Getting bootmgr onto a USB key

suzeybo

I have a legitimate copy of windows 7. My CD drive is broken so I put all the files onto a USB key. I wish to do a fresh install of windows 7 on my HP laptop which is partitioned. I changed the bootable drive in BIOS to the USB key but get a message saying Bootmgr is missing. I looked up some solutions but they all want me to put the cd into the cd drive to get bootmgr onto the USB in cmd prompt. Does anyone have a solution for me? Is there a way of making this USB bootable? Or do I have to go to a professional.

Thanks
Sue

Alanstrainor

Okay, format the usb stick completely. There can be nothing else on it. And formatting will remove everything.

Once you format the usb stick, copy all of the files from the Windows 7 DVD, and paste them on the disk. Once you've done this, reboot and try and boot from the USB. It should be that simple.

suzeybo

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Okay, format the usb stick completely. There can be nothing else on it. And formatting will remove everything.

Once you format the usb stick, copy all of the files from the Windows 7 DVD, and paste them on the disk. Once you've done this, reboot and try and boot from the USB. It should be that simple.

That is exactly what I did today when I brought the dvd to a friends house to copy all the files from it to the USB. I have formatted the USB and then moved all files across and get the Bootmgr is missing message and to ctrl/alt/del to restart.

Alanstrainor

There should be a bootmgr file in the root of the usb drive? Is this there? If not, before copying the files, when you open up the DVD in explorer, click on tools/folder options/view and tick the box that says show hidden files and folders. I have a feeling this file could be hidden.

EDIT: I could be wrong on that actually...but there should be a BOOTMGR file on the disk.

suzeybo

Alanstrainor wrote: »

There should be a bootmgr file in the root of the usb drive? Is this there? If not, before copying the files, when you open up the DVD in explorer, click on tools/folder options/view and tick the box that says show hidden files and folders. I have a feeling this file could be hidden.

EDIT: I could be wrong on that actually...but there should be a BOOTMGR file on the disk.

I have a bootmgr file on the usb. That is what I don't get. That doesn't seem to be the problem according to what I am seeing on google. I will have a look at the CD again tomorrow and see if there is anything I can do. Thanks for your help. I will update if I do find a solution.

Alanstrainor

suzeybo wrote: »

I have a bootmgr file on the usb. That is what I don't get. That doesn't seem to be the problem according to what I am seeing on google. I will have a look at the CD again tomorrow and see if there is anything I can do. Thanks for your help. I will update if I do find a solution.

When you do get a chance to look at the CD, just reformat the USB and put the files back on, something could have gone wrong on the first go! That's what i'd do!

GreenWolfe

The USB stick still hasn't been made bootable. You'll have to look for a copy of bootsect.exe (32-bit and 64-bit files are different) and run "bootsect /nt60 <driveletter>" without the quotes and brackets on the target USB drive.

EDIT: You'll find bootsect.exe in the boot directory of your Windows 7 disc.

suzeybo

EarthlyPangaea wrote: »

The USB stick still hasn't been made bootable. You'll have to look for a copy of bootsect.exe (32-bit and 64-bit files are different) and run "bootsect /nt60 <driveletter>" without the quotes and brackets on the target USB drive.

EDIT: You'll find bootsect.exe in the boot directory of your Windows 7 disc.

bootsect is one of the files on the USB. However I preformed this

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-7vista-from-usb-drive-detailed-100-working-guide/

but it seems to need the CD in the drive and the CD drive is not working.

GreenWolfe

Have you tried copying bootsect.exe into /Windows/System32. Bootsect should then be useable in any part of the system and shouldn't need a disc in the drive.

U_Fig

best way i find to do it is to write the disk image of the ISO to the USB this makes it boolable and works every time with any Version of windows 7

osmanthus

U_Fig wrote: »

best way i find to do it is to write the disk image of the ISO to the USB this makes it boolable and works every time with any Version of windows 7

Thanks for sharing your experience.

suzeybo

U_Fig wrote: »

best way i find to do it is to write the disk image of the ISO to the USB this makes it boolable and works every time with any Version of windows 7

Ok this is probably a very silly question but what file is the disk image of the ISO? I am going to my friends now with the DVD to copy all the files again and I want to be sure I have everything.




I would also like to thank everyone for their help so far.

GreenWolfe

suzeybo wrote: »

Ok this is probably a very silly question but what file is the disk image of the ISO? I am going to my friends now with the DVD to copy all the files again and I want to be sure I have everything.




I would also like to thank everyone for their help so far.

I'm not sure what he meant, an ISO file is a type of disc image.

The guide you linked to earlier works afaik. The only reason why it switches to the DVD drive is because it is using bootsect.exe from \boot. Just copy bootsect.exe to a location on your harddrive, open the command prompt at that folder and issue "bootsect /nt60 <driveletter>" without quotes and brackets in the command prompt window. It should be bootable then.

suzeybo

EarthlyPangaea wrote: »

I'm not sure what he meant, an ISO file is a type of disc image.

The guide you linked to earlier works afaik. The only reason why it switches to the DVD drive is because it is using bootsect.exe from \boot. Just copy bootsect.exe to a location on your harddrive, open the command prompt at that folder and issue "bootsect /nt60 <driveletter>" without quotes and brackets in the command prompt window. It should be bootable then.

I did this. It seemed to be successful when completing it in command prompt, however, when I rebooted I got the same error about missing bootmgr. Thank you all for your help. It seems I will need to go to my friends and make the USB key bootable from the DVD there using this. http://arstechnica.com/business/news/2009/12/-the-usb-flash-drive.ars