[SOLVED] Boot Manager is missing

N_J · May 30, 2012

Ok guys and gals, this one has me baffled. I have a Dell computer (Desktop) that keeps getting the Boot manager is missing error.

I can go into safe mode with command prompt and perform the bootrec.exe /FixMbr and bootrec.exe /FixBoot and that seems to fix the problem temporarily. This computer is dual boot with Vista Home Premium (factory) and Vista Ultimate was added. I have the Ultimate DVD if that helps.

What do you need from me first to diagnose this beast of mine?

Wrench97 · May 30, 2012

I take it that it has happened more then once?

First thing I would do is test the hard drive for errors, if it's the original Dell drive and has not been formatted it'll have a Diagnostic Partition.
What Model Dell?

The alternative is to find the brand of the drive manually to to so > Hit Start in the search box type/paste devmgmt.msc and press Enter. Click on the + sign next to Disk Drives copy the info listed and post back.

usasma · May 30, 2012

Experiment with booting to the Home Premium (after the fix is done).
Then reboot to Home Premium - does it still work?

Then try booting to the Ultimate (after the fix is doen).
Then reboot to Ultimate - does it still work?

If one or the other is successful - that's the one that controls the boot (and it's the one that you have to fix the boot files from).
If you fix it from the other one, then it'll just screw things up (and probably will result in what you're experiencing now).

It's most likely the Home Premium - as that was installed first. But subsequent repairs may have changed that, so be careful!

Once it's repaired, then use a tool such as EasyBCD to control booting: http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

N_J · May 30, 2012

I have the grandkids right now and am just checking in so as to not keep anyone hanging.

I'm sure it is from Vista Home....problem is I don't have the option to boot because on startup it gives the BootMgr is missing straight way. I'm thinking this has to do with a Windows Update...anyways I'll do as suggested and get back.

jcgriff2 · May 30, 2012

Can you boot into Recovery via HDD recovery partition or Vista DVD?

If so, select "Windows System Restore" - from Recovery.

TheCyberMan · May 31, 2012

In vista home premium open a cmd prompt and run as administrator and set vista ultimate partition to inactive.
Type:
diskpart press enter
list volume press enter
select volume<drive letter> press enter(Vista Ultimate)
inactive press enter
Then type exit and reboot.

Has this fixed the issue?

Please ensure you have up to date backups before proceeding.

If not you may need to rebuild the BCD store by using bootrec /rebuildBcd cmd.

At boot time run vista DVD and select repair your computer select Vista home premium form the operating systems click next and from the system recovery options choose the cmd prompt and type bootrec.exe

Type bootrec /rebuildBcd add both vista installations after os scan. Restart when finished see if issue is resolved.

If not then follow below to export and delete Bcd and rebuild from scratch.

bcdedit /export c:\BCD_Backup
c
cd boot
attrib -s -h -r
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /rebuildBcd

Exit and restart pc.

usasma · May 31, 2012

When using Startup Repair it should give the option of using either the Home Premium or the Ultimate for the repair.
Select the Home Premium and ONLY boot to Home Premium afterwards. If that seems to fix it, then try booting to (but not repairing) the Ultimate

If the Home Premium boots, but the Ultimate doesn't, then try using EasyBCD from inside the Home Premium to setup the Ultimate.

N_J · May 31, 2012

Wrench97 said:
I take it that it has happened more then once?

First thing I would do is test the hard drive for errors, if it's the original Dell drive and has not been formatted it'll have a Diagnostic Partition.
What Model Dell?

The alternative is to find the brand of the drive manually to to so > Hit Start in the search box type/paste devmgmt.msc and press Enter. Click on the + sign next to Disk Drives copy the info listed and post back.

Wrench97, letting you and everyone else know I'm running the Diagnostic Partition right now. I will followup after that is done with the Disk Drive information.

I may try the other suggestions in the meantime as well.

GZ · May 31, 2012

What model Dell?

N_J · Jun 1, 2012

gavinzach said:
What model Dell?

Inspiron 531

N_J · Jun 1, 2012

Wrench97...ran the diagnotics and everything checked out OK.

Ran devmgmt.msc and this is what is in Disk Drives:

ST350063 0AS SCSI Disk Device

With 5 USB devices and also a External Drive.

When I go and try to do anything with the Vista CD the mouse won't work. I have to use the tab and arrow keys and still that gives me problems too.

When I booting the machine today (which I'm on now) it gave me the BOOTMGR is missing. So I shutdown and restarted and it went straight to the screen to choose what operating system to use. I am on Vista Home as I type.

I have yet to try the other suggestions.

N_J · Jun 1, 2012

I performed the following with no Bootmgr is missing, but will need to reboot a few more times to see if that fixed the problem.

If not you may need to rebuild the BCD store by using bootrec /rebuildBcd cmd.

At boot time run vista DVD and select repair your computer select Vista home premium form the operating systems click next and from the system recovery options choose the cmd prompt and type bootrec.exe

Type bootrec /rebuildBcd add both vista installations after os scan. Restart when finished see if issue is resolved.

I will report back tomorrow on the status of this problem child.

N_J · Jun 2, 2012

So far no problems with this issue.

Many thanks to all who helped.

TheCyberMan · Jun 2, 2012

Glad to hear it is resolved.

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[SOLVED] Boot Manager is missing

N_J

Emeritus, Contributor

Wrench97

Administrator, Hardware Expert

usasma

Retired Admin

N_J

Emeritus, Contributor

jcgriff2

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)

TheCyberMan

Networking Expert

usasma

Retired Admin

N_J

Emeritus, Contributor

GZ

Visiting Expert

N_J

Emeritus, Contributor

N_J

Emeritus, Contributor

N_J

Emeritus, Contributor

N_J

Emeritus, Contributor

TheCyberMan

Networking Expert

[SOLVED] Boot Manager is missing

Emeritus, Contributor

Administrator, Hardware Expert

Retired Admin

Emeritus, Contributor

Co-Founder / AdminBSOD Instructor/ExpertMicrosoft MVP (Ret.)

Networking Expert

Retired Admin

Emeritus, Contributor

Visiting Expert

Emeritus, Contributor

Emeritus, Contributor

Emeritus, Contributor

Emeritus, Contributor

Networking Expert

Co-Founder / Admin
BSOD Instructor/Expert
Microsoft MVP (Ret.)