This morning when I booted the PC (Windows 7 Professional) I got a black screen with the following message:
BOOTMGR is missing
Press ctrl+alt+delete to restart
Well it doesn't restart, it just keeps repeating over and over. Have booted from a Linux disc as that is the only way to get online.
Does that message indicate that I have a Windows problem that can be resolved by re-installing Windows 7 or would it indicate a HDD problem?
I am aware that a Linux disc runs from the memory and not the HDD so need advice from someone more knowledgeable than myself. I don't want to waste my time trying to reinstall Windows if it is more likely to be a HDD problem.
I don't run 7, Ian, sorry, but to me it sounds like something you should be able to repair from the Win7 disk.
I think it's insert Win7 disk and run a repair time.
Put in the install disc, then select the repair function. Start up issues are one of the first things scanned for.
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/fixing-bootmgr-is-missing-error-while-trying-to-boot-windows-vista/
Many thanks for the replies :thumb: Will go and have tea and then run the Win7 disc and see what happens.
Tried a repair first, that was a waste of 30 mins! Then tried a complete reinstall which has given me Win7 but although the start up screens were all clear and in focus the desktop is grainy and the taskbar, icons & letters/numbers are huge. A play in settings and screen resolutions didn't solve anything and on top of that windows tells me I need to download and install a device driver through MS updates to be able to connect to the internet :eyebrow: :po: Very clever, I'm sure only MS could come up with something so stupid.
I am working from a Linux disc at the moment with a perfect connection (ssshh, don't let BT know ;D) and apart from the eye candy of Windows 7 there is nothing I cannot do in Linux that I can (or want to) do in Win7. I have a couple of very important e-mails to send relating to my holiday to Dubai next month and I may just wipe windows and install Linux. The simplicity and speed of it is quite refreshing.
Crazy isn't drivers required, available on the internet but no NIC available to connect.
It's a bit like 'Keyboard error - press any key to continue'. :shake:
Or, "If your internet is down, please email support..." ;D
Just for clarification from the more knowledgeable.
Can I assume that as I can now boot the computer into windows OK, that the "BOOTMGR is missing" message was solely to do with the windows boot manager and nothing to do with with the computer operating system itself or the HD. I don't want to install Linux on the HD and find that will not boot either although it runs OK from the disc.
The bootmgr was missing or corrupted on the Windows boot HDD, it shouldn't be missing unless you've changed your boot options in BIOS i.e you have more than one HDD, so corrupted is more likely.
It does seem to be a weakness in Win7, I had the same error twice for no apparent reason. I know I fubarred it a while ago adding a dual booted Linux distro :whistle: but it is so easy to recover.