Solved Win7 pro startup error "Boot MGR missing"/"Operating System Not Found

[mikhail7]

Win7 pro startup error "Boot MGR missing"/"Operating System Not Found

I just upgraded from Vista Home Premium to Win7 professional x64 hoping to fix the above mentioned problem. After a complete re-install Im getting the same errors.

Im not sure of the proper terminology here, but during startup the computer does a scan of all hardware and "Volume 0" has a "failed" message.

The odd thing is that sometimes after a few restarts and pointless boot menu visits the computer starts up fine.

I tried windows repair feature by booting from the disk, but when I get to the window where i select the operating system to repair, its empty. Drive C, where the operating system is, is not showing.

I have a feeling that the hard drive itself has gone bad and is very unstable. Please let me know if I'm missing something or we just need to get a new HD.

Thank you

 

[windrider]

What type of hdd do you have. For example if you have a Seagate drive, there is software you can run to do a diagonostic on the hdd before the operating system boots.
This would be a good idea, especially if you were having same issues when Vista Home Premium was installed first.

Do you have more than one hdd installed. If yes, make sure in BIOS settings, the proper drive is selected for First Boot. And better yet make sure its the only drive attached when booting.

 

[theog]

Sounds to me, you are upgrading a OEM manufacturer's PC, with a clean install without delting the Recovery Partition.

For better help with problems, Can you post your specs.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/6936-dont-know-what-hardware-you-have.html
VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums

 

[dustywoodworker]

Sounds to me, you are upgrading a OEM manufacturer's PC, with a clean install without delting the Recovery Partition.

For better help with problems, Can you post your specs.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/6936-dont-know-what-hardware-you-have.html
VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums

Can you please explain: How does an OEM Manufacturer's PC differ from any other pc in regards to the Recovery Partition? Should not all PCs have a Recovery Partition?

If a HD reformat has been performed, does that lead to the conclusion that if a recovery partition did exist it is now gone.

 

[theog]

Can you please explain: How does an OEM Manufacturer's PC differ from any other pc in regards to the Recovery Partition? Should not all PCs have a Recovery Partition?

OEM manufacturer's PC is Dell, HP/Compaq, Toshiba, Acer. Who need to support a way of reinstalling a OS without reinstall DVD's.
When you buy a PC like this, you need to make Recovery disks or use the Recovery Partition.

How to use Toshiba Recovery.
How to use the Toshiba HDD Recovery Utility

 

[mikhail7]

thanks for the replies.

I have 5 HDs in the computer and they are all WD FALS series.

Also its a custom built computer with:

Intel Xeon E5410 2.33ghz
32gb RAM
NVIDIA 9800gt GeForce
Supermicro MB (dont remember the exact model.)

any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[kegobeer]

Did you remove all drives but the system drive when you upgraded/reinstalled?

 

[mikhail7]

Did you remove all drives but the system drive when you upgraded/reinstalled?

I did not. How does that make a difference?

 

[theog]

Did you remove all drives but the system drive when you upgraded/reinstalled?

I did not. How does that make a difference?

The Windows 7 boot files may not be on same HD Drive as the OS.

 

[Zomby88]

Sounds to me, you are upgrading a OEM manufacturer's PC, with a clean install without delting the Recovery Partition.

For better help with problems, Can you post your specs.
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/22550-filling-out-system-specs.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/hardware-devices/6936-dont-know-what-hardware-you-have.html
VistaForums SysInfo Tool - Vista Forums

Can you please explain: How does an OEM Manufacturer's PC differ from any other pc in regards to the Recovery Partition? Should not all PCs have a Recovery Partition?

If a HD reformat has been performed, does that lead to the conclusion that if a recovery partition did exist it is now gone.

No, all pcs do not have a recovery partition. It may, it may not. If bought from a store like Bestbuy it most likely will. If bought from say Tigerdirect it might not. If you install windows yourself most people wouldn`t even think of making a recovery partition.

 

[mikhail7]

Did you remove all drives but the system drive when you upgraded/reinstalled?

I did not. How does that make a difference?

The Windows 7 boot files may not be on same HD Drive as the OS.

I did not know that was possible. Is that normal? Or unplugging hardrives is the only way to prevent it

Thanks

 

[windrider]

I did not. How does that make a difference?

The Windows 7 boot files may not be on same HD Drive as the OS.

I did not know that was possible. Is that normal? Or unplugging hardrives is the only way to prevent it

Thanks

Yes it is possible. I have had it happen a few times when having all my hdd's attached. Same goes with Linux..
Always best to only have the hdd attached that your installing on for less error to happen.

 

[gregrocker]

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Mgmt drive map with listings showing all columns, using the Snipping Tool in Start menu. Tell us what is on each partition.

What is the exact sequence during booting of the PC?

 

[mikhail7]

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Mgmt drive map with listings showing all columns, using the Snipping Tool in Start menu. Tell us what is on each partition.

What is the exact sequence during booting of the PC?

Here is the Disk Map and some photos of a typical "Opening Sequence". (nevermind the Mac Display, we used to have a mac)
Again, when I go into the BIOS set up, do not change anything and exit w/ saving sometimes computer starts up.

Please let me know if these images show anything out of the norm.

Thank you

 

[mikhail7]

also, after lookin over the images i just realized, I had a RAID partition setup in the previous system and i did not go through that during the upgrade to Windows 7.

Could that be the culprit?

 

[kegobeer]

Is there any reason why you are running RAID 0 on your primary drive? If you don't want that, make sure to disable RAID in your bios, then shut down, disconnect all drives except the primary, and reinstall Windows.

 

[gregrocker]

Don't mess with RAID and Win7 if not for a very good reason as it can be a can of worms.

As suggested unplug all HD's except target and clean install Win7 adapting the steps given in the Perfect Reinstall link in my signature box below.

Feel free to ask back any questions.

You'll want to make sure any non-OS drives are not marked Active as this can pose problems later.

 

[mikhail7]

hey guys,

Thanks for all the replies and yes disabling raid did help but at the same time created another problem.

The motherboard, Supermicro X7DWA-N, by default only supports 4 hard drives but is says it can support up to 6. We have 5 hard drives, that's why we had RAID enabled before.

I guess the the only way out is to properly set up RAID, or somehow get the motherboard to support 6 hard drives.

btw, the computer was set up by someone else, thats why I'm a bit foreign the set up.

Thank you

 

[kegobeer]

Get a SATA pcie card, or connect the other drive externally via eSata.

 

[mikhail7]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions everyone.

It turned out that one of the HDs that were configured as a part of the RAID went bad. I took out the bad HD and everything is working fine now.

Thanks again.