Error message cd boot: couldn't find bootmgr.

Question

Original Title: CD BOOT

I have upgraded motherboard, CPU and memory.

When booting windows 7 from the original hard drive it would boot to show the windows starting logo, then it reboots and continues in this loop.

I tried starting with the original win 7 DVD but it still went into the same loop.

I then installed a new solid state drive and tried to install windows 7 from the original DVD.

I get the error message cd boot: couldn't find bootmgr.

New motherboard is gigabyte b85m-d3h with an i7-4770 CPU with a samsung 840evo drive.

Any help getting this going would be great.

Answer 1

Replacing a Motherboard implies that many components on that motherboard are different and therefore require different drivers to control properly.  Thus it is not expected that your original hard drive (with drivers loaded that match your old motherboard) would boot your system after you replace the motherboard.

The next question is what, exactly, is the "original win 7 DVD"?  Is your system an OEM system (Dell, HP, Compaq, Acer, etc) and this is the DVD that came with that system with Windows 7 pre-installed?  If so, you face the same problem -- as an OEM Windows license will die when your computer dies and OEM install disks will only contain drivers for components on the original motherboard hardware. In addition, the [OEM] Windows license is in some form tied to the original motherboard by the OEM manufacturer.  Replacing a Motherboard is considered as a different computer so far as a Windows installation is concerned.  If this is your case, you will need to purchase a Retail (Boxed) version of Windows 7 to install on your system.

If you have a Retail Win7 DVD, then it is possible that you will need to supply drivers to your specific hardware at some point early in the installation to match your hardware.

Providing some of these details would help.

HTH,

  JW