Not the typical BOOTMGR error

[SIW2]

Hi Jen,

Sorry for late response - we must be in different timezones.

If it says boot next to it, that means it is the boot partition i.e. already active. in Linux speak Flag On is linux equivalent of Windows mark as active.

There should only be one active partition at a time. Check there is only one that says boot.

If the recovery partition says boot, you should be able to boot straight into it when you restart your pc. The recovery program should start up and you will be able to return your pc to factory settings.

If it does not, then then you need to Flag On ( mark as active) the big main partition - so that says boot next to it instead.

Then boot the Dell dvd and see if you can reinstall with that.

If there is a problem with that, it could be due to file system corruption. Try running the command chdsk /r.

Hope it helps.

 

[Jennifer Sands]

No worries, I am on US EST.

Unfortunately the recovery drive still gives me the BOOTMGR is missing error

I went back in and unflagged the recovery partition and flagged the larger one. However, that brings me back to square one.

I tried the command you mentioned in command prompt. I think you meant chkdsk /r vs chdsk /r. Is that correct?

Also, the recovery cd puts me in X:\sources by default. I switched to run this in C:\ is that correct?

After running the scan on C: - it went through the 5 steps. I showed 0kb in bad sectors and said it completed correctly. I shut down and attempted to start again with the Vista install cd.

It went back to the "Windows is loading files" screen, and it gets about 2/3rds of the way complete and then gives me the same boot manager error.

"Windows has encountered a problem communicating with a devince connected to your computer" etc etc. I am able to hit ENTER as an option but it just throws it into reboot mode and the process repeats.

Is this hopeless? I find it so strange this is happening after never having an issue with Vista and always defending it as a sound OS. I reformat one time and it throws me into a tailspin! Have you ever heard of this before?

Thanks so much for your help! Much appreciate!
Jen

 

[SIW2]

Hi Jen,

You did chkdsk exactly right.

I don't think it is a Vista problem. You will get " bootmgr is missing" if bootmgr is not on the active partition - that is to be expected if the recovery program doesn't start up.

Make sure you don't have any external devices, e.g. usb attached.

Try using GParted to delete and reformat that main partition as NTFS. Mark it active.

See if you are able to install from the Dell dvd then.

If not, it is likely there is something wrong with the dvd or the hard drive.

 

[Jennifer Sands]

The only thing I have connected via USB is a bluetooth connecting device for my keboard/mouse/media pad via LogiTech

Is that a potential problem?

 

[SIW2]

It's not unknown for that to cause installation issues.

I hope so - better than it being a hard drive problem.

Try installing without the bluetooth connecting device.

On your Dell dvd, I presume it is an installation dvd - not an image - do you get a window that says Install Now.

If so, then you shouldn't be having a problem even after redoing your partitions - it's got to be to do with hardware.

Maybe the bluetooth connector is the culprit.

 

[Jennifer Sands]

Hmmm... that would be something if that was the cause! The issue is, I don't have another keyboard. I am talking to you on a laptop and I have another laptop, but obviously neither will help me communicate. If I unplug that USB device... I can't hit the "Any key to start from CD option"

 

[SIW2]

It doesn't have a built in keyboard?

You need to get hold of one to see if that's the problem. It wouldn't be a surprise if it was.

Funny, I have a couple of old keyboards and mice lying around.

Every now and again someone will put their old pc out on the street , with a note saying help yourself.

 

[Jennifer Sands]

Shoot, the problem is. This computer ONLY has USB slots for keyboards out of the hard drive enclosure, so having something attached seems to be a must. Is there anyway around this?

 

[SIW2]

It is usually when a usb flash drive is connected.

Not sure if connecting a keyboard directly to the usb port as opposed to using bluetooth would help - it might.

 

[Jennifer Sands]

If I have it set to boot from CD/DVD drive 1st, does it need to ask me to hit a key to boot? What if I unplugged the bluetooth as soon as I hit the key?

I don't have a USB compatible keyboard

 

[SIW2]

You need to use the keyboard later during the installation. I don't think the Dell dvd is fully unattended, even though it already includes the product key.

I think I used one of those before. I will see if anyone else has any ideas.

 

[Jennifer Sands]

Thank you so much.

Windows doesn't find errors in my hard drive, but is it possible it's corrupted?

This all seems like too much of an error without something serious being wrong.

 

[SIW2]

Because chkdsk was fine - it is probably not the hd - unless it is exhibiting intermittent errors.

 

[Jennifer Sands]

Yea, as far as the system once I load the recovery CD... it runs fine. The recovery CD even prompts me that it finds an error that it will fix when I first load it, but it doesn't do anything.

Check Disk worked out fine... is it about time to throw this thing out? I find it odd that I can't find one person online who has had the same problem as I'm having.

Your advice has been terrific but, at this point, is there really anything else I can do!?

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Jennifer,

Can you enter your BIOS with your keyboard when you boot?

 

[Jennifer Sands]

If I have the keyboard connected.

Yes I can enter BIOS

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Jennifer,

Try the following

This information is taken from the Owner's Manual Documentation

 

[Jennifer Sands]

Hi Dwarf,

Thanks for having a look. This seems promising and the screen with DELL.com does in fact show up as soon as I start the computer but... I can't get anything to happen when I press Ctrl F11

I have tried CTRL + F11 and hitting them at the same time.... The computer just goes into asking me to press any button to boot from CD and I get the same boot manager error as before.

Are you sure I can access that?

 

[Dwarf]

Hi Jennifer,

Are you trying to do that with the BlueTooth keyboard? If so, you might need to use a wired keyboard. Hopefully, you should be able to borrow one from a friend.

 

[Jennifer Sands]

My Bios is currently set to load the CD/DVD drive first upon startup. Is that correct for this process?

Thanks,
Jen