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Trouble with format and OS reinstall

post #1 of 14
12/28/11 at 9:36pm
Thread Starter 

I have a friends Acer Aspire 4720Z laptop I'm trying to upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7. Initially, I changed the boot order in the BIOS to start the Windows 7 install disc. From there, I formatted all the drives (Primary - 3GB, and there were two other partitions listed as being about 60GB each. During the install, the error message came up during expanding the package scripts. The error mentioned that there was no BOOTMGR present, and now the computer starts with the error unless I (unsuccessfully) try to install Vista or Windows 7 on it. I've searched loads of forums and search engines to no avail, and I'm sure the answer is simple...

 

I have a feeling I formatted something I shouldn't have formatted...

 

Please help!

 

Jesse

 

 

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post #2 of 14
12/28/11 at 9:59pm
Is there a way for you to restore the system back to Vista? If yes do that and then perform a Windows 7 ugrade.

If not, try using Linux LiveCD and reformat the disk completely, then try the Windows 7 installation disk again

cheers ...
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post #3 of 14
12/28/11 at 10:04pm
Thread Starter 

I tried reinstalling Vista back onto it with no avail. It still came up with the same BOOTMGR is missing. Also, during the attempt at installing Windows 7, I reformatted the HDD completely.

 

:/

 

Thanks for your response! Any additional help would be tremendously appreciated.

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post #4 of 14
12/28/11 at 10:12pm
Try the Windows installation disk again and this time use the REPAIR option - follow the instruction as to choose which drive and OS to repair and go from there

cheers ...
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post #5 of 14
12/28/11 at 10:29pm
Thread Starter 

Hah :)  I already tried that too! I had the same thought process (based on searching forums and using some computer knowledge). Still getting that BOOTMGR is missing error on the black screen as its starting up.

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post #6 of 14
12/28/11 at 10:31pm
Thread Starter 

I should also add that there were no Windows options available on the menu that came up. I assumed that meant the hard drives were definitely formatted correctly as there is no trace of an OS on them. :P

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post #7 of 14
12/28/11 at 10:35pm
Something is still present on the hard drive. Happen to have another drive to try? We have in the ASUS section something similar where W7 was being installed but never could start up, the member ended up using another drive in order to install Windows 7 correctly.

cheers ...
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post #8 of 14
12/28/11 at 10:45pm
Thread Starter 

I have another laptop I could use. I've come to a point where I thought it may be beneficial to do a HD clone, but forgive my ignorance as I have not a clue how to do that and I've never done a clone. This is where I get sketchy...

Do you happen to have that post link, or any other info I could use to do what that guy did?

 

 

 

 

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post #9 of 14
12/29/11 at 5:42am
Is the other laptop the same model as this one? HD clone is quite simple. just get yourself an USB external housing, pop in the drive and use (free) EASUS Backup (in the freeware thread in Windows section or the net).

cheers ...
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post #10 of 14
12/29/11 at 10:42am
Thread Starter 

I'm sorry to say that it's a completely different make and model. :( Any other suggestions? You've helped me out, at least I feel like my train of thought has been right so far..!

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post #11 of 14
12/29/11 at 11:28am
Can always try cloning it, worst you would get is some system updates when you put the drive back to the original. Then maybe performning a repair or a re-install afterward. Main thing is to get rid of that bootmgr error

cheers ...
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post #12 of 14
12/29/11 at 1:48pm
Try this... Download Ubuntu or gparted... Use them to format the drive and remove any hidden partitions... Check for a BIOS update... Some older machines won't take win7 due to the BIOS (likewise, some newer machines refuse to downgrade to XP or Vista due to the BIOS)... Also, set the drives in the BIOS to IDE mode, not ACHI, if that is available...
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post #13 of 14
2/1/12 at 12:31pm
When you formatted you basically changed from an upgrade to a new install. You probably would have had better luck just selecting upgrade and not formatting. BootMgr is the boot manager that is visible when you have 2 OSes on 2 different partitians. Its the menu that comes up to select whic OS you boot in.

Look at these:

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/fixing-bootmgr-is-missing-error-while-trying-to-boot-windows-vista/
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-system/windows-7-bootmgr-is-missing-resolved-using-winre/8bb148bc-8035-4847-9696-888f7a0a9720
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post #14 of 14
2/1/12 at 4:57pm
Thread Starter 

I figured this out a little while back--- the problem I was having was that the laptop I was working on at the time had three partitions that appeared in the OS install process. 1) Par 1 200 MB (or something of the sort) 2) Par 2 Primary 60GB and 3) Partition 3: 60GB, secondary..from what I remember the original OS was installed on the secondary and I had to install the new on primary and I had trouble reformatting it..sorry I'm being vague but it's hard to remember what the heck I did exactly but it was all about formatting the right one and installing it on the right one, and it wasn't working by using standard procedure. 

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