Replacing C:\windows folder, bootmgr missing/ corrupt.?

Question

Okay so my desktop is a 64bit running windows vista, something recently happened and now bootmgr is missing and or corrupt. and i cant find my drivers or anything to help repair it. I took out the hard drive and i am now thinking on hooking it up to my laptop which is a 32 bit, running windows vista just like my desktop comp was. I am going to hook it up via usb to sata adapter. If i replace the C:\window folder on the hard drive with the C:\windows folder on my laptop (reminded my desktop computer is 64 bit, and my laptop is 32 bit if it matters) will that work or not? so i would be replacing it with the non corrupt windows folder. Will that mess everything up or will it work. If it does work, will any files be missing that are important? If non of the above will work, then could you either tell me which files to replace or give me a link to a good website that gives me all the instructions on how to make an installation disk or whatever its called so i can repair those files? The error code i was getting was bootmgr is missing/ corrupt error code 0x15, and i dont have a recovery, and i cant use any of the drives in C:\Windows\System32\DRVSTORE to help repair them because those are corrupt too. So any solution is greatly appreciated if you need more information just please ask and i will add it as soon as possible. And thank you for taking the time to read this and answer my question.

Answer 1

Hi,

Never attempt to use a 32 bit to fix a 64 bit or vice versa.

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 :

Try these from the Command Prompt of a Vista Boot Disk - type in each at the prompt

and hit ENTER after each. (How to make a Vista disk at the end of this troubleshooter.)

bootrec /fixmbr

bootrec /fixboot

bootrec /scanos

bootrec /rebuildbcd

If that works then run StartUp Repair THREE times from the Vista Boot Disk, run once and

then reboot and run again and repeat.

Try StartUp Repair from Recovery Options or Vista disk.

How to do a Startup Repair

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html

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

repair startup issues in Windows Vista

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

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

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

**Sometimes using EasyBCD works when other methods do not.**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

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

Repairing the Windows Vista Bootloader

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

If that works then run StartUp Repair THREE times from the Vista Boot Disk, run once and

then reboot and run again and repeat.

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

More information :

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

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

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 moretimes.

This tells you how to access the System Recovery Options and/or use a Vista Disk

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/326b756b-1601-435e-99d0-1585439470351033.mspx

Try StartUp Repair from Recovery Options or Vista disk.

How to do a Startup Repair

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/91467-startup-repair.html

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

information - Repair Corrupt Boot Manager

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

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

How to fix "BOOTMGR is missing" in Windows Vista

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"

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

Vista Tip: Repair "BOOTMGR is missing" error - a quick how to

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

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

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

If you do not have a Vista disk you can borrow a friends as they are not copy protected. Your

System maker will also sell the physical DVD cheap since you already own Windows. Also you

can make a repair disk on another computer.

If you need to make repair disks - these help repair Windows not re-install.

How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc - Free methods

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html

NeoSmart now charges $9.75 for their ISO images to make the disks.

How to Make a Bootable Disk in Vista

http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/7050.aspx

Download: Windows Vista 32 bit (x86) Recovery Disc and Windows 7

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/download-windows-vista-x64-recovery-disc/

Download: Windows Vista x64 Recovery Disc and Windows 7

http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/download-windows-vista-x64-recovery-disc/

How to Make a Windows Vista Repair Disk If You Don’t Have One

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/how-to-make-a-windows-vista-repair-disk-if-you-dont-have-one/

Hope this helps.

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