Bootmgr is missing

[Guest]

I got the dreaded "bootmgr is missing" and because I downloaded Vista
directly from the Microsoft website I don't have an instillation disk. I
swear my Vista is real. What should I do?

 

[Mike]

I got the dreaded "bootmgr is missing" and because I downloaded Vista
directly from the Microsoft website I don't have an instillation disk. I
swear my Vista is real. What should I do?

So how did you install Vista without a DVD/CD?

Mike

 

[Chad Harris]

Hi Daisy--

I didn't know that you could download Vista directly from the MSFT website.
Can you link me to where a download can be purchased on line? Is this part
of some MSDN subscription perhaps?

If SP1 were released, you'd have access to the Win RE environment because
MSFT is finally making it available in SP1(because MSFT has heard the
outrage that they forbid all OEM named partners except Dell who had the
courage to buck Microsoft and ships a DVD).

If you had the DVD, you could follow this MSKB written specifically for
your problem:

Error message when you start Windows Vista: "The Windows Boot Configuration
Data file is missing required information"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927391/en-us

I think you also have the option of trying to system restore from F8 as well
as Vista Boot Pro. Give them a shot:

Vista Boot Pro (http://www.vistabootpro.org/

and

***Using the F8 Environment***

***Taking Full Advantage of the F8 Options (Windows Advanced Options Menu)
by starting the PC and tapping F8 once per second when the firmware screen
with the pc manufacturer's name shows a few seconds after restarting***:

The F8 options in Vista are the same as XP, and the link for Safe Mode Boot
options is labled XP by MSFT but they are the same for Vista (they haven't
updated to add Vista to the title as they have with several MSKBs that apply
to both).

Again, pressing F8 repeatedly when you seem the firmware screen may be is a
generic way to launch Windows RE on some OEM Vista computers.

You could also:

Think: I have 4 different ways to get back my XP at F8 and try 'em in order.
1) Safe Mode 2) Safe Mode with Cmd to Sys Restore which is simply a cmd
prompt in safe mode 3) Safe Mode with Neworking 4) LKG or Last Known Good
Configuration


Try to F8 to the Windows Adv Options Menu>try 3 safe modes there (I don't
use WGA) and Last Known Good>then I go to Win RE in Vista. That gives you a
choice of Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking,and Safe Mode with Command
Prompt.

These methods are outlined in

A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP/and Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding System Restore from MSFT:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/plan/faqsrwxp.mspx

Good luck,

CH

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Then how did you install it? The only downloads from Microsoft are of .iso's
for DVD and CD. Even the Anytime Upgrade requires that you have a Vista disk
to work from. If you ran the .iso from a virtual disk, then you have a
problem as you need a Vista disk to repair a missing boot manager. Should've
burned one as per the instructions. Your choices now are somewhat limited to
finding someone who has a disk you can borrow, buying one to replace the one
you never made, or going back to the download site for MSDN/Technet (which,
by the way, is the only legit download site) on another machine and download
the .iso again.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Chad Harris]

Rick Rodgers covered this thoroughly, Daisy, and he had a very good idea I'd
sure persue. I'd try to find someone with a Vista DVD that you could borrow
and then you could use it to do a Startup Repair or you could use it in the
way that the MSKB I linked directs you:

Error message when you start Windows Vista: "The Windows Boot Configuration
Data file is missing required information"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927391/en-us

You could also use a DVD to do a Startup Repair or a System Restore from the
Recovery Environment (you already can do system restores from the F8 options
menu and I posted how.

***Startup Repair from the Vista DVD***

How to Use The Vista DVD to Repair Vista (Startup Repair is misnamed by the
Win RE team and it can be used to fix many Vista components even when you
can boot to Vista):

http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm

If you elect to run Startup repair from the Vista DVD (it can fix major
components in Vista--I've verified this many many times; it's good for more
than startup problems, and the Win RE team simply screwed up when they named
it not understanding its full functionality):

Startup Repair will look like this when you put in the Vista DVD:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your-computer.png

You run the startup repair tool this way (and system restore from here is
also sometimes effective):

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925810/en-us

How To Run Startup Repair In Vista Ultimate (Multiple Screenshots)
http://www.windowsvista.windowsreinstall.com/vistaultimate/repairstartup/index.htm

It will automatically take you to this on your screen:

http://www.vistaclues.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/12/click-repair-your-computer.png

That will allow you to go to the Vista setup that has a Repair link on
thelower left corner>click it and then you'll see a gray backgrounded list
and I want you to click Startup Repair from it and follow the directions.

The gray screen after you click the first link in the above pic will look
like this:

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winvista/images/repair/staruprepair/Image17.gif

Click Startup Repair, the link at the top and after it scans>click OK and
let it try to repair Vista. It will tell you if it does, and if it
doesn't, try System Restore from the Recovery Link on the DVD. If these
don't work booting into Safe Mode by tapping the F8 key and using System
Restore from one of the safe modes besides VGA may work. That means you
have the option to try 4 different safe modes to get to system restore, (one
from the Recovery link on the DVD) and sometimes one will work when the
others won't.

You could also try a Repair Install with Vista which is done exactly the
same way as in XP:

***Repair Install Steps*** (can be used for Vista) MVP Doug Knox
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx


Good luck,

CH

 

[Jane C]

Hi Rick,

If one purchases Vista from Windowsmarketplace to upgrade XP, it is not an
..iso file. It is 3 separate files, one being a setup.exe type file, plus 2
..wim files. The 3 files themselves can be burned to DVD for safekeeping,
but they do not make a bootable .iso/DVD. There is an option to request the
bootable media as well at the time of purchase.

http://www.windowsmarketplace.com/content.aspx?ctId=395&tabid=1

 

[Jane C]

Hi Chad,

See my reply to Rick.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Ugh, what a terrible idea. I was unaware of that offering, thanks Jane.
Makes recovery all the more miserable, as without a disk, one would have to
reinstall XP and then Vista from the saved files (I suspect perhaps the
purchase is recorded in Digital Locker, so purchasing again should not be
necessary).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Chad Harris]

Jane--

Thanks much for the info.

CH

Hi Chad,

See my reply to Rick.