windows 7 bootmgr is missing-- resolved using WinRE

Question

original title: windows 7 bootmgr is missing HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i have a sony vaio laptop with no partitions no nothing just a hard disk with pre-installed windows 7 64 bit home premium. Yesterday i has installing some widgets to my desktop and after i have restarted the laptop windows coudn't start....it says bootmgr is missing. I tryied to use the recovery tools of vaio but the only option is toformat everything and install again windows 7 but i dont want this option. I have tried almost everything finding on net many answers about this problem but none of them it worked to me. I downloaded a bootable disk to repair the windows i tryied to do it manually from the prompt command but nothing....Its very strange though when i open the vaio recovery tools i can save all my files to an external drive but it appears a partition d: which before didnt exist

and have one folder called boot and inside contains a file called bootmgr. I would like if somebody have any idea what to do cause i have this laptop 1 month it it drives me crazy when i am thinking that i need to format everything

thanks

Answer 1

Hi darofossss,

Perform the following methods to resolve the issue: 

Method 1: Startup Repair from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

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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.

Refer the following link for more information:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/What-are-the-system-recovery-options-in-Windows-7

To know more about “Startup Repair” visit the following link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Startup-Repair-frequently-asked-questions

Method 2: Rebuild BCD using the Bootrec.exe tool

============================================

To run the Bootrec.exe tool, you must start Windows RE. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Put the Windows Vista or Windows 7 installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.
2. Press a key when you are prompted. Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.
3. Click Repair your computer.
4. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
6. Type Bootrec.exe, and then press ENTER.

Refer the following link for more information:

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

Method 3: Use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to run System Restore

============================================

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 System Restore.
7. Follow the System Restore Wizard instruction as usual and choose the appropriate restore point.
8. Click Finish to restore the system.

To know more about “System Restore” visit the following link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/System-Restore-frequently-asked-questions

If the above methods do not help, you may try to follow the methods mentioned in this article:

Error message when you start Windows Vista: "The Windows Boot Configuration Data file is missing required information"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927391

Note: This article also applies to Windows 7 Operating system as well.

Regards,

Divya R – Microsoft Support.

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Answer 2

Make sure your computer has no external drives attached.!

Answer 3

No external drives.  1 internal hard drive.

Answer 4

I don't have a Windows 7 installation disc. How do i get rid of this BootMgr is missing? :(

Answer 5

Hi Benny Vigil,

Here is an updated version of the troubleshooter which includes methods to make a Windows 7

Repair Disc or Installation Disc.

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References to Vista also apply to Windows 7. 

See if these help - boot with a Windows disk (repair disk ok) and issue these

from the Command Prompt and hit ENTER after each.

Setup/Setting (BIOS/CMOS) often F2 as you boot so watch the screen - set

to CD/DVD drive first in the boot order - remember to set back when done.

(Some use F12 or other keys for a one time boot order change.)

C:

bootrec /fixmbr

bootrec /fixboot

bootrec /scanos

bootrec /rebuildbcd

How to repair MBR on Windows 7

http://www.ehow.com/how\_4836283\_repair-mbr-windows.html

How To: Repair And Restore Windows Vista Master Boot Record (MBR)

http://www.tomstricks.com/how-to-repair-and-restore-windows-vista-master-boot-record-mbr/

This KB tells how to use /FixMbr and /FixBoot and other options

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment

to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows. This also applied to

Windows 7

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

If those help then run StartUp Repair THREE times - run once and then reboot and run again - repeat. (Use a Windows 7 disk.)

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Using EasyBCD often works when other methods do not. <-- if Bootrec did not help use this.

Recovering the Vista or Windows 7 Bootloader from the DVD

http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Recovering+the+Vista+Bootloader+from+the+DVD

Recovering the Vista Bootloader with EasyBCD (Windows 7)

http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Recovering+the+Vista+Bootloader+with+EasyBCD

Repairing the Windows Vista Bootloader (Windows 7)

http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Repairing+the+Windows+Vista+Bootloader

If those help then run StartUp Repair THREE times - run once and then reboot and run again - repeat. (Use a Windows 7 disk.)

How to Run a Startup Repair in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

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**If you need to make repair disks - these help repair Windows not re-install.**Often these disks will help when the OEM Recovery Disk does not.

Download Windows 7 System Recovery Discs - now charging $9.75 for the ISO

images to make the disks. (These can be made on any computer running XP,

Vista, or Window 7 that has a CD/DVD burner.)

http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/

How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc - Free (Must be made on a

Windows 7 computer running the same 32 or 64 bit.)

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

**A Installation Disk can also be made to use for Repair. Of course you would use your ownCOA (Product Key).**Windows 7 (English) with Service Pack 1

• Windows 7 Home Premium (x86) - X17-58996

• Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) - X17-58997

• Windows 7 Professional (x86) - X17-59183

• Windows 7 Professional (x64) - X17-59186

• Windows 7 Ultimate (x86)* - X17-59463

• Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)* - X17-59465

See MVP Andre Da Costa's message in this thread.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/how-can-i-download-gatewaywindows7recovery-disc/3c0ecd74-cfc1-4188-89c7-a6bbe8113ee1

======================================

If needed :

What to do if Windows won't start correctly

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/What-to-do-if-Windows-wont-start-correctly 

How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

What are the system recovery options in Windows 7?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/What-are-the-system-recovery-options-in-Windows-7

A Repair Installation allows you to keep the programs and data though redundant backups

are always a good idea.

How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

===========================================

===========================================

More information :

References to Vista also apply to Windows 7.

This is serious error and "may" not be repairable without professional tech support

from a real computer shop (not leeks and peeks at a BestBuy or other BigBox Stores)

or your System maker's Support.

Here are the troubleshooting methods to try to fix the issue :

Bootmgr is missing Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart Error message when starting Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2622803

How to Fix the "Bootmgr is missing" Error in Windows

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/104341-bootmgr-missing-fix.html

Try Startup Repair - (If at ANY point you gain some but not full access to Windows

come back and try Startup Repair again.) Very often StartUp Repair has to be

run TWO or more times.

---

Unable to boot in windows vista- windows boot configuration data file is missing

required information - Repair Corrupt Boot Manager (Windows 7)

http://www.troublefixers.com/unable-to-boot-in-windows-vista-windows-boot-configuration-data-file-is-missing-required-information/ 

How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment

to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows Vista (Windows 7)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392 

How to fix "BOOTMGR is missing" in Windows Vista (Windows 7)

http://cyberst0rm.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-fix-bootmgr-is-missing-in.html 

Error message when you start Windows Vista: "The Windows Boot Configuration

Data file is missing required information"  (Windows 7)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927391 

Vista Tip: Repair "BOOTMGR is missing" error - a quick how to (Windows 7)

http://lifehacker.com/251733/vista-tip--repair-bootmgr-is-missing-error 

See this section here - To repair/rebuild the Boot Config Data Use the Bootrec.exe

Tool (Windows 7)

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/163304-dual-boot-using-free-partitioning-software.html

Hope this helps.

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Rob Brown - Microsoft MVP <- profile - Windows Expert - Consumer : Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right.