- Windows 7 Boot Repair via Command Prompt (5 Ways and 2 Tips included)
- What are the boot sector and master boot record?
- Five efficient ways to run Windows 7 boot repair
- Way 1: Startup Repair with Windows installation media
- Way 2: Windows 7 boot repair from Command Prompt
- Way 3: Repair boot sector in Windows 7
- Way 4: Rename and rebuild BCD via Command Prompt
- Way 5: Windows 7 boot repair without disk
- Extra tips for Windows 7 boot repair
- Summary
- 5 best Windows 10 boot repair tools to rescue your PC
- The problem: Windows 10 fails to boot
- How do I fix Windows 10 boot repair tools?
- What are the best boot repair tools for Windows 10?
- Windows Boot Genius
- Windows Boot Genius
- Paragon Hard Disk Manager
Windows 7 Boot Repair via Command Prompt (5 Ways and 2 Tips included)
Want to fix Windows 7 boot problems? You can see this article and learn Windows 7 boot repair via Command Prompt.
By Ivy / Last Updated October 9, 2020
If you have Windows 7 boot problems, the boot sector or master boot record on your system partition may be damaged, corrupted, or has missing files. And you will receive an error message like the following before Windows actually begins to load.
Missing operating system
Reboot and select proper boot device
Invalid partition table
Bootmgr is missing
FATAL: No bootable medium found! System halted.
Then, what are the boot sector and master boot record exactly?
What are the boot sector and master boot record?
The boot sector is a small section at the beginning of a hard drive. It’s created when you format the hard drive.
The boot sector contains some code and data that helps BIOS hand off the startup process to Windows. It also hosts the Master Boot Record (MBR), which contains the disk signature, partition table for the disk, and a small bit of code called the master boot code.
When a PC starts, the BIOS will load the master boot code into the PC’s RAM. Then it will scan the partition table, determine the active partition, load a copy of the boot sector into the PC’s RAM, and hand off the startup process.
If you backup MBR in advance, you can use it to restore your computer and make it work as normal. If not, you can see the next part and learn to repair boot with command prompt in Windows 7.
Five efficient ways to run Windows 7 boot repair
Way 1: Startup Repair with Windows installation media
If your boot sector or MBR runs into problems, you cannot start Windows normally. That’s to say, you need a bootable media to boot your computer. You can choose to create the Windows installation media or create a repair disk on a working computer.
Start with the detailed steps:
Step 1. Create Windows 7 installation media on a working computer. You can download ISO image files from Microsoft Store and burn the ISO image files to a USB drive or CD/DVD via Windows 7 USB DVD download tool.
Step 2. Plug the USB drive into your computer.
Step 3. Start your computer and press the corresponding key to go to BIOS.
Step 4. Set boot priority to your drive in the Boot option.
Step 5. Restart your computer and press any key to boot from it.
Step 6. Wait for Windows 7 installation files to load.
Step 7. Click Repair your computer in the initial Windows installation screen.
Step 8. Select the operating system in the window and click Next.
Step 9. Select Startup Repair in the System Recovery Options and it will automatically start to repair boot sector or MBR in Windows 7. Just wait patiently until the process is completed and click Finish.
If the startup repair not working in Windows 7, you still can click View advanced options for system recovery and support in the last page and back to the System Recovery Options page. Then, try command prompt in Windows 7 to repair boot.
Way 2: Windows 7 boot repair from Command Prompt
Step 1. Click Command Prompt in the System Recovery options
Step 2. Fix MBR in Windows 7. You can type the following command and hit Enter.
bootrec /fixmbr
Note: This command can write a new Windows-compatible MBR based on the version of your Windows to the boot sector. And it does not overwrite the existing partition table.
Step 3. Repair boot sector in windows 7. You can type the command below and hit Enter.
bootrec /fixboot
Note: This command can write a new boot sector to the system partition. And it does not overwrite the current partition table. If you install multiple operating systems on this computer, you need to reconfigure the boot options.
Step 4. Fix bootmgr is missing in windows 7 via command prompt. You can type the below command and press Enter.
bootrec /scannos
Step 5. Rebuild your BCD and get the missing Windows installations back. You can type the following command and press Enter to run it.
bootrec /rebuildbcd
Step 6. Rebuild the boot sector for Windows. You can type the following command and press Enter to start it.
bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force
The /nt60 parameter applies the master boot code that is compatible with BOOTMGR. The /all argument updates the master boot code on all partitions.
The /force parameter forcibly dismounts the volume(s) during the boot code update so that the Bootsect.exe tool does not gain exclusive volume access.
Way 3: Repair boot sector in Windows 7
If the bootrec /fixmbr and bootrec /fixboot doesn’t work, you can try to restore the boot sector code of your Windows 7 with steps below.
Step 1. Go to Command Prompt in the System Recovery Options and then type the following commands to find the drive letter of your installation media. Just see “Type” column which contains the word “CD-ROM”.
diskpart
select disk 0
list volume
Step 2. Take D: as an example and type commands below. If not, you can replace it.
d:
cd boot
dir
step 3. Type bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr and hit Enter to restore boot sector code.
Step 4. Remove the installation media and restart your computer.
Way 4: Rename and rebuild BCD via Command Prompt
If the above command prompt does not work for you, you still can try to backup and rename BCD first and then rebuild it via CMD.
Step 1. Select Command Prompt in the System Recovery Options and type bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup command to create a backup for BCD.
Step 2. Type notepad in the command prompt and then click File > Open > Computer, find the file BCD in the corresponding drive, rename it as BCD.old, and then save the change and exit this window.
Step 3. Type bootrec /rebuildbcd in the command prompt window and input Yes when prompt.
Step 4. Type bcdedit /enum all in the window.
Step 5. Type exit and reboot your computer.
If you want to rebuild BCD without notepad, you can choose to type the following commands and hit Enter in order.
bcdedit /export C:\BCD_Backup
c:
cd boot
attrib bcd -s -h -r
ren c:\boot\bcd bcd.old
bootrec /RebuildBcd
Note: cпјљrefers to the location of your Windows.
Way 5: Windows 7 boot repair without disk
Step 1. Turn on your computer, press and hold the F8 key to go to the Advanced Boot Options screen, then choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
Step 2. You can try command prompt for Windows boot repair above and see if it works.
Extra tips for Windows 7 boot repair
1. Scan the integrity of your file system and hard drive and run Windows startup repair command prompt via chkdsk.
Aside by problem of boot sector itself, the physical problem of your hard drive can also damage the boot sector and MBR. Thus, you need to rule out this possibility.
2. Backup your computer with a free backup software.
No one dares to say that you can recover your computer all the time. Once the recovery fails, you can only reinstall your computer and all the apps. What’s more, you will lose your files forever. Thus, you need to create a backup for your computer or files. With one or more backup in hand, you can restore it whatever happens. To backup your computer, you need a proper software. I recommend you the free backup software — AOMEI Backupper Standard.
With this software, you can backup system, disk, partition, even a single file. You can use email notification to get to know whether your backup is completed successfully or not. Also, you can create a Windows 7 schedule backup at an interval date, such as daily, weekly, monthly.
And you can manage backup disk space via Backup Scheme. But this feature is only available on the paid-version. If you want to free up disk space, you need to upgrade to AOMEI Backupper Professional. If you use server-based computer, you can directly download AOMEI Backupper Server edition.
If you want to protect unlimited PCs and servers within your company, you may choose AOMEI Backupper Technician Plus. It offers unlimited billable technical services to clients. It also enables you to copy installation directory for portable version creation.
To backup your computer, you can download the backup software and open it. Then, click Backup and select the Backup type in the list. At last, follow the corresponding article to finish the backup.
To restore your backup, you can click Restore and complete the rest of step via on-screen instructions.
If your computer cannot boot, you can create a bootable media on a working computer and boot the computer having trouble. Also, you can use PXE boot tool to boot the unbootable computer.
Summary
If you receive the above mentioned error message, the boor sector or MBR may be corrupted or damaged. You can use installation disk to run Startup Repair or do Windows 7 boot repair via Command Prompt.
If you can repair boot with command prompt in Windows 7, you are very luck. But, sometime, you will fail to repair startup issue. To ensure the security of your data and your computer, you’d better to create a backup in advance. With a backup in hand, you can restore it at any time.
5 best Windows 10 boot repair tools to rescue your PC
- A Windows 10 boot repair tool for your disk will solve any startup problems that you have.
- Take a closer look at our selection of premium W indows boot repair tools below.
- We’ve also included some free software if you don’t play to spend any money.
- Note that some of these programs have other useful features which will benefit your PC.
- Download Restoro PC Repair Tool that comes with Patented Technologies (patent available here).
- Click Start Scan to find Windows issues that could be causing PC problems.
- Click Repair All to fix issues affecting your computer’s security and performance
- Restoro has been downloaded by 0 readers this month.
Windows 10 boot repair tools can be lifesavers for worried PC users. There’s nothing worse than your computer refusing to boot.
You can’t access your files or send critical emails since all your files and folders are locked. But there are cheap ways to fix that, without having to employ the expensive services of a PC expert.
The problem: Windows 10 fails to boot
Booting issues with Windows 10 are more common than you think. They can be caused by anything, from a single corrupt byte on your hard drive to a buggy boot driver or a missing registry key.
It happens because the MBR (Master Boot Record) is not infallible. It can become corrupt or damaged, or it can simply disappear. This results in Windows 10 runtime errors.
How do I fix Windows 10 boot repair tools?
Windows 10 has plenty of recovery options, such as Safe Mode, Last Known Good Configuration, and Startup Repair.
However, if these tools don’t fix the issue, you have to turn to software specialized in Windows 10 boot repair, system rescue, and data recovery.
For instance, if your problems are caused by malware, you can explore antivirus tools with boot scan. But if critical system files or even the hard drive structure was damaged, malware removal isn’t enough.
It’s time to look into solutions to fix your Windows 10 boot. In this article, we are exploring the best Windows 10 boot repair software for 2021.
What are the best boot repair tools for Windows 10?
Windows Boot Genius
Windows Boot Genius is a professional Windows boot repair tool that can fix computer booting issues, repair crashed or corrupted Windows, recover lost data, and restore broken partitions.
Thanks to this tool, you don’t have to worry about BSOD or black screen issues while trying to start your computer. You can gain access to your system after fixing it with a boot CD, DVD, or USB disk.
To get started, just put the bootable CD in your CD/DVD drive or plug the USB drive into your PC, and restart your computer to begin the system recovery process.
To create a bootable CD/DVD or USB drive, run the Windows 10 boot repair software tool, insert the preferred media into your PC, then click Burn.
After the setup is done, make sure to keep the rescue device connected to the PC before restart. When accessing the WinPE environment, you should spot the Windows Boot Genius icon.
Clicking the icon sends the corrupt PC in Windows Rescue mode. Here, you can recover boot files in Boot File Recovery mode or locate a master boot code in MBR Recovery mode.
Let’s quickly look at its key features:
- Create a Windows Boot CD/USB by easily burning bootable .iso file
- A wide array of boot repair tools – boot file repair, boot sector repair, registry repair, registry editor
- Reset/change or remove Windows 10 Local and Domain passwords
- Backup/clone/restore Windows operating system, hard disk, and partitions
- Recover lost, deleted or formatted data
- Recover Microsoft product keys for Windows 10, Microsoft Office, etc.
- Wipe data to make it unrecoverable
- Optimized UI for easy use
Windows Boot Genius requires no kind of expertise, so you can safely use it to create an emergency disk and fix your Windows 10 operating system when it fails to boot.
Windows Boot Genius
Paragon Hard Disk Manager
Part of Paragon Hard Disk Manager, Paragon Rescue Kit is a Windows 10 boot repair software solution with excellent compatibility and usability features.
It works with older Windows versions, too, including Windows XP. This program boasts a wide range of features, works fast and safe, and it has a user-friendly interface.
Let’s quickly look at its key features:
- User-friendly interface with log saver
- Sector back-up – ideal for making a backup image of an entire hard disk or system partitions
- Fast & easy recovery based on need – the entire disk, separate partitions, specific files, etc.
- Create a bootable recovery media with Recovery Media Builder
- Sector backup to save all on-disk information and also system service structures
- Backup to local or externally mounted storage
- Backup to network shares and virtual disks (VHD, pVHD, VMDK, VHDX)
- Restore entire disks, separate partitions or specific files from previously created backup images
- File Transfer Wizard
- Undelete Partition Wizard
- Network Configurator Wizard
Like all the other Windows 10 boot repair software solutions presented in this article, Paragon’s tool can create a system recovery environment using a CD, DVD, or USB flash drive.
Its Boot Correction Wizard is among the most powerful features on the market.
Here’s what you can do with the Boot Corrector Wizard:
- Repair drive letters in the System Registry of a selected Windows installation
- Fix boot.ini on the selected disk
- Restore BCD (Boot Configuration Data) files from partitions on a single or all disks
- Repair the MBR (Master Boot Record) executable code
- Reorder the primary partitions by changing the primary slots
- Correct the boot record for a Windows installation
- Set an active partition, hide and unhide partitions
- Change serial numbers or partition IDs
- Display the MBR in a more understandable format, along with partition properties
- Create, display, save or print a boot correction report