BOOTMGR is missing

[Dex203]

Hi, Im using W7 64bit Home SP1 and while changing letters of my drives (in Administrative Tools / Computer Management / Disk Management) I accidentally clicked on 'Mark as active partition' on a non-system disk. I googled how to undo it since theres no such option in the Disk Management but I read that as long as the actual system disk is marked system and active (and a few more things I dont remember but which it all did) and all the disks are marked Healthy its ok to keep even the nonsystem disk active. But after putting computer into hibernation and then waking it up again I got a 'BOOTMGR is missing' error during the boot which prevents me in starting Windows.

 

I have done this:

- repaired a startup problem using the W7 install disk that the installation offered me itself (I dont remember what exactly it was called but it was supposed to add two files, one or both of them being WinRE)

- restored a 2 days old restore point also using the W7 install disk

- unplugged the nonsystem disk (the one that I marked active)

 

Neither of them helped.

 

I would have simply reinstalled the Windows but from what Ive read there are only two types of installation - an upgrade and a clean installation that deletes files. Since its not an upgrade, I would have lost my files which I prefer not to. And I dont know how to backup my files on a DVD or something else without being able to start the Windows.

 

What do you guys suggest? Thanks for your help.

[Dex203]

Nevermind, just solved it using the 1st method mentioned here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-system/windows-7-bootmgr-is-missing-resolved-using-winre/8bb148bc-8035-4847-9696-888f7a0a9720 :)

[Plastic Nev]

Thanks for the update Dex, That was quick, and it may be of use for someone else with similar problems.

 

Nev.

[michelsmith]

Hi,

 

1. Insert the Windows 7 installation disc into the disc drive, and then start the computer.

2. Press a key when the message indicating "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD …". appears.

3. Select a language, a time and currency, and a keyboard or input method, and then click Next.

4. Click Repair your computer.

5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, choose the drive of your Windows installation and click Next.

6. At the System Recovery Options Dialog Box, click on Repair your computer.

7. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.

8. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Startup Repair.

[RandyL]

I once started a linux installation and did a hard shut down part way through on purpose. That was Vista Home Premium. I wanted to test the repair option and in my case it did indeed work.

 

Of course Premium versions of Vista and 7 don't have the RE (recovery environment) so you either have to find a download or borrow a full installation disk of a higher version for it to work.

 

Fortunately for my test purposes and for the poster the method you prescribed can and did work.