brolli]

That wont work either, as each configuration is different, so are most master boot records.... so that leaves you with..

(don want to reinstall OS..but...if i have to.. )

Yeah, going to..
Ok, next question is...WHY did windows use the boot manager from the old HDDs and not create/use one on the SSD?
Thanks TEWS for tryin

 

[SIW2]

I am not familiar with your setup, but I know Partition Wizard.

The program is fine - it just did what you told it.

Before you deleted the 100mb partition , did it say Active&Boot next to it in the PW main window?

Suggest you boot the PW cd and make sure the partition you want the boot critical files on is marked Active ( it must be a Primary partition).

If you have more than 1 drive - you may have more than 1 Active partition - make sure the drive you want the boot files on is first in Bios boot order.

Then run startup repair from the 7 dvd 3 times.

[Windows will always install the boot files on the first Active partition the installer comes across. The rest of the o/s installs on the partition you pointed at.]

 

[Tews]

Im sure that there is a perfectly logical reason for this, which escapes me at the moment .. Hopefully, someone will come along and explain it....


Edit: Try SIW2s' suggestion first!

 

[ussj4brolli]

I am not familiar with your setup, but I know Partition Wizard.

The program is fine - it just did what you told it.

Before you deleted the 100mb partition , did it say Active&Boot next to it in the PW main window?

Suggest you boot the PW cd and make sure the partition you want the boot critical files on is marked Active ( it must be a Primary partition).

Then run startup repair from the 7 dvd 3 times.

Reinstalling the OS as we speak. i was not blaming the software itself, but 7. It seemed that it was using the boot files/manager/what have you that was left behind on the HDDs, and did not create a new one. And so when i told the program to delete it..we had some issues. lol

 

[spydaz]

Quikly Un hook the raid temporarly...
Then fully format your os drive.... if you have a spare drive....
then reconnect the raid drives and use them as your storage....

or use partion magic / or simular program to create the 100 mb fat32 partition....then using BCDEDIT to point to your ORIGINAL Installation of WIndows....

 

[ussj4brolli]

Im sure that there is a perfectly logical reason for this, which escapes me at the moment .. Hopefully, someone will come along and explain it....

I didnt expect it to kill my OS install, because the HDDs had nothing to do with the OS anymore.

 

[spydaz]

use bcd edit to list the partition information....

You will need to boot up into a windows PE ENVRONMENT or RE Environment, Which can be made on another machine....

If you have unallocated disk space on the raid then you could quickly Re-Install windows on to the unallocated disk space and windows should RE-Create the SYSTEM hidden partion drive..... On the Window dVD the is also a BOOSECTOR COMMAND To REPLACE DELETED BOOT PARTITIONS...

BOOTSECT.EXE > WINDOWS DISK/BOOT <<<<<<< THIS WILL REPAIR IT!

 

[Tews]

use bcd edit to list the partition information....

You will need to boot up into a windows PE ENVRONMENT or RE Environment, Which can be made on another machine....

If you have unallocated disk space on the raid then you could quickly Re-Install windows on to the unallocated disk space and windows should RE-Create the SYSTEM hidden partion drive..... On the Window dVD the is also a BOOSECTOR COMMAND To REPLACE DELETED BOOT PARTITIONS...

BOOTSECT.EXE > WINDOWS DISK/BOOT <<<<<<< THIS WILL REPAIR IT!

I think its too late for this option .... the OP is already reinstalling ...

 

[SIW2]

Depending on how you have it set up - you may get the same problem again - in case you missed the edit to my last post:

Windows will always install the boot files on the first Active partition the installer comes across. The rest of the o/s installs on the partition you pointed at.

 

[SIW2]

What is this command?

BOOTSECT.EXE > WINDOWS DISK/BOOT

 

[Tews]

What is this command?

BOOTSECT.EXE > WINDOWS DISK/BOOT

Obviously one neither the OP, or myself knew about!! :roflmao:

 

[SIW2]

Not sure what he was getting at , bootsect.exe can be used to write the bootsector code only, or optionally the mbr code as well.

It won't , to my knowledge , replace/rebuild any of the boot critical files (bootmgr and the Boot folder containing bcd).

The syntax goes like this:

bootsect {/nt60|/nt52} {SYS|ALL|<DriveLetter>:} [/force] [/mbr]

 

[ussj4brolli]

reinstalled. Everything is fine now. My 1Tbs are now one partition, and the SSD is working flawlessly.
was freaking out because i thought i lost everything on my 1tb`s.
thanks everyone. Yeah had no idea about that command.
On a side note: Why was windows using that boot from the HDDs and not making one on the SSD? (now i dont have a pause before the boot screen )