Windows boot configuration data file does not contain a valid OS entry

[jdoherty76]

Not sure if this is the correct forum, please forgive me if I've posted it in the wrong forum.

Hi folks I’m a newbie to the forum and would really require some assistance, I’ve owned PC’s for a considerable time and I am pretty flummoxed with a problem I’ve encountered. I haven’t a clue how this occurred and for the life of me cannot seem to recover my PC. I have used various approaches on your forum to hopefully correct this issue but to no avail.

When booting from disk I get the message the file
File: \Boot\BCD Status 0XC0000098
Info: The windows boot configuration data file does not contain a valid OS Entry

I used the helpful guide ‘How to Fix Windows When it fails to Boot’ on this form and ran the following: Initially running system repair

The computer scans itself during this phase and looks for windows installations it returns the message no windows installations found. When I view the Diagnose and repair details I get the following:

No OS files found on disk
Repair Action: Partition table repair
Result: Failed error code 0X490

I have ran the repair process 3 times and booted between each repair

I progress beyond this and run the following:

Bootrec.exe /Fixmbr runs successfully
Bootrec.exe /Fixboot runs successfully
Bootrec.exe /RebuildBCD runs and returns successfully scanned windows installations
total identified windows installations: 0 completed successfully

My Laptop is a 4 year old ACER 8390G running Windows 7, it has a Hitachi 500Gb hard drive and the partitions are as follows:
Partition 1: Recovery 15GB
Partition 2: Primary 225GB
Partition 3: Primary 221GB
Partition4: OEM 3565MB

I don’t really know what Partition 1 and 4 are and I can only assume partition 2 and 3 are the OS and Data files.

I have ran a CHKDSK /f and /R all stages complete and successful, doesn’t appear to find any errors on the drive. The /R (all stages complete) but it says windows has made corrections to the file system.
I’d be forever grateful if I could have some assistance on seeing if I could get the operating system up and running. I believe there is nothing wrong with the hard drive as I can see files on it and at the dos prompt can list directories and files.

My Bios shows the hard drive

I have a recovery CD and have a copy of partition Wizard but not really sure how to use the latter.

Is it possible that something has got deactivated on my drive.

Please Please help. Thanks in advance… JD

 

[archer]

Hi jdoherty, Welcome to forums.

Check out this link. FIX boot error.

Hope this helps.

 

[jdoherty76]

Thanks Archer is this a free utility or paid for, it states $39.95 it also says you can run the demo but would this give me the results I require? thanks

 

[archer]

As per the link, they have stated that we just need to run the app in demo mode and it will give us the output we require.

 

[jdoherty76]

Thanks Archer I'll download this and run it this evening and tell you what I get..

 

[jdoherty76]

Oh one other thing please Archer. When i run this, how is it I capture the screen shots if the machine will not boot up? Is there a tool that can be used or take a photo of the screen. Sorry for my ignorance..

 

[archer]

But, why do you want to take screenshots? Machine will boot.

 

[jdoherty76]

ok thank you..will report back..

 

[Kaktussoft]

In recovery environment->command prompt:

diskpart
select disk 0
select part 1
detail part
select part 2
detail part
select part 3
detail part
select part 4
detail part
exit

which one is ACTIVE?

In command prompt:

DIR C:\
DIR D:\
DIR E:\

Which drive has folder windows and users, so is the win7 disk?

 

[jdoherty76]

Hi Archer I have loaded up the EBCD program as requested. What am I now looking for?

 

[Kaktussoft]

Hi Archer I have loaded up the EBCD program as requested. What am I now looking for?

Emergency Boot CD isn't very handy with this problem. In Fix Boot Error 0xC0000098 (Windows Boot Configuration Data file does not contain a valid OS entry) it only instructs you to rename th BCD menu.

 

[Kaktussoft]

You can better do #9 . I want to know what partition is ACTIVE. And what partition is the win7 volume.

 

[jdoherty76]

Hi Katussoft
Thank you for your excellent advice, the displays are as follows:
Disk 1 detail
Partition 1, type 27, hidden = Yes, Active = No
Volume 4 Letter: E

Partition 2, type 07, hidden = No, Active = Yes
Volume 2 Letter: C

Partition 3, type 07, hidden = No, Active = No
Volume 3 Letter: D

Partition 4, type 12, hidden = Yes, Active = No
Volume 5 Letter: Blank as in nothing

All partitions are healthy.

I did the listing of C:, D: and E: and the windows and users files appear on the drive E: which according to the above disk Partition 1 volume 4 which is not active. According to the listings the active partition is Partition 2 volume C:

How do I change the active partition and is this what I want to do?

Thanks for your help..

 

[Kaktussoft]

Hi Katussoft
Thank you for your excellent advice, the displays are as follows:
Disk 1 detail
Partition 1, type 27, hidden = Yes, Active = No
Volume 4 Letter: E

Partition 2, type 07, hidden = No, Active = Yes
Volume 2 Letter: C

Partition 3, type 07, hidden = No, Active = No
Volume 3 Letter: D

Partition 4, type 12, hidden = Yes, Active = No
Volume 5 Letter: Blank as in nothing

All partitions are healthy.

I did the listing of C:, D: and E: and the windows and users files appear on the drive E: which according to the above disk Partition 1 volume 4 which is not active. According to the listings the active partition is Partition 2 volume C:

How do I change the active partition and is this what I want to do?

Thanks for your help..

Partition 1: Recovery 15GB =>restore to factory settings
Partition 2: Primary 225GB=>Active.. I think What is win7 partition.
Partition 3: Primary 221GB=> a extra partition for anything you want.
Partition4: OEM 3565MB=>driver for you machien I think. Made by manufacturer.

Do you have a win7 install DVD? Or a win7 system repair disc? I think you have.... but please confirm

 

[Kaktussoft]

In command prompt:

attrib  -h  -s  c:\boot\bcd
del  c:\boot\bcd

Both commands successful? Now the faulty bcd file (boot menu) is gone. Now do startup repair 3 times. Post results

 

[jdoherty76]

I have a win 7 repair CD does this help.. but according to your listing my windows and user files appear on the E drive..

 

[jdoherty76]

Will I go ahead with your commands?

 

[jdoherty76]

Also there is a possibility that I may have moved the active partition during the days I have been trying to correct this. I'm sorry but this is a bit of a mess. I really appreciate your help.. thanks.. using your motto look on the bright side.. all partitions are healthy and I think the data is intact.. When you say run repair 3 times do you mean run once, change bios to disk boot, change bios to DVD reader run again, change bios to disk and boot etc.?

 

[Kaktussoft]

I have a win 7 repair CD does this help.. but according to your listing my windows and user files appear on the E drive..

C is the active partition and has the BOOT menu. So do #15
After that boot normally. It should say something like Error message when you start Windows 7: "The Windows Boot Configuration Data file is missing required information" .
startup repair 3 times will fix that.

Post results

 

[jdoherty76]

ok will do...