Windows 7: repair bootloader - how it works

If Windows 7 only shows the error message "BOOTMGR is missing" when starting, you must repair the boot loader. In this article, we will show you how to do this.

Step 1: Start Windows repair for the boot loader

In order to repair your boot loader, you need the Windows 7 DVD with which you installed the system. If you no longer have the data carrier, you can also install the Windows setup on a USB stick and boot from it. We will show you how this works in the next article and in the video below.

1. Insert the DVD in the drive or connect your USB stick. Then switch to the BIOS and put the respective storage medium in the first place so that your PC starts from the DVD or the stick.
2. Select the desired language on the setup screen and click "Next".
3. Then choose the entry "Computer Repair Options" and in the next step the option "Use recovery tools ...".
4. Click "Command Prompt" and wait for Windows 7 to load the console.

Step 2: repair the boot loader in the Windows 7 console

As soon as the prompt appears, you can start the repair:

1. Enter the commands "bootrec / fixmbr", "bootrec / fixboot" and "bootrec / rebuildbcd" one after the other.
2. Start the disk management with "diskpart" and list all your partitions with "list disk".
3. Then select the primary hard disk on which Windows 7 is installed from the list using "select disk".
4. Repeat the steps with "list partition" and "select partition [number]" to select the partition on which Windows is located.
5. Activate the boot partition with the "active" command and end the command prompt by entering "exit" twice.

Step 3: complete bootloader repair in Windows 7

1. Reboot from the Windows DVD and select the "Computer Repair Options" option.
2. In the next window, select your Windows installation from the list, activate the option "Use recovery tools ..." and click "Next".
3. Finally, decide on "Startup Repair" and wait for the process to finish. Then you can start Windows 7 as usual.

If you continue to have problems, you can start Windows 7 in Safe Mode.