BOOTMGR missing; no Vista found in OS

Hope someone here can help. I'm not that great with the computer, but take directions well.

Kids dropped the Gateway laptop yesterday. When I tried to boot it up, it shunted me into the System Repair. It seemed to be working at something, then it shut off and restarted, but then I got the BOOTMGR missing message. Played around last night trying to fix it but I probably did more damage than fixing.

I've tried to run System Restore, but it says that there are no restore points, which is odd as I've not turned this off.

In System Repair there are no Operating Systems listed.

I downloaded a Vista 32 disk via ImgBrn and have tried to run that, but I'm hitting walls.

I don't really have any files on the Gateway laptop, the kids just use it for homework and iTunes surfing the net.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions. The kids started school this week, and they'll need the Gateway laptop for homework. (I'm writing this on my laptop as the Gateway won't go online at all.)

Thanks, Deb

PS... I posted my specs in my user file as directed in the sticky note... hope that helps.

Was the laptop on when it was dropped? Specifically, if the hard drive was being accessed it's very possible it's not in very good shape at the moment. I suggest running a chkdsk. In System Repair there should be an option to open a command prompt. There type chkdsk /f. It will require a reboot, and may take quite some time. Post back here when you're done.

Thanks for trying to help me out. I ran chkdsk /f. Here is what it said:
The type of the file system is NTFS. CAnnot lock current drive. Windows cannot run disk checking on this volume because it is write protected.

I have also run chkdsk off of the x:Sources

The type of the file system is NTFS.
Volume label is Boot.

WARNING! F paramater not specified.
Running CHKDSK in read only mode.

CHKDSK is verifying files (stage 1 of 3)
29 file records processed.
File verification completed.
0 large file records processed.
0 bad file records processed
0 EA records processed.
CHKDSK is verifying indexes (stage 2 of 3)
77 index entries processed.
Indes verification completed.
5 unindexed files processed
CHKDSK is verifying security descriptors (stage 3 of 3)
29 security descriptors processed.
Security descriptor verification completed.
7 data files processed.
Windows has checked the file system and found no problems.

FYI
I have run through the BOOTMGR tutorial but it hasn't helped.
I've been googling this all last night and since 8 AM today.
I'm reaching the end of my rope.

Sorry, chkdsk /f /r. That will schedule it to run once restarted. Though, if it's not finding any issues, I'm wondering if it will have any effect.

Hey

chkdsk /f cannot lock OS drives> It should have given you the run checkdisk at next reboot? then when you reboot it will run before the OS

Ken

The next step would be to diagnose the HDD using the manufacturer's diagnostic tools. Find out who's the manufacturer of your HDD and look for a diagnostic boot disc from their website.

Its not giving me any choices at this time.

All I get after reboot is:

Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.....
BOOTMGR is missing.
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart

If I press a key at very start, it uses the Vista 32 CD which I burned to start loading the Windows files.
I get to the "Repair your computer" part, but then it stymies me with no OS later on. When I hit LOAD DRIVERS it gives me so many options to pick from the CD that I don't know where to go.

If I hit NEXT, it takes me into the options of:

Startup Repair (done many, many times with no joy what so ever)
System Restore (it has not recovery points much to my dismay)
Windows Complete PC Restore (I don't have a back up CD, except the ones I've downloaded and made with ImgBurn
Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool... done this a few times, can't tell it there are problems.

Command Prompt this is what I've been using to try and make my way through this mess.

VaguelyRapt said:

The next step would be to diagnose the HDD using the manufacturer's diagnostic tools. Find out who's the manufacturer of your HDD and look for a diagnostic boot disc from their website.

Click to expand...

How do I find out who's the manufacturer of the HDD? Would it be Gateway as this is a Gateway computer?

I can't find useful specs on the internet, nor does Gateway offer HDD diagnostics themselves. Do you have printed documentation for your laptop?

Oh, and Tubesandwires (response no. 2) on this thread offers a procedure that might be related to your issue.

Can't find the printed documentation. Have been looking in between posts. Moved recently. It could be ANYWHERE.

Fixed it with a hammer. No more Gateways or HPs for me... Over the years I've wasted days upon days trying to fix stupid mistakes on these two brands.

I'm buying an Apple.

Vaguely Rapt... thanks for trying.
The rest of you... thanks for nothing.