Need help please. Windows 7 \Boot\BCD error - Won't boot up

Mad_Mike

Hi guys. Have an issue here with my dads PC
Last week for some reason when he powered off his PC and went to restart, the PC wouldn't start up and there was an external USB drive plugged in, so got him to remove that and try various things while talking through it over the phone

Long story short, the PC is running Windows 7 and shows an error for file \Boot\BCD

I have now got the PC here and as the PC came with no disks and had Windows 7 installed when he bought it, I tried to create a USB key with Hirens Boot CD and selected boot into Windows 7 which didn't work, so I chose the Mini XP option which loaded XP and I was able to open disk management, but there is no recovery partition on the drive, so I can not copy the BCD file across to the hard drive.

I don't really know how to solve this, but am capable if given the right instructions :D

Any ideas or help would be really appreciated

By the way, if I need any more info, please ask and I will clarify
As for the actual version of Windows 7 it was running, I have no idea either

Mad_Mike

This is a copy of the screen when I turn on the PC

https://www.dropbox.com/s/tx1bcfw7ep9u6p3/20171026_123042.jpg?dl=0

Then when I use the USB key, I get this menu

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ejtmqikiod3jyi2/20171026_123431.jpg?dl=0

If I select the top option, it just goes back to the first screen again

Johnboy1951

This might help - second option

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2004518/error-message-when-you-start-windows-7-the-windows-boot-configuration

Mad_Mike

Thanks. Saw that already, but it says it does it from Windows Recovery environment which I am unable to get into

Mad_Mike

Used Total Commander while running Mini XP and the main drive is now E, as it sees the USB boot key as C, but there isn't even a Boot folder showing on the hard drive, so I am totally lost here

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jmj9v24gnrjyp5c/20171026_132435.jpg?dl=0

davyboy1975

Try this and it should work. If you cant access it and need a system recovery disk you can do one from another pc laptop if its running windows 7

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-rebuild-the-bcd-in-windows-2624508

Mad_Mike

Cheers. Stumped again. Running 7 on my own, but no optical drive on mine
LOL. It never rains, but it pours!! Anyway, will see if I can sort something. Thanks again

Kimbot

You can download the windows 7 iso, put it onto a USB stick, boot from that and use the recovery option and then go in there and use fixmbr

free_man

OT,
Looking at total commander picture, it looks like there are lot of found.XXXX folders. There is even one created on 22-Oct-17.
The most likely cause is that HDD partition has become corrupted or HDD is on its way out. I would suggest getting important data off that partition before trying anything.

The booting up using windows7 iso via USB might work but you will most likely have to buy a new HDD/SDD/SSHD.
The best option is too get important data off that HDD. You can connect it via USB (SATA to USB convertor) to your laptop to copy data.

Check this link
https://rufus.akeo.ie/