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How to fix recovery partition error without disk?
I've been fighting some sort of issue with booting. Dell 8700XPS, Win7 Pro, 32GB SSD cache.
On power up (from system powered off) it does not recognize the hard drive (accelerated to use SSD). It only lists the SSD, and fails to boot, saying improper media. If I power cycle and hit cntl I before that error, it does not list the HD (only SSD), then hit escape, then it recognizes the HD and SSD as the boot process continues. Then it seems ok. Once up and running, a reboot sees both the HD and SSD during boot. So the problem only appears after a power down, not a reboot.
I went to the Dell Backup and Recovery program, and it reports the Factory Recovery Partition is missing or corrupt. I thought I had made a recovery CD (win7 pro), but of course can't find it. The only disks shipped with the unit were Win8.1, which I never upgraded to due to software I use doesn't run on Win8.
I'm hoping the Recovery Partition problem is why it's not seeing the HD on power-up, but may be just wishful thinking.
Thoughts on how to get that recovery partition problem resolved? I assume it is on the SSD.
Thanks in advance.
Bill
Scammersbegone
33 Posts
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December 8th, 2016 11:00
I found a win7 Home reinstall disk from an old laptop. Smart or not, I booted my dead win7pro desktop using it, but not doing any repair or install. I was able to get to a dos prompt. My dos speak is limited and rusty, but I could see everything on the computer. There was a c and d drive. D: looked like what I used to know as C:. Any sense in messing with this or just wait until I get the win7Pro disks?
walt7663
6 Posts
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December 8th, 2016 12:00
TRY This Before You Reformat or reload the OS system. Kind of last chance thing.
I have the X51R3 win 10 and I have lots of boot problems for some reason. This may help you to keep from reloading everything. You have to get into the troubleshooting screen and them select Cmd Admin. I usually have to boot from the OS disk first. The 1st screen is the one states Screen language, time & current format and keyboard and input method. Just click Next on this screen. 2nd screen BOTTOM LEFT click Repair your computer. Next screen choice Troubleshooting. Next select CMD ADMIN. From the cmd admin screen type these command. BootRec /FixMBR press enter. Then BootRec /FixBoot press enter next BootRec /Rebuiltbcd press enter. If a line comes up then select yes.
Saltgrass
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December 8th, 2016 12:00
You said your bios was set to AHCI. Was the system set up to use the Acceleration drive which requires RAID? Have you tried setting it back to RAID and booting?
You should be able to run the Bootrec /RebuildBCD command from a command prompt, you could try it.
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
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43.4K Posts
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December 8th, 2016 14:00
Sorry for being so cruel...
Scammersbegone
33 Posts
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December 8th, 2016 16:00
Guess it's time to shoot the horse.
Didn't try setting bios to raid yet.
In cmd window, partitions are: C: RECOVERY, D:OS, E:WinReTools, F:WIN_7_HOMEPREMIUM.
BCDEDIT /ENUM errored, saying the requested system info could not be found. Maybe syntax wrong.
BOOTREC/REBUILDBCD found 1 install. When saying yes to add it, got error saying element could not be found.
Throwing in the towel. Thanks Salt.
Bill
Scammersbegone
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December 10th, 2016 17:00
It's all good. [<:o)]
Thanks much. Without the original media, and the MS Office disk (preinstalled), I really had no choice. Believe me, I wanted to. Actually loaded Win7Home on ext drive, but horrible time with drivers.
The whole time, I could see the data on the drive, so had plenty of backups.
Thanks again!
RoHe
10 Elder
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43.4K Posts
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December 10th, 2016 17:00
Glad your horse wasn't dead, dead.
You got more persistence than I'll ever have. I'd have wiped that sucker and reinstalled Windows a long time ago.
Now back up your personal files on external media, just to be safe...
Scammersbegone
33 Posts
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December 10th, 2016 17:00
It's ALIVE!!!!
Followed the instructions in the link below, which is probably similar to other instructions given here, but the piece that mattered was the last line that mentioned if you get the error "Failure when attempting to copy boot files". There is a twist on the bcdboot command that allowed the command to work in my case. I won't ask why. I hope to never see another cmd window again. From there, the recovery disk took over and all seems well again, so far.
Thanks to all who tried to help, I know it's tough diagnosing from afar. Really, really appreciated. Good to know there are people willing to help, with nothing but the satisfaction to gain!!!!!! And I was just about to buy a new win7pro machine. ;)
[Admin Note: Link was removed for security reasons]
Best regards, many thanks!
Bill
tokyojazz
2 Posts
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October 4th, 2017 06:00
If you have not prepared a set of recovery media, you will need to call Dell customer support
speedstep
8 Wizard
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47K Posts
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October 4th, 2017 11:00
Recovery Media for windows 7 is no longer available.