Yes, a great sheet of commands. I never knew how easy it really was to fix boot problems until I accidentally discovered the fixboot, etc. commands. A great sheet to print or have on a second computer.
william
13 years ago
RE: software to backup BCD
my machine comes with an OEM windows 7 installation so i don’t have an installation disc right at my finger tips.
i am looking for a software to backup the boot elements (that BCD thing) and to restore the boot archive before windows 7 is being launched.
to my knowledge, easy bcd does offer a backup of that BCD thing, but easy bcd only allows for a disc restore. i don’t think you can restore only the BCD.
Changing boot menu
13 years ago
“First of all you have to clean Master Boot Record (MBR) by using bootrec /fixmbr as in an earlier section. Next, type bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force and press Enter. The /nt60 parameter applies the master boot code that is compatible with BOOTMGR”
Does anyone knows the code for switching back to XP bootmenu?
Remember I’ve seen this nt60 been mentioned somewhere before and it was for get Vista/Win7 bootmenu on screen.
If you try to run bootrec.exe directly from Windows, it won’t work.
In this guide we mention the following: boot from your Windows Setup DVD or a System Repair Disc and launch Command Prompt.
bootrec.exe is included only on the System Repair disc.
Qua
10 years ago
What about when it refuses to recognize your keyboards (any of them, wired & wireless) so you can’t type anything in the command prompt? This is where I’m stuck & I’m going to try hirens boot cd next, but I’m starting to feel like I’m going to have to do a fresh install of Windows AGAIN, after only doing so about 4 months ago. :'(
jeff
9 years ago
With this tutorial, I was able to do what the Geek Squad couldn’t do. I had to create a Win 7 boot CD from another Win 7 computer then boot the defective computer from the created boot CD in safe mode w/ command prompt. I couldn’t access the C: until after I ran “chkdsk C: [Option]” from X: (relocate and repair options for chkdsk were used). It found bad files and sectors, but that was not enough. I had to reboot and access C: after having to run another chkdsk C:, then I had to implement your “Rebuild Process” from C:. Trying to remove bad windows updates with pkgmgr did not work from C: prompt. It was after a windows update my issue occurred. Thank you for posting!!! V/R, Jeff
sunny kumar
9 years ago
when i go to scanos steps, it again stucks for half an hour.
plz help
nshake
9 years ago
Thanks. I was on a dual boot system and I removed the Linux partition and was using grub only. I used EASUS Partition Manager to merge two partitions and it had to reboot to finish the task. When it rebooted, grub wouldn’t start and was in Rescue Mode (grub rescue). My Windows partitions were locked down because they were awaiting EASUS to finish merging the partitions. So repair from the Windows 8 Install Disc was not an option. I tried everything, then found this post, booted from the W8 Install Disc, selected CMD option, ran all these steps to “/scanos”, typed ” exit” into the CMD Prompt, rebooted, and everything was fine. And my grub was completely gone (which was what I was trying to do in the first place and why I was messing with the partitions) because I just wanted the regular Windows Boot. You saved me hours. Thanks.
Chris Beattie
9 years ago
I have a dual boot windows 8.1 system on my lappy at the moment. Would following these steps allow me to remove the slower boot option from start up?
DEEPAK R SAHOO
9 years ago
Hi,
I’m using two operating systems(Win7 & Ubuntu12.04) in my computer. During the installation of MATLAB in win7, it hung . So I restarted the computer by switching off the power. After this, I found a problem related to automatic startup repair and tried to repair by bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot commands without any win7 cd or dvd (which was showing successful in command prompt), but the same problem occurred when I restarted again. Also I’m not able to run ubuntu also in my computer after this issue. I have some important data in it. Please help so that I should not loose my data.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Ramin
9 years ago
Hi.Thanks for the guide.
I can’t access cmd anymore.Not with safe mode-not with windows startup repair and not a CD also
The only way I can access my computer files is a kali Linux live cd.Anyway I do things you said through it?
Smith
9 years ago
I AM MAKING AN ACCOUNT JUST TO SAY THANK YOU! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH YOU SAVED ME! I LOVE YOU! I had searched through literally hundreds of websites and all of them didn’t have information that was relevant to me, but this…this made everything work.
Truly, THANK YOU! <3
Jennifer
9 years ago
I don’t know what to try first. My mp3 player caused some sort of problem, startup repair doesn’t work, and my system recovery points are ‘missing’.
rich
9 years ago
I’m still showing 0 windows detected even though I can see them on the disk.. What else can I do?
Good morning everyone,
I have a problem with error ‘Invalid Partition Table’.
Will I lose my Documents (unfortunately I did not make any backups) when I use all these repair tools ? Thank you in advance for Help !
Ed
9 years ago
Hi, you’ve just saved my computer! I’ve tried so many tools and rescue disks without any result, just the infinite loop. Now after this simple fix my system is back. Thank you so much from Brazil!
Joet Dzvetero
9 years ago
I ran the cmd’s /fixmbr and /fixboot But at both times recieved the message “A device attached to the system file is not functioning”
For /scanos there were no windows installations available.
My main problem is everytime I start my computer it goes to a blue screen that reads “auto fix couldnt repair your computer”
I cant do a factory reset because i dont have a windows installation disk.
If you get this error, it’s very probable that your drive is damaged and needs to be replaced.
You could try to run a “chkdsk /r c:” to scan for and repair bad sectors. If it works it will take quite a while.
Michelle
8 years ago
I am having the same problem as Joet Dzvetero the the device not functioning plz advise
Angela
8 years ago
I am having a similar problem except my computer won’t boot, bootmgr missing. I have a windows 7 install disk and can get to command prompt but it says bootrec is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Please help, have tried following all tutorials with no luck.
Did you try running bootrec.exe from the DVD?
In the Command Prompt you should’ve entered “X:: for example. Then, you can copy bootrec.exe to your Windows drive.
OK, did that and for the first time it actually worked but still says same thing…successfully scanned windows installations. Total identified windows installations: 0 . the operation completed successfully. And back at x:sources. Gladly accept more advice/options. I’ve done some of these before perhaps just not in the right order?
I followed the instructions to the T. Now instead of x:sources> I have C:Boot> Maybe we are getting somewhere!?
Angela
8 years ago
I just noticed that you mentioned that above so I’m trying it. I tried it on c: and found nothing as it is calling my c: system reserved, I’m now running it on d: local drive. I will inform on the outcome. Thank you! Let’s hope this helps, it’s actually running something so that alone gives me hope.
steven
8 years ago
Hi, thanks for the info, I learned quite a bit. Just one question… do all disks have a MBR and BCD or only disks that are a boot disk? In other words, do USB portable hard drives also have them?
michael
8 years ago
I followed it and now it’s worse actually..
whem i restart it’s not recognizing any windows installation.
how can i undo what you explained here?
EJ
8 years ago
my Acer 8730 laptop windows 8.1pro OS dual core is stuck on “automatic repair” “diagnostic” loop on attempted start up of system. I am desperately trying to avoid loosing my data on my drive. Currently all checks I have run reflect files are still detectable when using chkdsk /c: lastly I ran /fixmbr successfully then /scanos result was 0 installations. PLEASE advise me easiest and safest next step to follow to fix my boot error ?!! (at your mercy now ) PS. I don’t have original cd windows 8 installation disc*
tamin
8 years ago
hi.i have the same problem with my Ubuntu . i installed that alongside my windows 8.1 , and now when the selection page( Ubuntu or windows) come up ,
my windows successfully boot but my Ubuntu don’t boot and i face with an error that say :
windows failed to start ,a recent hardware or software change might be the cause.
Info : the application or operating system couldn’t be loaded because a required file is missing or contains errors
in addition i used of Easybcd and made new entry for my Linux,
please help me to solve my problem .
Jay
8 years ago
Please just took my hp laptop to where it was formatted and a new windows installed. However, i wanted to install some games and now, the laptop can no longer boot. please what shall i do?
Hi everyone . I was wondering of a clever person here can help . When I turned on my acer, It used to just stay on Microsoft corporation screen and not change . Now it always goes into ‘ loading memory files and does a start up repair where it says start up repair cants repair this computer automatically . When I open problem details it says problem signature 01 – 10. Signature 06 says corruptbootconfigdata. Signature 09 says fix partition table.
Can anyone please be generous with their time and try to help me get back to my desktop screen? I’m very naive when it comes to all this
On start up repair it says root cause found – boot configuration is corrupt . Repair action – partition table repair.
Result- failed .error code -0x490
Thanks again .
Karthik
8 years ago
even after fixing the the mbr. The window 7 loads and waits on the display page until any key is pressed or it doesn’t load, that too within minutes after turning on it should be done else the have to restart it again. what should i do?
haydn samuels
8 years ago
This is something I find myself having to do from time to time but always forget the process.
Not had to do it in windows 7 so nice to see the updated version using boot rec.exe
Thank you it was frustrating me lol
Lloyd
8 years ago
Hi can you help my pc was showing Missing operating system on startup then I did all the above from the tutorial running cmd.exe. from Win 7 OS disk boot, Here is what I got:
/fixmbr – operation completed successfully
/fixboot – Elements not found
/rebuildbcd – Total identified Win installation : 0
/scanos – Total identified Win Installation : 0
Is there any hope or it’s the end of the road please help I’m really stuck..
After typing select partition 1 it returned “There is no partition selected” , I’m not sure if I’m on the correct path…
Regards
Lloyd
Brittany
8 years ago
I type in bootrec.exerebuild it says its an invalid directory. Im windows 8 Asus x750l . It won’t do a system restore best thing i can get. Im trying to put windows on using a usbbut it won’t read my portable hard drive . Please help. Thanks
Hi Brittany looking at your path you typed I think you made an error if its saying invalid directory. You typed a back slash instead of forward / example below:
Wrong——–bootrec.exerebuild
Correct——-bootrec.exe/rebuild
hope that helps,thanks…
John Cobb
8 years ago
OMG! You guys are a God send! This page is VERY VAULABLE to those, like myself, that got their boot config all messed up! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
Andrew
8 years ago
I typed in bootrec.exe /fixmbr and it says The device is not ready
Victor
8 years ago
Hi Codrut
Firstly many thanks for putting this article. It made lot of sense and got me out of lot of trouble.
My issue was Windows 7 hanging after trying to apply a windows update I think.
Joe
8 years ago
Bear with me while I provide the system and background info.
System info:
I have a Dell Inspiron running windows 8.1.
From BIOS, the Fixed HDD is “WDC WD10JPVT-75A1YT0 (100GB);
Volume 6 I Diags FAT32 Partition 40 MB Healthy Hidden
select disk 0
list partition
Partition ### Type Size Offset
————- —————— ——– ———
Partition 1 System 500 MB 1024 KB
Partition 2 OEM 40 MB 501 MB
Partition 3 Reserved 120 MB 541 MB
Partition 4 Recovery 490 MB 669 MB
Partition 5 Primary 918 GB 1159 MB
Partition 6 Recovery 450 MB 919 GB
Partition 7 Recovery 11 GB 919 GB
I have multiple partitions, but only two OSs installed – one partition with Windows 8.1 and one with an old version of Linux that I haven’t booted to in over a year. I stay current on all windows updates. Yesterday, I did a ‘shutdown and install updates’. I don’t know which updates were scheduled to be installed, but it should have been the most recent available. When I powered on computer later, I got the frown face and “your pc ran into a problem and needs to restart”. I had to video the screen to see that the lower message also says “If you want to know more….you can search for INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE”, since it would disappear so quickly. I have read the other posts on this subject but have had no luck in any of the following…
On the automatic repair screen, I chose restart – no change in symptoms.
I then chose ‘advanced options’ , ‘continue to windows 8.1’ – no change
I then chose ‘advanced options’, ‘troubleshoot’, ‘advanced options’…
… booted to command prompt – can access x: drive and all files appear intact
… did startup repair – no change
… did system restore (tried two different restore points) – no change
— did startup settings, safe mode – no change (and tried all other options)
From command prompt
I ran:
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /Fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
bootsect /nt60 all /force
Both the scanos and rebuildbcd show 0 (zero) Windows installations
I also created a recovery USB drive from another 8.1 installation on my desktop machine, but I am not sure if the laptop with the issue actually booted from it or the hard drive.
So after all of the above I start looking at bios boot options (by pressing F12).
My bios has:
Boot mode is set to UEF. Secure boot: ON
UEFI Boot:
Windows boot Manager (WDC WD10JPVT-75A1YT0) (this entry is highlighted)
BIOS Setup (pressing F2) shows
SATA Operation : AHCI (other options are ATA and “Intel Smart Response Technology”)
Under BOOT options:
Secure Boot: Enabled
Boot List Option : UEFI
If I set SECUREBOOT to Disabled then I can select ‘Legacy’ for the boot list option.
My question is what are the next logical steps to try (bios changes?) to repair the boot process?
miss aimen
8 years ago
what to doafter thers actions??the last step?
aparna lasya
8 years ago
Sir I have done dis procedure
When I restarted my computer it showed NTLDR missing Pls help
Angelo Argyrides
8 years ago
Please help me I’ve been trying to fix my PC for a day. It boots and displays the mobo logo. Then it takes me to the startup repair screen. When I proceed with repair, it “diagnoses my PC”. It then shays that start-up repair couldn’t repair my PC. After it tells me to look through advanced options or shut down my PC. Lastly it shows me “Log file: C:WINDOWSSystem32LogfilesSrtSrtTrail.txt”. Please help me as I have tried as many solutions as I can find but none have proved to cause my system to boot normally. I appreciate the help,
Angelo
hi, after the first pickture you put up of cmd, Total identified windows installations:0.
what do you do then,
you showed if it identified windows.
so i did the Bootsect nt60 anyway all it say is boot sector restoration tool.
Please can you help.
Musty
8 years ago
I tried using the bootrec to start the computer but it’s telling me all the stuffs are not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Please what can I do?
Dwayne Waterman
8 years ago
I have a Toshiba Satellite S75. I was running windows 8.1, I did that stupid update to windows 10 and I’ve had problems ever since. Now I keep getting a BSOD telling me that a critical process died and my laptop cycles from the Toshiba start logo to the BSOD. I can’t restore it back to factory settings, the automatic repair option doesn’t work, I’ve run of ideas. That’s why I’m here, to ask for help form some people that know more about this crap than I do.
Mrs. Raven
8 years ago
Hi – after the last step, my results came back that /device/harddiskvolume 3 could not open the volume root directory: the parameter is incorrect. Can someone assist?
These steps outlined have been very helpful.
Sarah
8 years ago
Hi I was trying to force my dell laptop into safe mode using command prompt because I had just downloaded Windows 10 and it wasn’t working. To try to get safe mode, in the command prompt, I typed “bcdedit /set {default} safeboot Minimal”
And to delete it, I typed “bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot”
It will not boot correctly now; can you help me?
Chris
8 years ago
Hi, having just installed Windows 10 and worked thru a number of issues I decided to defrag and optimise my c: drive. Since then, I cannot boot from this drive as usual.
I have booted the system up using a USB drive and can access Cmd prompt. I have followed the various instructions on the use of Diskpart, Bootrec and Bootsect but am still having problems.
When I typed “Bootrec /fixboot” I got “Element not found”
When I followed up with “Bootsect /nt60 sys” the error message was “The system partition was not found: The requested system device cannot be found”
The drive is a 2 TB Segate drive and was set up to be C: with a small recovery partition D: The drive is visible in the BIOS and also as Disk 0 in Diskpart> list disk. However it does not appear as a volume in Diskpart> list volume.
Any suggestions as to where to next to try and fix this problem? I a resigned to re-loading Windows 10 once the drive is going again and restoring my system from backups, but first I need to get the old C: drive bootable so I can do this.
Yes, a great sheet of commands. I never knew how easy it really was to fix boot problems until I accidentally discovered the fixboot, etc. commands. A great sheet to print or have on a second computer.
RE: software to backup BCD
my machine comes with an OEM windows 7 installation so i don’t have an installation disc right at my finger tips.
i am looking for a software to backup the boot elements (that BCD thing) and to restore the boot archive before windows 7 is being launched.
any suggestions?
thankyou
William,
Hongkong
2-12-2010
Easy BCD
http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1
i guess easy bcd only allows for a disc restore.
i don’t think you can restore only the BCD.
to my knowledge, easy bcd does offer a backup of that BCD thing, but easy bcd only allows for a disc restore. i don’t think you can restore only the BCD.
“First of all you have to clean Master Boot Record (MBR) by using bootrec /fixmbr as in an earlier section. Next, type bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force and press Enter. The /nt60 parameter applies the master boot code that is compatible with BOOTMGR”
Does anyone knows the code for switching back to XP bootmenu?
Remember I’ve seen this nt60 been mentioned somewhere before and it was for get Vista/Win7 bootmenu on screen.
Thanks for a nice tutorial!
try this command to restore Windows XP boot menu:
bcdedit /create {ntldr} -d windows xp
or a slight variation of this command:
bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d “Windows XP”
The “d” stands for the drive that the windows xp is actually installed. If it is in drive c, then replace the ‘d’ with a ‘c’.
I never knew how easy it really was to fix boot problems until I accidentally discovered the fixboot.
After many trials, this really fixed our pc. Thanks!!! 😀 It was my first time using cmd other than the dir and sfc commands.
Glad we could help.
i did scan process bootrec.exe /scanos but i didn’t find any operating system installation. what i can do now.
pls help me.
Really a great guide, I was able to fix my 4 hours PC problem with the above code execution!!!
bootrec.exe /nt60 all /force
not recognized as a command, then lists commands?
If you try to run bootrec.exe directly from Windows, it won’t work.
In this guide we mention the following: boot from your Windows Setup DVD or a System Repair Disc and launch Command Prompt.
bootrec.exe is included only on the System Repair disc.
What about when it refuses to recognize your keyboards (any of them, wired & wireless) so you can’t type anything in the command prompt? This is where I’m stuck & I’m going to try hirens boot cd next, but I’m starting to feel like I’m going to have to do a fresh install of Windows AGAIN, after only doing so about 4 months ago. :'(
With this tutorial, I was able to do what the Geek Squad couldn’t do. I had to create a Win 7 boot CD from another Win 7 computer then boot the defective computer from the created boot CD in safe mode w/ command prompt. I couldn’t access the C: until after I ran “chkdsk C: [Option]” from X: (relocate and repair options for chkdsk were used). It found bad files and sectors, but that was not enough. I had to reboot and access C: after having to run another chkdsk C:, then I had to implement your “Rebuild Process” from C:. Trying to remove bad windows updates with pkgmgr did not work from C: prompt. It was after a windows update my issue occurred. Thank you for posting!!! V/R, Jeff
when i go to scanos steps, it again stucks for half an hour.
plz help
Thanks. I was on a dual boot system and I removed the Linux partition and was using grub only. I used EASUS Partition Manager to merge two partitions and it had to reboot to finish the task. When it rebooted, grub wouldn’t start and was in Rescue Mode (grub rescue). My Windows partitions were locked down because they were awaiting EASUS to finish merging the partitions. So repair from the Windows 8 Install Disc was not an option. I tried everything, then found this post, booted from the W8 Install Disc, selected CMD option, ran all these steps to “/scanos”, typed ” exit” into the CMD Prompt, rebooted, and everything was fine. And my grub was completely gone (which was what I was trying to do in the first place and why I was messing with the partitions) because I just wanted the regular Windows Boot. You saved me hours. Thanks.
I have a dual boot windows 8.1 system on my lappy at the moment. Would following these steps allow me to remove the slower boot option from start up?
Hi,
I’m using two operating systems(Win7 & Ubuntu12.04) in my computer. During the installation of MATLAB in win7, it hung . So I restarted the computer by switching off the power. After this, I found a problem related to automatic startup repair and tried to repair by bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot commands without any win7 cd or dvd (which was showing successful in command prompt), but the same problem occurred when I restarted again. Also I’m not able to run ubuntu also in my computer after this issue. I have some important data in it. Please help so that I should not loose my data.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Hi.Thanks for the guide.
I can’t access cmd anymore.Not with safe mode-not with windows startup repair and not a CD also
The only way I can access my computer files is a kali Linux live cd.Anyway I do things you said through it?
I AM MAKING AN ACCOUNT JUST TO SAY THANK YOU! YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH YOU SAVED ME! I LOVE YOU! I had searched through literally hundreds of websites and all of them didn’t have information that was relevant to me, but this…this made everything work.
Truly, THANK YOU! <3
I don’t know what to try first. My mp3 player caused some sort of problem, startup repair doesn’t work, and my system recovery points are ‘missing’.
I’m still showing 0 windows detected even though I can see them on the disk.. What else can I do?
I’m having the same issue.
Good morning everyone,
I have a problem with error ‘Invalid Partition Table’.
Will I lose my Documents (unfortunately I did not make any backups) when I use all these repair tools ? Thank you in advance for Help !
Hi, you’ve just saved my computer! I’ve tried so many tools and rescue disks without any result, just the infinite loop. Now after this simple fix my system is back. Thank you so much from Brazil!
I ran the cmd’s /fixmbr and /fixboot But at both times recieved the message “A device attached to the system file is not functioning”
For /scanos there were no windows installations available.
My main problem is everytime I start my computer it goes to a blue screen that reads “auto fix couldnt repair your computer”
I cant do a factory reset because i dont have a windows installation disk.
If you get this error, it’s very probable that your drive is damaged and needs to be replaced.
You could try to run a “chkdsk /r c:” to scan for and repair bad sectors. If it works it will take quite a while.
I am having the same problem as Joet Dzvetero the the device not functioning plz advise
I am having a similar problem except my computer won’t boot, bootmgr missing. I have a windows 7 install disk and can get to command prompt but it says bootrec is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Please help, have tried following all tutorials with no luck.
Did you try running bootrec.exe from the DVD?
In the Command Prompt you should’ve entered “X:: for example. Then, you can copy bootrec.exe to your Windows drive.
Yes I have run bootrec several times with no luck. It says operation completed successfully every time but nothing changes. It is unable to find OS.
You should also try to check the drive for bad sectors. Run a “chkdisk /r c:”.
I ran the chkdsk /r on the c: and the d: both say… Windows has checked the file system and found no problems. Any suggestions on what next?
Maybe your volume letters are not correct.
Try this:
X:sources> diskpart
DISKPART> list volume
DISKPART> select volume 1
DISKPART> active
DISKPART> assign letter=A
DISKPART> select volume 2
DISKPART> assign letter=C
DISKPART> exit
X:sources> bootrec /rebuildbcd
OK, did that and for the first time it actually worked but still says same thing…successfully scanned windows installations. Total identified windows installations: 0 . the operation completed successfully. And back at x:sources. Gladly accept more advice/options. I’ve done some of these before perhaps just not in the right order?
Check the last part from this article: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/927392
I followed the instructions to the T. Now instead of x:sources> I have C:Boot> Maybe we are getting somewhere!?
I just noticed that you mentioned that above so I’m trying it. I tried it on c: and found nothing as it is calling my c: system reserved, I’m now running it on d: local drive. I will inform on the outcome. Thank you! Let’s hope this helps, it’s actually running something so that alone gives me hope.
Hi, thanks for the info, I learned quite a bit. Just one question… do all disks have a MBR and BCD or only disks that are a boot disk? In other words, do USB portable hard drives also have them?
I followed it and now it’s worse actually..
whem i restart it’s not recognizing any windows installation.
how can i undo what you explained here?
my Acer 8730 laptop windows 8.1pro OS dual core is stuck on “automatic repair” “diagnostic” loop on attempted start up of system. I am desperately trying to avoid loosing my data on my drive. Currently all checks I have run reflect files are still detectable when using chkdsk /c: lastly I ran /fixmbr successfully then /scanos result was 0 installations. PLEASE advise me easiest and safest next step to follow to fix my boot error ?!! (at your mercy now ) PS. I don’t have original cd windows 8 installation disc*
hi.i have the same problem with my Ubuntu . i installed that alongside my windows 8.1 , and now when the selection page( Ubuntu or windows) come up ,
my windows successfully boot but my Ubuntu don’t boot and i face with an error that say :
windows failed to start ,a recent hardware or software change might be the cause.
Info : the application or operating system couldn’t be loaded because a required file is missing or contains errors
in addition i used of Easybcd and made new entry for my Linux,
please help me to solve my problem .
Please just took my hp laptop to where it was formatted and a new windows installed. However, i wanted to install some games and now, the laptop can no longer boot. please what shall i do?
First, thank you for the straight forward instructions. I got my Lenovo win 8.1 back working and it is doing some auto Hardware scan right now./No/All:’
After the ‘bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd’, I got
‘Total identified Windows installations: 1 [1]
(thats my recovery disk, which I couldn’t get to reboot Windows)
X:windowssystem32>Windows Add installation to boot list? Yes
I typed ‘y’ (without the quotation mark).
Exit’ed command prompt and rebooted computer.
I didn’t do the /nt60 or /force steps. So far so good 🙂
Thank you!!
Hi everyone . I was wondering of a clever person here can help . When I turned on my acer, It used to just stay on Microsoft corporation screen and not change . Now it always goes into ‘ loading memory files and does a start up repair where it says start up repair cants repair this computer automatically . When I open problem details it says problem signature 01 – 10. Signature 06 says corruptbootconfigdata. Signature 09 says fix partition table.
Can anyone please be generous with their time and try to help me get back to my desktop screen? I’m very naive when it comes to all this
On start up repair it says root cause found – boot configuration is corrupt . Repair action – partition table repair.
Result- failed .error code -0x490
Thanks again .
even after fixing the the mbr. The window 7 loads and waits on the display page until any key is pressed or it doesn’t load, that too within minutes after turning on it should be done else the have to restart it again. what should i do?
This is something I find myself having to do from time to time but always forget the process.
Not had to do it in windows 7 so nice to see the updated version using boot rec.exe
Thank you it was frustrating me lol
Hi can you help my pc was showing Missing operating system on startup then I did all the above from the tutorial running cmd.exe. from Win 7 OS disk boot, Here is what I got:
/fixmbr – operation completed successfully
/fixboot – Elements not found
/rebuildbcd – Total identified Win installation : 0
/scanos – Total identified Win Installation : 0
Is there any hope or it’s the end of the road please help I’m really stuck..
Regards
You could try these commands:
DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK X – X is your Windows drive
LIST PARTITION
SELECT PARTITION X – X is your Windows partition
ACTIVE
EXIT
After each command, press Enter and, after you ran all the commands, try a system repair.
Hi thanks for the response, trying the above here is what I get below:
DISK PART –
Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
Disk 0 Online 931gb 0 B
Disk 1 Online 931gb 931gb
SELECT DISK I choose “0” since it shows free 0
Disk 0 is now selected
LIST PARTITION
Partition ###. Type. Size. Offset
*Partiton 1. Primary. 931gb. 0 B
SELECT PARTION 1
There is no Partiton selected.
DISKPART>
After typing select partition 1 it returned “There is no partition selected” , I’m not sure if I’m on the correct path…
Regards
Lloyd
I type in bootrec.exerebuild it says its an invalid directory. Im windows 8 Asus x750l . It won’t do a system restore best thing i can get. Im trying to put windows on using a usbbut it won’t read my portable hard drive . Please help. Thanks
Hi Brittany looking at your path you typed I think you made an error if its saying invalid directory. You typed a back slash instead of forward / example below:
Wrong——–bootrec.exerebuild
Correct——-bootrec.exe/rebuild
hope that helps,thanks…
OMG! You guys are a God send! This page is VERY VAULABLE to those, like myself, that got their boot config all messed up! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!
I typed in bootrec.exe /fixmbr and it says The device is not ready
Hi Codrut
Firstly many thanks for putting this article. It made lot of sense and got me out of lot of trouble.
My issue was Windows 7 hanging after trying to apply a windows update I think.
Bear with me while I provide the system and background info.
System info:
I have a Dell Inspiron running windows 8.1.
From BIOS, the Fixed HDD is “WDC WD10JPVT-75A1YT0 (100GB);
SATA ODD is HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GT80N.
No SSD or other drives.
From DISKPART:
List disk
Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt
Disk 0 Online 931 GB 0 B *
List Volume:
Volume ### Ltr Label Fs Type Size Status Info
———- — ———– —– ———– ———— ————– ——–
Volume 0 D DVD-ROM 0 B No Media
Volume 1 C OS NTFS Partition 918 GB Healthy
Volume 2 J ESP FAT32 Partition 500 MB Healthy Hidden
Volume 3 G WINRETOOLS NTFS Partition 490 MB Healthy Hidden
Volume 4 F NTFS Partition 450 MB Healthy Hidden
Volume 5 E PBR Image NTFS Partition 11 GB Healthy Hidden
Volume 6 I Diags FAT32 Partition 40 MB Healthy Hidden
select disk 0
list partition
Partition ### Type Size Offset
————- —————— ——– ———
Partition 1 System 500 MB 1024 KB
Partition 2 OEM 40 MB 501 MB
Partition 3 Reserved 120 MB 541 MB
Partition 4 Recovery 490 MB 669 MB
Partition 5 Primary 918 GB 1159 MB
Partition 6 Recovery 450 MB 919 GB
Partition 7 Recovery 11 GB 919 GB
I have multiple partitions, but only two OSs installed – one partition with Windows 8.1 and one with an old version of Linux that I haven’t booted to in over a year. I stay current on all windows updates. Yesterday, I did a ‘shutdown and install updates’. I don’t know which updates were scheduled to be installed, but it should have been the most recent available. When I powered on computer later, I got the frown face and “your pc ran into a problem and needs to restart”. I had to video the screen to see that the lower message also says “If you want to know more….you can search for INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE”, since it would disappear so quickly. I have read the other posts on this subject but have had no luck in any of the following…
On the automatic repair screen, I chose restart – no change in symptoms.
I then chose ‘advanced options’ , ‘continue to windows 8.1’ – no change
I then chose ‘advanced options’, ‘troubleshoot’, ‘advanced options’…
… booted to command prompt – can access x: drive and all files appear intact
… did startup repair – no change
… did system restore (tried two different restore points) – no change
— did startup settings, safe mode – no change (and tried all other options)
From command prompt
I ran:
bootrec /FixMbr
bootrec /Fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
bootsect /nt60 all /force
Both the scanos and rebuildbcd show 0 (zero) Windows installations
I also created a recovery USB drive from another 8.1 installation on my desktop machine, but I am not sure if the laptop with the issue actually booted from it or the hard drive.
So after all of the above I start looking at bios boot options (by pressing F12).
My bios has:
Boot mode is set to UEF. Secure boot: ON
UEFI Boot:
Windows boot Manager (WDC WD10JPVT-75A1YT0) (this entry is highlighted)
BIOS Setup (pressing F2) shows
SATA Operation : AHCI (other options are ATA and “Intel Smart Response Technology”)
Under BOOT options:
Secure Boot: Enabled
Boot List Option : UEFI
If I set SECUREBOOT to Disabled then I can select ‘Legacy’ for the boot list option.
My question is what are the next logical steps to try (bios changes?) to repair the boot process?
what to doafter thers actions??the last step?
Sir I have done dis procedure
When I restarted my computer it showed NTLDR missing Pls help
Please help me I’ve been trying to fix my PC for a day. It boots and displays the mobo logo. Then it takes me to the startup repair screen. When I proceed with repair, it “diagnoses my PC”. It then shays that start-up repair couldn’t repair my PC. After it tells me to look through advanced options or shut down my PC. Lastly it shows me “Log file: C:WINDOWSSystem32LogfilesSrtSrtTrail.txt”. Please help me as I have tried as many solutions as I can find but none have proved to cause my system to boot normally. I appreciate the help,
Angelo
Check this: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-update/help-ive-encountered-the-srttrailtxt-problem/82c06748-855f-41cf-9cf8-6fe5724381e7?page=2
hi, after the first pickture you put up of cmd, Total identified windows installations:0.
what do you do then,
you showed if it identified windows.
so i did the Bootsect nt60 anyway all it say is boot sector restoration tool.
Please can you help.
I tried using the bootrec to start the computer but it’s telling me all the stuffs are not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. Please what can I do?
I have a Toshiba Satellite S75. I was running windows 8.1, I did that stupid update to windows 10 and I’ve had problems ever since. Now I keep getting a BSOD telling me that a critical process died and my laptop cycles from the Toshiba start logo to the BSOD. I can’t restore it back to factory settings, the automatic repair option doesn’t work, I’ve run of ideas. That’s why I’m here, to ask for help form some people that know more about this crap than I do.
Hi – after the last step, my results came back that /device/harddiskvolume 3 could not open the volume root directory: the parameter is incorrect. Can someone assist?
These steps outlined have been very helpful.
Hi I was trying to force my dell laptop into safe mode using command prompt because I had just downloaded Windows 10 and it wasn’t working. To try to get safe mode, in the command prompt, I typed “bcdedit /set {default} safeboot Minimal”
And to delete it, I typed “bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot”
It will not boot correctly now; can you help me?
Hi, having just installed Windows 10 and worked thru a number of issues I decided to defrag and optimise my c: drive. Since then, I cannot boot from this drive as usual.
I have booted the system up using a USB drive and can access Cmd prompt. I have followed the various instructions on the use of Diskpart, Bootrec and Bootsect but am still having problems.
When I typed “Bootrec /fixboot” I got “Element not found”
When I followed up with “Bootsect /nt60 sys” the error message was “The system partition was not found: The requested system device cannot be found”
The drive is a 2 TB Segate drive and was set up to be C: with a small recovery partition D: The drive is visible in the BIOS and also as Disk 0 in Diskpart> list disk. However it does not appear as a volume in Diskpart> list volume.
Any suggestions as to where to next to try and fix this problem? I a resigned to re-loading Windows 10 once the drive is going again and restoring my system from backups, but first I need to get the old C: drive bootable so I can do this.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.