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Windows Boot Manager: Windows failed to start

Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause.To fix the problem:
1.Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer
2.Choose your language settings and click next.
3.Click repair your computer

File: \Boot\BCD

Status: 0xc000000f

Info: an error occurred while attempting to read the boot configuration data

.......................................................................................................................................................
OS is Windows 7 Ultimate. I tried the installation disc but get in a loop. I try "repair my computer" but I always get sent back to the Boot Manager error.

CrowaX

Sounds like a corrupt boot file. Here are the steps to fix, taken from
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/itprovistadeployment/thread/022386ba-a445-44ba-97f7-d8ba4b6cc54b/ It works the same for Windows Vista and 7.

Method 1: Startup Repair from the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE)

============================================

1. Insert the Windows Vista installation disc into the disc drive, and then start the computer.

2. Press a key when the message indicating "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD …". appears.

3. Select a language, a time and currency, and a keyboard or input method, and then click Next.

4. Click Repair your computer.

5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, choose the drive of your Windows installation and click Next.

6. At the System Recovery Options Dialog Box, click on Repair your computer.

7. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.

8. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Startup Repair.

Method 2: Rebuild BCD

============================================

1. Put the Windows Vista installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.

2. Press a key when the message indicating "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD …". appears.

3. Select a language, a time, a currency, and a keyboard or another input method, and then click Next.

4. Click Repair your computer.

5. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.

6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.

7. Type Bootrec /RebuildBcd , and then press ENTER.

Method 3: Use the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) to run System Restore (If System Restore is enabled on your computer)

============================================

1. Insert the Windows Vista installation disc into the disc drive, and then start the computer.

2. Press a key when the message indicating "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD …". appears.

3. Select a language, a time and currency, and a keyboard or input method, and then click Next.

4. Click Repair your computer.

5. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, choose the drive of your Windows installation and click Next

6. At the System Recovery Options Dialog Box, click on System Restore.

7. Follow the System Restore Wizard instruction as usual and choose the appropriate restore point.

8. Click Finish to restore the system.

Mez4343

If the above doesnt work for you, I would recommend using EasyBCD tool to view and edit your bootloader settings. It can also create a bootable USB version.

http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

atf3doc

ASKER

CrowaX, none of those procedures worked. Mez4343, I haven't figured out how to use EasyBCD on a computer that doesn't boot. The instructions say to boot into windows and then run EasyBCD. If you know how to use it from bootable media, please advise.
atf3doc

CrowaX

Did you get any sort of error when repairing the boot or the BCD? or did the process seem to go through without any problems?

When you boot the Windows disk and go to system recovery options, try running the command prompt and type the following into it: chkdsk /f

Have you made any changes to your computer recently either software or hardware related?

Mez4343

Here is documentation link. http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Recovering+the+Vista+Bootloader+with+EasyBCD

Take a look at Type2 or Type3 solutions. They specify Vista but Win7 uses the same bootloader.

You will need to boot from your windows7 DVD first. If you cant do that, then you might have a hardware problem.

atf3doc

ASKER

I'm going to try hooking another hard drive and loading Easy BCD on it. I'll keep you posted.
atf3doc

atf3doc

ASKER

Mez4343: Unless I'm missing something that link says to boot into a working copy of windows and then run EasyBCD; I don't see any reference to booting from Windows DVD and running EasyBCD. I did hook up another HDD, loaded windows 7 and easybcd, tried method 2 and 3. Neither worked, and in addition, then the new hard drive came up with the same problem. HMMMMMM??
atf3doc

atf3doc

ASKER

CrowaX: Yes, I had replaced the motherboard, and was hoping to be able to do a repair as I would have done in XP to have every thing up and running with no change to data or programs.
atf3doc

CrowaX

Did this error start right after replacing the motherboard?

atf3doc

ASKER

Yes. From what I have been able to find Windows 7 does not allow for repair installation for migration to different hardware. I am trying an end around; I'll let you know if I am able to get it to work.
atf3doc

CrowaX

Yeah, that would be tough. The problem may be less of a windows boot issue and more of ide/sata driver issue. Not that it makes it any easier to fix, the repair would have been the best hope on that as well.

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atf3doc

ASKER

This is the only solution that enabled me to boot into Windows with a new motherboard installed