I've nackered my bootloader

SlyReaper · 6 Aug 2009 at 14:55

Okay, so last night, I decided to get rid of the Windows XP partition because I don't use it any more, and expand my Windows 7 partition over it. So I used EasyBCD to remove the XP entry, then used a GParted CD to delete the XP partition and expand the 7 partition over it. Easy peasy, right?

I think the boot loader might have been in the XP partition though. Because now I get the message "NTLDR not found" when trying to boot up. By my understanding, NTLDR is specific to XP and below, and Vista and 7 use something else. So how do I create a new bootloader for Win7?

The thing is, I've moved house recently so I've lost my Windows 7 RC install disk. I've tried to repair using the beta disk, but no joy. My current plan is to install XP in a small partition and use EasyBCD again to recreate a boot loader, but that'll take ages. I'd also be too scared to remove XP again unless I was sure the new bootloader wasn't stored in it. Is there a more elegant solution?

Theguy · 6 Aug 2009 at 15:02

i think the easiest option would be to get windows 7 on another disk, and do a repair. that should fix the boot issues.. i cant really think of any other option without involving lots of faff tbh..

SlyReaper · 6 Aug 2009 at 15:04

Is there a particular reason a repair would work from an RC disk when it didn't on the beta disk though? When I tried to repair, it told me to choose which operating system to repair from a list. It then presented me with an empty list.

PiKe · 6 Aug 2009 at 15:05

Click command prompt and type bootrec.exe

SlyReaper · 6 Aug 2009 at 15:08

Right-o. Will do that when I get home.

Is bootrec the Win7 version of XP's "fixmbr"?

PiKe · 6 Aug 2009 at 15:09

Theguy · 6 Aug 2009 at 15:26

aa i didnt know about taht bootrec command, ta.

SlyReaper · 6 Aug 2009 at 17:29

bootrec.exe doesn't work. It can scan the hard drives and find an OS not in the boot manager, but when I try to "/FixBoot" on it, it just says "Element not found".

how random · 6 Aug 2009 at 18:08

Try this: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000648.htm. I've done this on a XP install before and it's worked.

SlyReaper · 6 Aug 2009 at 18:16

I know already that won't work. 7 doesn't have a boot.ini.

SlyReaper · 6 Aug 2009 at 19:08

I give up. I'm reinstalling. I found the RC disk, so I'm just installing it over the top of the existing W7 partition in the hope that it'll keep programs and settings and stuff.

Off topic: why does it take so long?!? It spends a good few minutes idle before spinning up the disk to start installing.

gbradders123 · 6 Aug 2009 at 23:41

whoopsey daisy

Terrier_Jimlad · 7 Aug 2009 at 00:02

could have tried EasyBC to repair it?

pingwing · 7 Aug 2009 at 01:24

Im gunna say P P P P P POWERBOOK, well that mught be too far, but basically your xp partition has your boot info on it so do a mbr recovery from the windows cd..

SlyReaper · 7 Aug 2009 at 14:43

roflcakes22 said:
could have tried EasyBC to repair it?

I did. It didn't work.

PiKe · 7 Aug 2009 at 15:15

You could have downloaded it again, burnt it and reinstalled it by now

mrk · 7 Aug 2009 at 15:35

If you had created a windows 7 repair disc after installing 7 (a part of Windows 7's backup and restore suite) you could have easily booted with the disc, allowed it to detect the problem and repair the problem.

Ah well!

SlyReaper · 7 Aug 2009 at 21:03

I've already reinstalled because I found my lost disk (it was in a shoe box of all things).