Solved Windows 7 not booting without a USB

[imamul]

Hi Goldendog, so iv only been using 1 USB which has Windows 7 on it, i havent tried with a different USB yet.
Barman58 when i go into the BIOs i only hsve the HDD and USB as options to boot from.

I then select the HDD as first boot however still get the bootmgr is missing message.

I have now got the idea of cloning the System Reserved partition into the 100mb partition iv made. Both partitions are on Disk 0, im assuming by doing this Windows should boot.

Either that or im going to copy the USB with its boot files straight into that partition and see if it works.

Il activate that partition, also when i bring up the Dir \a [system reserved partition drive letter:] i can see the boot files.

Will try attach pictures so you guys can see what im seeing.

But do believe its this iSSD thing where Windows is dropping the bootfiles rhen not being able to access it.

 

[imamul]

Hi guys,

Just a quick update, issue is now fixed!

Thanks to Barman58 for informing me about SSDs, Optanes and ExpressCache.
MegaHertZ for the dedicated help, support and options.

So my laptop was a Samsung NP530U3B which was not booting.

When installing Windows, the boot files get put into a System Reserved partition about 100mb onto the ExpressCache iSSD (System Reserved).

This problem here is that Windows cannot access the iSSD when booting and is forever stuck looking for the boot files!

This seems to be an issue with Samsung Notebooks and Ultras it seems.

The Aim:

Get these boot files onto another partition which isnt locked out from Windows.

Process:

This is with the assumption that the issue is you can boot from USB into Windows as normal, it you cant even boot id reinstall Windows by launching it from the USB.

Il add the link to where i got the original process from but:

1) Boot with USB by hitting F10 on startup and selecting the USB.

2) When asked should you boot from USB dont press anything and let Windows run (laptop is using the boot files from the USB)

3) Inserted an external DVD Drive with a Windows 7 Installation disk on.

4) Run Windows 7 installation.

5) Got an error saying Windows cant be installed as the disk space is too small (trying to install on Disk 0)

6) Go to Computer Management in Control Panel, select Disk Management and extend the C: partition (this is where the original Windows was installed.

I extended it enough to install another Windows so for me was about 15gb (with some extra)

7) Now go back to the external DVD drive and start the installation process, let it install.

NOTE: Leave the USB in as itll help you launch back into the Windows set up as the boot files wont be working yet - this is for when the installation process restarts etc.

8) After installation boot back into the new edition of Windows youve installed using the USB.

youll automatically get the option to select which opersting system to boot from as Windows loads

9) Go back to Disk Management and delete the now old or previous Windows installation.

10) Windows boot issues still wont be fixed! Now i shut the laptop down, then booted back into USB, and when it asked if USB should be run i hit any button.

11) I was now in the Windows installation screen, i clicked on Repair and opened up Command Prompt.

12) In Command Prompt i typed in DISKPART hit Enter.

13) Type in list vol and hit Enter.

14) Find out which Drive the System Reserved partition is on and where the new Windows installation is.

16) For me Sys Reserve was C: and Windows Installation was D:, type in Exit to leave Diskpart

17) Now i needed to copy the boot files from the Sys Reserve to the Windows Installation drive.

18) I checked to see if boot files are in Sys Reserve by typing Dir /A C: i can see that they are there!

19) Now i typed in XCOPY /E /H /R [source drive] [copy] so for me it would be C:\ D:\

20) This copied all files into D:\

21) Now thats all done i typed Diskpart then hit Enter. Typed in sel disk 0 then hit enter, list partition hit enter, sel partition [partition number of D:] hit enter and finally typed in active (to activate partition).

Once i got the success message i exited, then, shutdown, removed all external media and powered back on to a Samsung NP530U3B laptop which boots into Windows fine!!

Some of this stuff i may not have needed to do but considering everything i tried im just glad its working now!!

LINK TO ORIGINAL GUIDE:

GUIDE: How to install Windows 7 or 8 via USB on NP700Z* | NotebookReview

 

[Barman58]

good to hear and thanks for the detailed explanation that will hopefully help others in future, when you're fully happy that all is well please mark the thread as solved so this will show on the search engines for others to see