Bootmgr missing.

Gateway M6309. Bought it in Mar, 2008. A week and a half ago the system was going through a Windows update and successfully completed 2 of the 3 "steps." Unfortunately, the 3rd step would not process and the system repeatedly restarted. I allowed this to go on a while, say 15 times, before shutting down. When I turned on again I got a repair screen to come up that failed to repair the damaged start program. After that, the system would not even boot to that point, giving me the well worn expression, "BOOTMgr is missing, etc." I've gone around forums and all and tried a few things. Sadly, the recovery disk I paid Best Buy to produce for me was anything but. I got what you can imagine I got from them. Nothing. So I was able to find and download a general Vista recovery disc. In the interim I found the original OEM installation disk from Gateway. I've tried a number of suggested solutions but to no avail.
1. Ran start up repair utility many, many times. The only result was to find out the program was not recognizing an OS. Somewhere I came up with language to enter at the command line to fix that, but since then it is gone again. I probably deleted it.
2. On the command line I've tried several inputs to get a new bootmgr installed but seem to be unsuccessful.

I need to get the system to recognize the OS first and then repair the boot sector and all. How do I make sure I still have a viable disk? I am now on the 2nd turn of the 3rd lap around this track and would like to cut to the chase. lol. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I will say that a few weeks before this happened, I started getting BSOD when running Malwarebytes (which I was doing every 3 days or so...because I've lost older drives on other machines by not being prepared and protected). The system would always come back when I closed down and restarted. I did run chkdisk a few times and found no issues.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway M6309
    CPU
    Intel
    Memory
    4Gb
With the OEM disc these may work
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/204930-bootmgr-missing.html

If no success try this
If you create a recovery DVD, you may be able to boot to recovery options
Create Recovery DVD

The Vista recovery disk is used to boot Vista when it won't boot - to run Startup Repair, System Restore, access a Command Line, Recover using a Vista Backup Image, etc.
System Recovery Options

If Vista will not start now, boot the Recovery CD to run Startup Repair which automates System Restore as well as numerous other tests including System File Checker which can repair system files which are not corrupted beyond repair.

If Vista still will not start, try booting into Safe Mode to run sfc /scannow to repair System files.
Special Thanks Given to Seven Forums.


Below is a bulletin distributed by MS to explain the start up procedure when Windows will not boot.
  • Startup Repair. Startup Repair is a Windows recovery tool that can fix certain problems, such as missing or damaged system files, that might prevent Windows from starting. Startup Repair is located on the System Recovery Options menu, which is on the Windows Vista installation disc. If your computer has preinstalled recovery options, it might also be stored on your computer's hard disk. For more information, see Startup Repair: frequently asked questions and What are the system recovery options in Windows Vista? If your computer does not include Startup Repair, your computer manufacturer might have customized or replaced the tool. Check the information that came with your computer or go to the manufacturer's website.
  • Change restart settings in safe mode. If your computer is stuck in a loop where Windows fails, attempts to restart, and then fails again repeatedly, restart your computer in safe mode and select the Disable automatic restart on system failure checkbox. For more information, see Advanced startup options (including safe mode).
  • Reinstall. If no other options have solved the problem, and you are sure that your computer's hardware is functioning normally, you might need to reinstall Windows. A custom (clean) installation of Windows will permanently delete all of the files on your computer and reinstall Windows, so only use this option if all other recovery options have been unsuccessful. After the installation, you will need to reinstall your programs and restore your files from backup copies. For more information, see Installing and reinstalling Windows**.
If nothing seems to work, you can always reinstall with the OEM DVD.
If you want to back up first try this
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...backup-files-from-your-dead-windows-computer/
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Hi silmari010,

Welcome to Vista Forums!

If startup repair and bootrec don't work (or you don't have the right disks to do bootrec), try EasyBCD http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1 and see if that helps resolve the problem. I've seen this repair boot problems when other options have not worked (including even bootrec from a Vista installation disk) - it's not a guarantee by any means, but if the above don't work, then your options become very limited and I believe this is at least worth a try before you resort to a re-installation.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]

    Dell AIO Printer A940

    Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem

    6TO4 Adapter
    Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
    Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
    Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
    Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

    Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
Thank you Rich, but I need to recover the program files for some paid software, as well as my pics, videos and some of my not yet backed up music. I'm going to try the sfc /scannow, but don't think it will help. I have tried looking at Ubuntu and that can't read the drive. EasyBCD would be nice if I could get to safe mode. Last night/this morning I recreated the boot sector for c: drive but that didn't help. I was able to "see" the Vista OS in the recovery program but got no further. D: partition on the hdd is the recovery drive. Can I try to do that procedure using d:? I'm thinking that part of the hdd that has these system files is corrupt generally, so partition is going to be able to help me. Please let me know if there is another alternative. Thank you for your time.

Tried the sfc /scannow without a good result. message came back, "Windows Resource Protection could not perform the requested operation.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway M6309
    CPU
    Intel
    Memory
    4Gb

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Post the cbs log from SFC. We have people that may be able to fix the problem.

If you have a DVD you can try a repair install
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html?filter[11]=Performance Maintenance
But may not repair bootmgr

If D drive is the restore partition, it may restore to factory specs, which will get the computer to work but you would lose your stuff.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Thank you Lorien, but the EasyBCD option doesn't help me if I can't get to at least safe mode. I've been to the NetSmart website and run through options they had, including getting the Vista recovery files for disk. Without the bootrec or bootsect files on the disk, though, it ain't much help to me, as I've gone through the manual entry to create those files on my c: drive without positive effect. I asked another person, but I'll ask you as well, can I accomplish the same effect trying that with drive d:, which is my recovery drive. I'm learning more every time I lose a hdd on a pc/laptop. Unfortunately, the lessons don't seem repeatable! lol. Any additional options you can think of would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway M6309
    CPU
    Intel
    Memory
    4Gb
Thank you for the quick response Rick!! Tell what a cbs log is and how to find it and I might be able to do that! lol. The Vista Repair Install is something I've looked at, and I'm pretty sure I'm on SP2, at least SP1 by the time I bought the laptop. I believe that option won't work because I looked at trying to get the repair programs to recognize Vista OS. I went into the install program and went a few screens trying to get it to generate whatever fix it might be able to do and got to a point where I ought to have been able to select between a clean install or an upgrade and upgrade was not an available option on my Gateway Install disk. Thanks again, any additional thoughts?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway M6309
    CPU
    Intel
    Memory
    4Gb

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Thank you again for your effort Rick. This failed to work. I manually input the entry and got a "findstr" is not recognized as an internal or external command. I wasn't hoping for much, since the instruction included moving the information to notepad...a program only available on a machine that will start up. This puts it in my mind that I may not have been clear that I am using a different machine to research the problem. The Gateway is not working.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway M6309
    CPU
    Intel
    Memory
    4Gb
As a thought, just to be thorough, I ran chkdsk /f on c: drive. A message generated that the volume was in use by another process and requested if I wanted to dismount it. I did and it ran finding no bad sectors but noting it failed to transfer logged messages to the event log with status 50. Is this helpful?

Could this mean a virus is at work after all?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway M6309
    CPU
    Intel
    Memory
    4Gb
Well to be sure about the virus
Just run a full antivirus scan after you update it
Download and run malwarebytes full scan after update

error code 50 basically means that the chkdsk failed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Thanks for your help and input. I have no choice but to try and save what I can and just re-install. I appreciate your help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway M6309
    CPU
    Intel
    Memory
    4Gb
Sometimes, that is the best way to go. Wish you luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Hi silmari010,

It was our pleasure to assist you. We appreciate the kind words and the feedback. I'm disappointed we were'nt able to help you in some way that didn't require quite so radical a solution, but we tried many options and it seems in this case it was the best (and perhaps the only) choice.

Best wishes and good luck!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]

    Dell AIO Printer A940

    Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem

    6TO4 Adapter
    Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
    Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
    Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
    Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

    Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
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