Installed Windows 7 -- Lost Boot Manager.

wotan · 11-04-2009, 11:15 AM

I just upgraded to Windows 7... did a fresh install on what ended up being my G: drive. After I had it all set-up I decided I'd remove my previous vista install that was on the c: drive.

I used vistabootpro 3.3 to try and remove vista from the boot menu.... and then had it install the boot loader on all drives (I thought this would prove failsafe.) I then formatted my c: drive.

Surprise!! Can't boot... bootmgr not found is displayed when I boot. I go into the Windows 7 repair/recovery console and it finds my Windows 7 installation (on the E drive?) but can't automatically repair. When I run bootrec /scanos -- it doesn't find anything. How can I fix this? I can still easily switch to me E: drive (why isn't it G anymore?) and see all of my files and Windows 7 there. Help!

**jcgriff2** · 11-04-2009, 02:33 PM

Wipe the entire hard drive - then install Windows 7.

KillDisk - http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm

Make bootable KillDisk ISO CD w/ ImgBurn -
ImgBurn - http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download

Regards. . .

jcgriff2

.

wotan · 11-04-2009, 03:29 PM

Hmm... any options if I don't want to kill the entire disk? This box has 6 SATA Hard Drives, 2 IDE and 2 External USB. If I wipe the entire physical drive I'm going to be taking out a good junk of my RAID.

I'm looking for a tool that will resuscitate my current W7 install. The files are all there. It was bootable 24 hours ago... nothing has changed except.... MBR/BCD?

kendallt · 11-04-2009, 10:41 PM

That's the reason I stay away from boot managers. With most of them critical files for each OS are installed on the primary drive, so if something happens with any of your installs, the boot manager gets confused and your computer won't boot. (lilo used to get stuck at "LI" if one of the OS's were messed up)

Check the manual to find what key your motherboard bios uses for the built in boot manager (f12 on mine) and select the drive you have W7 installed on. Hopefully it works for you.

Otherwise, disable all other drives except the one you WANT w7 installed on (it will become the 'C' drive for w7) and re-install. Do the same for each OS you want, then use the bios to select which one you want.
That way, no matter what happens to any drive you can select another drive and boot without a problem which will allow you to hopefully fix whatever is wrong.

11-04-2009, 11:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
wotan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 7 OS: Windows 7	Installed Windows 7 -- Lost Boot Manager. I just upgraded to Windows 7... did a fresh install on what ended up being my G: drive. After I had it all set-up I decided I'd remove my previous vista install that was on the c: drive. I used vistabootpro 3.3 to try and remove vista from the boot menu.... and then had it install the boot loader on all drives (I thought this would prove failsafe.) I then formatted my c: drive. Surprise!! Can't boot... bootmgr not found is displayed when I boot. I go into the Windows 7 repair/recovery console and it finds my Windows 7 installation (on the E drive?) but can't automatically repair. When I run bootrec /scanos -- it doesn't find anything. How can I fix this? I can still easily switch to me E: drive (why isn't it G anymore?) and see all of my files and Windows 7 there. Help!

11-04-2009, 02:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
jcgriff2 Moderator, Microsoft Supp Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Palm Springs, California / Southern New Jersey Posts: 10,054 OS: Windows 7, Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Installed Windows 7 -- Lost Boot Manager. Wipe the entire hard drive - then install Windows 7. KillDisk - http://www.killdisk.com/downloadfree.htm Make bootable KillDisk ISO CD w/ ImgBurn - ImgBurn - http://www.imgburn.com/index.php?act=download Regards. . . jcgriff2 . __________________ . . . . . . . . BSOD Posting Instructions B Expecting a reply and waiting > 36 hours ? Send a PM to me containing a link to your thread My availability will be limited through ~ December 1, 2009

11-04-2009, 03:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
wotan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 7 OS: Windows 7	Re: Installed Windows 7 -- Lost Boot Manager. Hmm... any options if I don't want to kill the entire disk? This box has 6 SATA Hard Drives, 2 IDE and 2 External USB. If I wipe the entire physical drive I'm going to be taking out a good junk of my RAID. I'm looking for a tool that will resuscitate my current W7 install. The files are all there. It was bootable 24 hours ago... nothing has changed except.... MBR/BCD?

11-04-2009, 10:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
kendallt Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 97 OS: win7-64	Re: Installed Windows 7 -- Lost Boot Manager. That's the reason I stay away from boot managers. With most of them critical files for each OS are installed on the primary drive, so if something happens with any of your installs, the boot manager gets confused and your computer won't boot. (lilo used to get stuck at "LI" if one of the OS's were messed up) Check the manual to find what key your motherboard bios uses for the built in boot manager (f12 on mine) and select the drive you have W7 installed on. Hopefully it works for you. Otherwise, disable all other drives except the one you WANT w7 installed on (it will become the 'C' drive for w7) and re-install. Do the same for each OS you want, then use the bios to select which one you want. That way, no matter what happens to any drive you can select another drive and boot without a problem which will allow you to hopefully fix whatever is wrong.