Please Help. I made 2 partitions of the C drive active!!

Hello. I am using Windows 7 x64 and for some reason I began to get an error on boot that said something like, 'Error finding disc' or 'Cannot locate disc please press any key to continue'. Using google I found a lot of stuff about the CD/DVD drive and changing the bios to prioritize the boot order from CD drive to C.
But that wasn't the problem and I found some info about the correct C partition being active or not.

So, I made the foolish mistake of making my Larger C partition active (forgetting that the 100MB part is the one supposed to active.)
Now my computer won't boot-up. The error I get is BOOTMNG is missing. Press Control Alt Delete to continue.

I try F2, F8, F9, F12 and can't access my hard drive to fix this. My computer which I got new just 4 months ago did not come with any installation or recovery discs. Can I make one? I made disc to bring it to it's original state (HP recovery discs) but I really just want to fix this as I have some really cool software on it. What can I do?

Thanks for your time and advice.

 

you dont have a windows 7 DVD??? you could use a friends or something... go to the command prompt and type fixmbr or w.e it is for windows 7...

http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/17521-how-fix-mbr-through-command-prompt.html

I dont know if that might help... but its worth a try.. wont harm anything as long as you dont have a linux partition on there or smt..



*edit.. correction it might .. but unlikely.. (ive done this multiple times before despite by what is said in that forum) corrupt your data, I would recommend backing up your data.. if u can... otherwise its your call.

 

If you check his specs... he has a raid configuration.. which might explain his problems with messing with the mbr (only using the fix mbr options, you dont want to mess with the MBR any other way)

 

But I can't get it to boot to run a command prompt. I am at a relative's house right now and was in a rush and wasn't thinking clearly and made a fatal error:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315261
and/or
http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/87558-system-does-not-boots-mark-partition-active.html

The solution is always just repair using your Windows 7 disk. I was unnerved when my computer didn't come with any disks. I bought it new.
I asked around and was told by many that that is the new trend. I guess so people don't share or pirate the discs??

I know there has to be a solution. I will be back home tomorrow. Currently I am on the exact same type of computer at my father's house. (We bought them last black Friday.)

I will have access to my wife's laptop but I was hoping to create some recovery or boot disc to undo my mistake while I was here.

PS - I know no one that has a Windows 7 disc.

 

Call up the manufacture and have them send you restore disks. Nominal cost.

 

You can download a Win7 startup/recovery disc free if you use a torrent program from this site. You will need to write it to a CD/DVD as an image file using imgburn or similar burning software.

It will give you access to the startup troubleshooter and the command prompt.

 

Also.. if you want you can try to run a linux live CD.... and mark the right partition active... in gpart... or whatever partition manager.. depending on the linux distribution.

I recommend www.ubuntu.com.. run it in LIVE CD mode when you burn it.. you hsould be able to find gpart or partition something.. forgot what its called but you should beable to figure it out.. i think its right click the partition you need active... and click on mark active.. or w.e.


Good luck.. hope you get this working and not have to spend more money then you have to.

Also for an image burn.. i reccomend ISOrecorder.. from alex feinman at http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm it is a small program and integrates into right click... so all you have to do is right click the ISO file and click Burn to CD/DVD it will feel like its integrated right from microsoft into windows by default... I use it all the time.

 

Hello,
You could download Gparted by itself as it would be a much smaller download, highlight your partition and then click Partition>manage flags and then un-check boot. You will have to burn the iso with something like Imgburn or isorecorder as recommended by derron.. Then boot from the CD.

http://gparted.sourceforge.net/screens/gparted_11.png

 

Sorry... ya I should of recommended that.. had the right idea tho.. I recommend trying out ubuntu anyways tho if you want. Wouldn't hurt.. just a recommendation..

 

Thanks you all. I downloaded both the Windows 7 recovery and Gparted. I will pick up some discs today. Am I correct to assume that I need DVD-rws and choose the finalize option (Where not data can be added?)
I assume I can't use a DVDr?
I'll check back for an answer and I will burn one Windows 7 recovery discs and one GParted Disk and try that when I get home and report back. Hopefully from my fixed computer.

 

ok, try gparted first... as it will be faster and safer than touching the Master Boot Record (MBR).. or any other recovery tool that may mess things up...

I also believe a DVD will work.. but is a waste of space.. anything way under the maximum storage space in a DVD is just a waste unless its a DVD-RW...

 

CD-R is best for what you want.

 

Agreed... the cheaper option.. unless you want to burn other things that need a DVD...

 

My two cents if you have blank DVDr sitting there go ahead and use them. They are only 10 cents more than a CDr. 50 cents to burn both discs.

You are writing as an image file so the discs will be finalized. They must be to boot. [If you are not familiar with burning ISO you may want to test them after burning to make sure they boot. You are not using the data disc option in your burning program. You are using ISO or image file option.]

***
CD or DVD will work fine as long your computer can read DVDs which it can if it is relatively new which it is. Oh and I agree CDr are best/most compatible but if you don't normally use them then DVDs are fine.

 

Using a DVD for something under 100 megabytes is just insanely a waste of a DVD... save the DVD for something it was meant for. But it is up to you, i wont tell you what to do.

Besides I think I have had trouble running anything linux related on DVD's it works but tends to be slower and causes errors, in my experience.

 

Excuse me for interrupting folks

How long does it take you to walk to a shop and buy a CDR(W)? What value do you put on your time?

What would it cost you if you had to use your car or public transport to go and buy it? Even a short detour coming home from work has it's costs.

Thanks all - resume normal service

 

If it is too much for him then its up to him... not you.

don't give me an attitude... (sry I dont like how you responded, sry if that wasn't your intention) I was being nice and trying to help the best I could. And like I said im not sure gparted will work nice with a DVD in my experience with running linux over a DVD...

This is just my opinion and a waste of DVD space ... and you can save the rest of the CD's for something you might need and not have to waste your DVD's for it..

 

anyways... I want Peace... sry if i misunderstood what I got out of your post.

I agree with you tho... if its too much trouble and transportation costs and everything.. use the DVD you have.

I dont disagree with that... but we dont know if its too much of a hassle for him yet..

 

Well, I had just run out of DVD-Rs and had been out of DVD+RWs so I got both. I didn't even think of CD+RWs. Thanks again for all of your help and I hope to report back good news tonight.

 

I just found out that my wife will not be coming home with me just yet so I won't have access to her laptop, however, she can check and respond here as I request of her over the phone.

My fear is that I won't be able to complete boot to the disk. What command should I try considering the errors in my initial comments?

Thanks again!!

 

A quick read on the Win7 recovery disc seems to indicate that the Startup Repair option won't fix the active partition problem. I don't think the System Restore will either but am unsure. (Those were my first two preferred options)

It looks like you will have to change the active status manually. Here is a link you might want to print, which gives options using either the Gparted disc or the Win7 disc.

Down at the very bottom of that page it gives a last ditch effort that says running repair your computer or startup repair twice should add a copy of the boot files to the active partition. Just something to keep in mind if setting the active partition doesn't work for you.

 

I'm back in business!!! Gparted worked great. I unchecked C drive's OS and checked that 100MB partition of C drive.
I click-thanked all of you.

sach2, Thanks for the link for the Windows 7 Repair disc. I'm sure I will need it. I made a copy of that and GParted for me and my father.

Now I need to figure out my original problem that I screwed up my computer trying to fix..............
(The boot error "Invalid System Disk. Replace the disk and the press any key.") Everything is fine after that but I hate to ignore a problem that could lead to something bigger.

Maybe I should start a separate post about that?

 

Glad you got it fixed. Would you of been able to just use a USB mem stick instead of burning to a DVD. Change the boot order in bios to boot the the USB 1st? Just my humble thoughts.

 

Info on how-> http://www.ehow.com/how_5854287_burn-image-usb-flash-drive.html

 

I don't know about the flash drive option but I could not access bios to change the order.
_______________________________________________________________
BTW, Everyone trying to help. I forgot to mention an important symptom. The latest Windows update wont install and here is the possible cause that Windows solutions suggests:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/...vice-pack-1-sp1-installation-error-0x800F0A12

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) installation error: 0x800F0A12

If you receive error "0x800F0A12" when trying to install Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, it means the installer can’t access the system partition of your computer’s hard disk to update files.

Usually, this partition is accessible to Windows (although you can't browse it in Windows Explorer). However, in some situations, access to the system partition might be blocked after Windows has started. For example:

*

The system partition isn’t automatically mounted, or made accessible to Windows, during startup.
*

A hard disk containing the system partition was removed prior to beginning SP1 installation.
*

Windows is running on a storage area network (SAN), and access to the system partition has been disabled.
*

A disk management tool from another software manufacturer was used to copy (or clone) the disk or partition on which you’re trying to install SP1.

 

This help? http://news.softpedia.com/news/Windows-7-SP1-RTM-Installation-Error-0x800F0A12-185439.shtml ("Users can try and fix this problem themselves. For example, they can mount the system partition themselves by firing up Command Prompt with administrative rights, and entering the following command: mountvol /E. ")

 

The SP1 error could be related.

I don't see any harm in doing the steps in either your original link or locodave's link for the first cause of the error.

You should also double check that you have no media cards or USB devices attached that could be causing a boot problem. (although this unlikely)

***When did this start? Only in the last week or so--since SP1 was released--or was it happening before SP1?

 

Worse comes to worse. Order a restore disk-disks from the manufacture. Save any things you want to a USB drive. I've never spent more than 20-30 bucks on restore disks. Standard shipping. You tell them you didn't make a restore disk when you bought it. You need them as you have probs. They will ask the modle number and the express service code. Ask what op system you have.

You'll have to loose the pre-loaded garbage it comes with. Tryal B/S. Need help with that just ask here. Many here have done this before. Clean install.

 

this error might occur if you have third-party bootloader (like GRUB).

search Disk Management and run it.

Find any partition which has 'system' flag, mark it as active. don't restart yet.
remember to untick 'automatically restart' on the SP1 installer.
before you restart, mark the previous partition or partition which has boot flag as active (in this case C).

note: usually partition which has boot flag would have system flag too, but it might not be the case.