Windows 7 Ultimate x64 will not boot without DVD

[jfromthewest]

Error: Operating System Not Found

This is a clean installation to a TB hard drive, partitioned into 200GB for C:, 300GB for D: and everything else is E:.

C: is the first partition, and is set as System, Active, Boot, Page File, Crash Dump and Primary Partition.

The others are set to Primary Partitions, only.

I have tried the following methods for getting the system to boot without the DVD (presented in the order I remember them, not necessarily the order I tried them):

1. System Restore's Repair Startup function
Result: Does not detect any problems.

2. System Restore's Command Prompt - used from a System Repair Disk*.
bootsect /nt60 /ALL /force /mbr
- This seems to repair all partitions, and made no difference.
bootrec /rebuildbcd
- This did not find any active Windows installations.
bcdedit /export C:\BCD_backup
ren C:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /rebuildbcd
- This fixed the earlier issue with no active Windows installations, but the Operating System Not Found error remains.

3. Reinstallation of operating system, after format of system partition (C Drive)
- Problem persists.

4. MSCONFIG
Checked boot options, current OS is the default OS, and the only OS.

5. BIOS Boot sequence check
Hard drive is set to boot after DVD drive, and would boot normally if there was no bootable media in the DVD drive.

6. Moving the bootmanager files from Windows 7 disk
BOOTmgr.efi
bootmgr
- No change, error persists.



*I have been using the System Repair Disk, built with Windows 7's own option to do so, located at Control Panel\System and Security\Backup and Restore. I have seen many suggestions for using the Windows 7 Install Disk's own recovery options, but I've not been able to locate them, and the commands and system recovery options all seem to be present on the System Repair Disk.

Help, please? I'm at a loss. Windows 7 boots and functions normally when it boots with the DVD in the drive.

 

[gregrocker]

Is your HD set as first device to boot in BIOS setup?

Download and burn to CD, boot to run the HD maker's full diag/repair CD scan: http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=287

Is this the original factory installation? If not, when was it installed and when did this start? Did anything precipitate it that you can remember? How far back do your System Restore points go? Do you have a Win7 backup image?

Does the OS boot correctly and run ok with Repair CD in drive?

 

[Windows7HelpGuy]

The issue you're experiencing may be due to an hard drive failure. I would suggest you contact your computer brand for further assisants!

 

[jfromthewest]

@gregrocker: No, but it is the first device to boot if the DVD and CD drives are empty.

Haven't tried booting with just the repair disk in the drive, but it will and does boot and function normally with the Install disk there.

Also, I don't see anything there for one of the newer ones from Western Digital - would I have to completely wipe the hard drive to fix this?

@Windows7HelpGuy: Hard drive failure?! It's a brand new hard drive, just got it not more than a month or two ago.

I'll ask WD about it though, regardless.

Thanks all - will update with results.

 

[gregrocker]

Normally the problem in this case is boot sector corruption requiring the need for the DVD to boot Win7.

It should be solved by marking Win7 partition Active if it's not already, then booting the DVD Repair console to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/71432-partition-mark-active.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/105541-startup-repair-run-3-separate-times.html

If this doesn't work then it may be necessary to wipe the HD to remove the boot sector corruption, then reinstall Win7: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

 

[Windows7HelpGuy]

That means you have warrranty! You should contact your brand right away and ask for help. But sometimes, harddrives can fail and cause issues early on... Kepe that in mind.

Please reply back to this thread with your decision!