Unable to Boot After Restoration - Win7 x64

[EXCellR8]

I am struggling to get my system back online after I performed a restoration on the OS drive. I used TrueImage to recover the image of my the OS, Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit), and now I get the BOOTMGR is missing, press CTRL+ALT+DEL etc. That usually wouldn't be a problem but when I pop in the installation DVD (non-sp1) I cannot access the recovery environment options such as command prompt so that I can fix it. I get the error that the DVD is not compatible with the version of Windows even though it's the exact one I used to install the OS a year ago. Without the command line I'm really stuck with a downed machine here... D:

I've been told that their isn't a BART CD/DVD for Vista/7 so I have no idea where to turn. Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[VirtualLarry]

That usually wouldn't be a problem but when I pop in the installation DVD (non-sp1) I cannot access the recovery environment options such as command prompt so that I can fix it. I get the error that the DVD is not compatible with the version of Windows even though it's the exact one I used to install the OS a year ago.

This is disturbing news. Are you saying, that after installing SP1 onto Windows 7, that the install DVD refuses to run a repair? That it no longer recognizes the OS because it has SP1 attached?

With XP, you could run a repair install with a different SP, with the caveat that it would potentially screw things up like IE, until you also installed the SP that it originally had on there before doing the repair install. Doing a repair install with a newer SP than it had on there originally, would also work, and also install the SP in the process of doing the repair install.

Edit: Are you sure you didn't just confuse the 32-bit and 64-bit DVDs, and used the wrong one?

 

[EXCellR8]

Sorry I should have specified... I never actually installed SP1 so that's why it's really strange that the OEM DVD is refusing to cooperate; it's both 32 and 64-bit I believe. The only thing I did was re-image the hard drive and now that I'm getting the BOOTMGR error I was hoping I could simply fix it via the command prompt. But now I can't even access the recovery environment and it's looking like that's the only way. I cannot do the in-place upgrade either because the system needs to be bootable in order to perform that.

 

[VirtualLarry]

why it's really strange that the OEM DVD is refusing to cooperate; it's both 32 and 64-bit I believe.

No, Win7 install DVDs are either 32-bit or 64-bit, not both. Are you certain you are using an install DVD of the same "bitness"? I am leaning towards that as the problem.

 

[pcgeek11]

No, Win7 install DVDs are either 32-bit or 64-bit, not both. Are you certain you are using an install DVD of the same "bitness"? I am leaning towards that as the problem.

I agree with VirtualLarry on this... Wrong "bitness"

 

[EXCellR8]

No idea... I'm starting to think I got scammed into buying an illegitimate copy

I did just notice that when it detects the installed OS it reads "Windows 7 Ultimate (Recovered)" in the list. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with why the DVD isn't working but I still can't access the recovery tools.

EDIT: When I press "Install Now" I have the option to install either 32 or 64-bit...

 

[pcgeek11]

No idea... I'm starting to think I got scammed into buying an illegitimate copy

I did just notice that when it detects the installed OS it reads "Windows 7 Ultimate (Recovered)" in the list. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with why the DVD isn't working but I still can't access the recovery tools.

EDIT: When I press "Install Now" I have the option to install either 32 or 64-bit...

Illegal copy. This was a pirated copy that has both 64 and 32 bit versions, but they used the 32 bit boot files etc. That is why it says your 64 bit installation is not compatible.

Cliff: You got scammed.

 

[EXCellR8]

Bummer. Oh well at least I didn't pay too much for it but I probably should have known. This copy passed the authenticity checks and genuine advantage too but I'm sure it was probably just a hack or something. Ugh, well off to find a legit version... I hate going through this type of crap.

Thanks for the help though; I appreciate the input.

 

[tomatom]

* some ~bad~ info posted

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...ing-error-while-trying-to-boot-windows-vista/

32 & 64 bit are on the DVD

GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND

 

[pcgeek11]

* some ~bad~ info posted

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/wind...ing-error-while-trying-to-boot-windows-vista/

32 & 64 bit are on the DVD

GOOGLE IS YOUR FRIEND

32 and 64 bit versions are Not on the same DVD. There are two DVD Disk one is 64 bit and the other is 32 bit. Microsoft doesn't have a one DVD option with both on it. Any DVDs that you see that does have both 32 and 64 bits is NOT a valid copy of Windows. Period.

That being said you can make your own custom installation disk with Both 32 and 64 bits on it. However you will have to use either the boot files from the 64 bit version OR the 32 bit version. You cannot use the boot files of both. If you choose to use the 32 bit boot files you will NOT be able to repair a 64 bit installation using the method you described, but you can repair the 32 bit version and vice versa. This is the OPs problem.

That is how it works.

You are correct about one thing; Google is your friend if you know how to use it. You should do a little research before declaring that others posts as "Bad" or incorrect.

 

[Whisper2]

I purchased two Win 7 Home Premium upgrade kits when the OS was introduced -- one directly from Microsoft and the other from Newegg. Both kits included two disks -- one clearly marked for 32 bit and the other for 64 bit.

I have used in the boot mode after installing SP1 and noticed no difference versus pre-SP1

 

[bankster55]

not true, there is an official MSDN Technet Win 7 X86 X64 on one disc (#4618)
http://superuser.com/questions/6220...sta-64-bit-to-windows-7-64-bit-using-msdn-dvd

also, the bootmanager is missing prob is easily solved
any bootmgr file in any Win 7 install (not GPT) will work - it is generic
To boot you need:
OS sys install
bootmgr in root of C
O/S partition active (if 100 mb reserved - thats the active)
HDD first in bios boot order

just copy and paste it from a working HDD to your slaved non working HDD. bootmgr cannot be deleted or moved even in safe mode but can be copied
To see bootmgr
go to folder options/view and click "show hidden files"
uncheck "hide protected O/S files"

Edit: and you can get that not correct vers annoying message when something is badly wrong - it means theres no version
Cant repair something that aint there.
However the original X86 X64 dual disk has a bit of a problem of its own in this regard - the DISK, NOT the ISO
http://social.technet.microsoft.com...l/thread/32c8e329-ce21-4149-9aaf-cf06a161f983