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    Laptop starts as usual but 'Bootmgr Is Missing'

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by rogerbid, Oct 8, 2011.

  1. rogerbid

    rogerbid Newbie

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    Hi,

    Please can someone advise me how to proceed here?

    My wife's Samsung R610 laptop was bought with Windows Vista installed and with a free upgrade to Windows 7 on it's release. I have usually made my own Backups using the Control Panel>Backup & Restore facility.

    However, I have recently tried to use the Samsung Recovery Solution 4 but when, during the backup procedure, the computer reboots I get the error message:

    Invalid Recovery Area
    BOOTMGR IS MISSING
    Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart.

    I have searched this forum and on Google and this error is usually associated with computers that will not boot at all.

    The laptop starts and runs perfectly well, and the only time this error message appears is when I try to do a backup.

    The last thing I want is to screw things up to the point where it will not boot at all, and for this reason I am reluctant to meddle with things I do not understand.

    Can anyone reassure me that attempting to repair the Bootmgr will not render the laptop unbootable, and suggest a safe way to fix this?

    Thanks,

    Roger
     
    rogerbid, Oct 8, 2011
    #1
  2. Nick

    Nick Professor Carnista

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    Nick, Oct 8, 2011
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  3. metril

    metril Notebook Deity

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    Your boot sector got corrupted. The boot sector is what contains the first bits of code that will communicate with your system BIOS to initialize all hardware and start the OS loading process.

    My suspicion is that the Samsung Recovery Solution screwed up. Basically, it probably wiped out the boot sector and some other stuff and then crashed. Thus, giving you an un-bootable system.
     
    metril, Oct 8, 2011
    #3
  4. rogerbid

    rogerbid Newbie

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    Thanks for the replies but re "Thus, giving you an un-bootable system." - my system boots up normally, it is only when I try the backup option that I get this message.

    Can I do any permanent harm if I try to repair from the Win 7 upgrade disc?

    Is it better to download the SP1 rather than an upgrade disc?

    Thanks,

    Roger
     
    rogerbid, Oct 9, 2011
    #4
  5. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    Repair only copies systems files over, I don't see any permanent harm (if any) in this case. It makes no difference which disk you use as long as it can be booted up.

    In your case I wonder if you can only perform this back-up function under Vista, and not under Windows 7

    cheers ...
     
    qhn, Oct 9, 2011
    #5