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)

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

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.

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Answer 2

Hi westport63,

You really need to start your own thread as the issue you have is not actually the same as in this thread.

You can try the methods suggested by Divya R. or myself as above.

Sometimes a re-installation is the only viable option.

You could also back up the data and re-install Windows 7. The hard drive can be put into another computer

as 2nd drive (best) or into an External USB case. Either would allow you to copy the data to removable

media such as CD, DVD, or other USB drives.

Or you could use an Ubuntu boot CD to back up the data.

Use Ubuntu Live CD to Backup Files from Your Dead Windows Computer

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/use-ubuntu-live-cd-to-backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer

Hope this helps.

---

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

Answer 3

hi,

I have the same problem, but I already removed and formated my HDD. It is empty with nothing on it. But when I insert booting CD, I still can see the same message - BOOTING MNGR IS MISSING. What can I do??? Please help.

Thanks!

Answer 4

Hi,

Setup/Settings (BIOS/CMOS) often F2 as you boot - set the Boot Order

to CD/DVD first. Be sure to set it back afterwards. Be sure the disk you

are using is bootable.

If this does not help please start your own thread with all the information

we need to help us help you.

How to ask a question

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Roman, this may be a solution to my problem, the DISKPART command sound interesting.

However, I newer get to the screen where "The screen screen gives you a choice of Repairing your computer, select this choice"

I get to the table where you select operating system and location. Here it shows location D. The repairprogram search for over 2 hours for other Windows installations without success an I give up.

Is there another way to get to the prompt and to drive C:?

Can I run DISKPART from CD-drive?

More info:

On the screen where you select windows and drive there is a button "Install drivers". Opening this it is possible to see the drives, I have

C: About 90 out of 100 Mbyte free space used

D: Size not available

E: Recovery disk

X: Probably the boot CD drive

The very similar issue is with my 2 months old Sony VAIO VPC1369E with a preinstalled Windows 7 64 bit professional. When booting I get the blue screen "BOOTMGR something is missing" or another message. I have tried the Startup repair without success. I have run a Norton antivirus check from CD on harddrive with no remark. I have another Win7 professional license and tried running the repair (from 64bit CD). Then I notice that Windows is (according to the program on the CD) installed on drive D. If this is correct I have no idea how this happened.

It may be because of;

1. a recent Windows update
2. I connected a USB HD containing the HD from my previous laptop (this contains Win7 32 bit, it is the one that I bought the Win 7 pro license for).

I can probably leave my PC for warranty repair but I am afraid they will just reinstall Windows and then I need to install and setup all programs again.

Browsing the web I can see warnings for swapping drive letters.

The laptop have run perfectly until today.