Missing OS Loader.

Question

I accidentally posted this in the 'Files' section rather than the 'Forums' section, so I'm sorry for that mistake/double post! D: Admins, if you feel one needs to be deleted, please delete the one from the wrong section. This might be very common, or it might not be, but from the research I've done, nothing seems to work. After one night I went off my computer, I had just been doing the usual stuff. I didn't do anything unsual or see anything unusual. The next day the computer booted with Startup Repair. I thought this was strange but I let it get on with it anyway. Then it came to restarting my comp and Startup Repair came back again. This is when I suspected something was wrong. I'm running Windows 7 on a Dell Inspiron 560MT. After letting it try again and restarting a few more times, I checked the diagnostic and repair details. These are as follows. Problem signature:Problem Event Name: StartupRepairOfflineProblem Signature 01: 6.1.7600.16385Problem Signature 02: 6.1.7600.16385Problem Signature 03: unknownProblem Signature 04: 18Problem Signature 05: ExternalMediaProblem Signature 06: 1Problem Signature 07: MissingOsLoaderOS Version: 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1Locale ID: 1033 So I decided to research into what I could do. Through advanced options and using my installation disc, I got to command prompt and tried BootRec and ChkDsk. None of these seemed to fix the issue. However after restarting my computer it doesn't go into system repair anymore. It comes up with two different screens. The first one looks like this. Windows Boot Manager. Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause. To fix the problem: 1: Insert your windows installation disc and restart your computer.2: Choose your language settings, and then click 'Next.'3. Click 'Repair your computer.' If you do not have this disk, contact your system adminstrator or computer manufacturer for assistance. File: \Windows\system32\winload.exeStatus: 0xc000007bInfo: The selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt. After this, it says I can press enter to continue or esc to restart. If I press enter, it shows the second screen, which looks like this. Windows Boot Manager. Choose an operating system to start:(Use the arrow keys to highlight your choice, then press ENTER.) Windows 7 Home Premium To Specify an advanced option for this choice, press F8. However, pressing F8 takes me back to the first screen about winload.exe being missing/corrupted. Inserting my disk takes me back to this screen unless I enter setup to override the priority for the disk to load, and repairing my computer just comes up with the first error seen at the top of my post. I've tried numerous things but nothing seems to work, and I would like to avoid a clean install which would be my absolute last resort. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you.  ~Adam

ShadowBlisk · Accepted Answer

After a week, a lack of time and other issues that came along the way, we've found out that it's unlikely to boot the computer, however I can access all of my files to be saved onto another hard drive, as well as creating an image of the hard drive. One possible cause was my WLAN's antenna, the base is magnetic, and we all know how hard drives and magnets go, I completely disregarded this and didn't realise. Hopefully from now on things should be fine, thank you for your help.

osprey4 · Answer

Hi Adam,

This forum is really for hardware questions, but let me see if I can get you started troubleshooting this issue.

The winload.exe missing or corrupt problem is fairly generic, so you'll need to follow these instructions to run the Win 7 recovery environment. Do you have your Dell Windows 7 reinstallation disc?

ShadowBlisk · Answer

Hi Osprey, sorry for this being in the wrong place.

I do believe through my research that some people have said this may be related to a hard drive issue, I just hope this isn't the case.

I've tried these instructions previously but I will try them again, yes I do have my Windows 7 installation disc.

Followed those instructions again and sadly it actually does not fix the issue, which makes it even more confusing for me.

ShadowBlisk · Answer

Osprey,

Straight away I have an error, at 0% progress, this error is as follows:

Error

Eror Code 4400L011A.

Msg: SCSI_0-000_DISK_GENERIC-_SD/MMC - Target not ready

The given error code and message can be used by Technical Support to help diagnose the problem.

Do you want to continue testing?

(Yes) (No) (Retry)

osprey4 · Answer

Ok, let's try testing the hard drive. You'll need your Dell drivers and utilities disc. To test your hard drive using your Dell Drivers and Utilities disc:
1. Reboot your system. When you see the Dell logo, hit F12 to enter the boot menu.
2. Insert the Dell Drivers and Utilities disc in your CD/DVD drive.
3. Pick the option to boot from the CD/DVD drive.
4. You will be prompted to hit any key to continue booting from the CD/DVD drive.
5. You will be prompted to hit 1 to run the Dell diagnostics. You may see two such menus.
6. Select Test System.
7. Select Custom Test.
7. Use the arrow keys or mouse to select your hard drive.
9. Click Run Tests.
10. Write down any error messages.

osprey4 · Answer

That error is not related to the hard drive but to your card reader. What you need to do is choose custom test, which allows you to select the hard drive and test just that one component.

ShadowBlisk · Answer

Sorry for that mistake. Just started the test for the hard drive and the first error is as follows:

Test Progress: 25%

Overall Progress: 2%

Error

Error Code 0F00:1332

Msg: DISK - Block 29655978: Interrupt Request(IRQ) did not set in time

After clicking yes to continue, the same error comes back, but for Block 29656064. And clicking yes again, other blocks receive the same error.

osprey4 · Answer

Your drive is toast. You need a new hard drive and then you have to reinstall the operating system manually.

ShadowBlisk · Answer

Great, well I'm taking it into college next week where someone from IT support is happy to look at it and hopefully from then I can move forwards, thank you for your help and I'll update this thread once I've done that.

ShadowBlisk · Answer

When there was an option to browse for drivers for example, I could still see all my files?

osprey4 · Answer

That's good. You can still retrieve your files.

osprey4 · Answer

Glad to help.

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