Solved BOOTMGR missing

Normally I have no problems reformatting my custom built desktop PC, except when it says "BOOTMGR missing". That's where I'm at now. This is the sequence of events:

Was running fine on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (with SP1 update). Out of nowhere PC was not restarting/shutting down via mouse. Got tired of doing it manually. Attempted to reformat w/ my Windows 7 disc, as I have done successfully numerous times. This time reformatting was very slow, stalling at "Starting Windows" screen. I manually restarted. Stalled at "System Recovery Options" screen. I manually restarted. Stalled at "Setup is starting" screen. I manually restarted, clicked the Windows Repair option but stalled there again w/ the blue/green circle-ring continuously rotating, not allowing me to click anything.

I Googled & read something about removing the hard drive (C) & using another computer to fix the partition. Not too familiar w/ that so I formatted the drive w/ external cables connected to a laptop, then reinstalled hard drive into my desktop PC tower. No progress at all. Same problems, except drive is clean/formatted. Yesterday I had went to Microsoft's site & downloaded Windows 10 ISO & burned it to disc. Burn successful & verified. Stalled at "Starting Windows" screen too. It only says "BOOTMGR missing" w/ Windows 10 installation, although I assume it's missing w/ Windows 7 installation also. Currently using laptop. Please advise. Thank you.

PS. Thought of buying new Windows 10 full version 64-bit OEM disc $96 but worried BOOTMGR will still be missing. Although not a noob at reformatting, I may simply go back to an inexpensive desktop PC by a branded manufacturer which comes w/ recovery discs. I never had ANY problems w/ those PC's, except once when the mobo went kaput but that was easily fixable by Googling, finding & buying that very same mobo new. Money is more or less same considering w/ the custom built PC I spend about $330 every 4 or so years on updating to a new mobo/CPU. Actually it cost me more as building it was about $2,500 (I stupidly bought higher-end components I never needed). Buying an inexpensive desktop PC by a branded manufacturer which comes w/ recovery discs, every 4 years would be cheaper. Sorry if post too long. I tried to leave out any fluff.

Twitch6000 said:

Hello PcGuy34 and welcome to PCHF. We can assist you with the reported issue.

This honestly sounds like a case of a bad hard drive. The easiest way to rule this would be to use a hard drive diagnostics.

If you know the maker of your hard drive, you can go to their website for the diagnostics software. I believe they both have a a bootable cd option.

It would be suggested to run a full diagnostics scan. Please note that the diagnostics scan can take a few hours.

Click to expand...

Hi Twitch6000. Thank you for the info. Sorry I forgot to mention my hard drive (C) is a Samsung 256 GB SSD in excellent condition as far as I know. I will do what you suggest. Gonna remove the hard drive again & contact Samsung. What is that bootable cd option you speak of?

Twitch6000 said:

If you are using a SolidStateDrive , you would not use the diagnostics I spoke of earlier as that is for Hard Drives only. A hard drive and solid state drive are two different things.

With that said it is still possible the drive is the issue.

Let us continue further.. Just to confirm, you are unable to install any OS at this point correct?

One thing of note is that it would be a good idea to have the firmware for your SSD on an usb drive during the install.

Click to expand...

In case it's needed my Samsung SSD is 830 series. I just found this http://www.samsung.com/semiconductor/minisite/ssd/download/tools/ According to that, Samsung Magician works on SSD's. Firmware update is also available. Should I install that firmware? Correct, I cannot install any OS at this point. I tried 10, 7, Vista, XP.

Twitch6000 said:

Yes you can use that diagnostics tool for your SSD. You would need to have the drive on a computer with a working OS. It doesn't seem to have a bootable disc version.

Click to expand...

Removed hard drive (C) again & connected it to laptop. Gonna begin Samsung Magician SSD diagnostics tool soon. Can I install the firmware while the SSD is externally connected to laptop?

Twitch6000 said:

Yes you should be able to install the firmware aswell.,

Click to expand...

Samsung Firmware ISO successfully burned to disc. What do I open the firmware file with, to get firmware into hard drive? Hard drive still currently connected to laptop. All I have is an external CD/DVD burner connected to laptop. I believe it only writes. Laptop itself does not have a disc drive.

Samsung Magician program only took 2 minutes. It didn't show any problems. I contacted Samsung. Question: If nothing is wrong w/ my SSD (C), after I formatted it, shouldn't the OS installation have gone smoothly?

Samsung support told me Samsung Magician diagnostic software only works with the drive connected via internal SATA connection. So I have to fix my desktop PC first, before I can install firmware. I copy/pasted a few files to the SSD, opened the files, deleted the files... so good thing is the SSD can store files. I'm gonna use it as a storage drive only now, because I bought it in 2012 so it's on the way out. I'm gonna buy a new SSD for OS booting & this time a 120 GB.

vger said:

Any updates for us?

Click to expand...

Hi vger. New Crucial BX300 120 GB SSD not plug & play. Waiting for Crucial support. Impatient so got new Samsung 860 EVO 250 GB SSD. Gonna work on installing that very soon today. One of them is gonna be returned.

Update: New Samsung 860 EVO 250GB SSD not booting either. Does a desktop PC have to have a functioning OS, in order to install another OS or the previous OS? Mine currently does not anymore. I had taken out my original old 2012 Samsung SSD, externally connected it to my laptop & formatted it, removing the functioning OS files. So all the SSD's I've been installing into my desktop PC are formatted. I've been trying to install an OS with discs. My Vista disc is full version. My Windows 7 disc is an upgrade version. Not sure if my Windows 10 ISO disc is full or upgrade version. My desktop PC has NO functioning OS. Help please!

Malnutrition said:

@gus Has written a guide, showing you how to get a legal copy of windows -- So long as you have a product key, you should be good to go here.
Click Here for guide.

Click to expand...

Thank you. I had burned Windows 10 ISO to disc from Microsoft's site but I've no idea why it's not working. Not rich but I'm frustrated here & bought Windows 10 Pro (Bitlocker is useful to me). Godspeed to me...

Twitch6000 said:

Are you getting a specific error? Is the drive just not being detected? Do you have a picture of the problem you are having?

One thing to keep in mind when trying to install Windows on a SSD is you will most likely need to load the driver/firmware before the OS detects it. (Atleast in the case of Windows 7, Results may be better in 8 or 10) This can be done via the "Load Driver" option.

Click to expand...

Sorry for late reply. I was VERY frustrated & had to destress. So much so that I went back to basics, buying a new Dell desktop PC w/ 128GB SSD that "already runs" lol & that has a recovery disc. Returned Windows 10 disc. Returned Samsung 860 EVO SSD. Keeping Crucial to throw in a Windows XP PC to play my fav game Crysis. Gonna sell my Antec full tower & anything inside I'm not keeping.

I was getting several error messages. Windows 7 installation freezing, Windows 10 BSOD. I entered BIOS & clicked UEFI but still no joy. I took several pics but I'm still on my laptop & apologies, but I just don't wanna go back there. Seems I really wasn't cut out for a custom built PC, even though I had it since 2009. Maybe I'm just getting old & forgeting the little PC skills I have. As for loading firmware on SSD, I don't have a desktop PC right now w/ internal SATA. I THANK YOU for all your help! Sorry we won't get to the bottom of this to solve it.