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Get the fix for "<strong>BOOTMGR is Missing</strong>" boot error in <strong>Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10</strong>

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Explained below are the most common solutions you can do to repair this error, but we also recorded a video about this stubborn error and what to do about it without a Windows setup DVD (or if this Windows install CD fails) using our recovery disc Easy Recovery Essentials by NeoSmart Technologies.

<strong>Alternative BOOTMGR error messages</strong>:

The most likely shown error message would be "BOOTMGR is missing. Press Ctrl Alt Del to restart", but your PC may also display "Couldn't find BOOTMGR".

Both refer to the same error that is causing your PC to fail to start.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtr4kxL_t2A
<h2>Why BOOTMGR is missing appears</h2>
When you turn on the computer, the POST (stands for Power On Self Test) processes begin to run by BIOS before booting your Windows copy. The error appears right after the POST process is completed and Windows starts to load.

The POST is a set of routines that are run immediately when starting the PC, such as checking if your RAM, peripheral devices and other hardware components your PC has are working correctly.

After these routines are completed by BIOS, the Windows boot loader begins, where this error is going to appear.

[caption id="attachment_364" align="alignnone" width="980"]<img class="size-full wp-image-364 " src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2013/08/bootmgr-is-missing.png" alt="BOOTMGR Missing Boot Error in Windows" width="980" height="536" /> The boot error "BOOTMGR is Missing" in Windows[/caption]

The BOOTMGR error can be caused by many things, including boot sector viruses, failed Windows installs or updates or crashed hard disks.

A very common reason for your PC to fail loading and displaying this error is when it tries to boot from a hard or flash drive that is non-bootable.
<h2>Guaranteed Fix: Use Easy Recovery Essentials</h2>
[easyre error="BOOTMGR is Missing" bootscreen="vista-7-8" guaranteed="true"]
<h2>Other fixes for BOOTMGR is corrupt or missing</h2>
We've written below 5 fixes that you can use today to repair this error. Go through each, from 1 to 5, step by step, and check which one will work for you.

[setupcd]
<h3>Fix #1: Remove non-bootable discs</h3>
The first and easiest fix is to check for any existing media in your USB ports, floppy drives or optical drives (CDs, DVDs).

BOOTMGR error will appear if your computer is trying to boot from one of these drives that have a non-bootable media inserted. Once you remove a USB drive or CD from which the computer was trying to boot from and couldn't, the error should disappear.

After it disappears, consider changing the boot order from BIOS to make sure your PC boots from the hard drive and not from any other non-bootable drives next time.

This is recommended to prevent future errors like this.
<h3>Fix #2: Use Startup Repair</h3>
This repair method works if you have the Windows installation disc.

Here are the steps to fix the BOOTMGR error with an installation CD:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert your Windows install CD</li>
 	<li>Restart your computer and boot from the CD</li>
 	<li>Press any key when you see the "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" message</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> after selecting your language, time and keyboard method</li>
 	<li>Select the drive of your Windows installation and click <strong>Next</strong>. The standard drive is usually <code>C:\</code></li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Startup Repair</strong></li>
 	<li>Wait for the process to finish</li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #3: Use bootrec.exe to rebuild the BCD</h3>
<code>bootrec.exe</code> is a tool built in the Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) that you can use to troubleshoot and repair the error.

bootrec.exe can repair boot configuration data and master boot records. BCD, which stands for Boot Configuration Data, contains boot configurations options and controls how Windows is started.

Here are the steps for accessing bootrec.exe to rebuild the master boot sector:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert your Windows 7 or Vista install disc</li>
 	<li>Restart your computer and boot from the CD</li>
 	<li>Press any key at the "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" message</li>
 	<li>Choose <strong>Repair your computer</strong> after you select the language, time and keyboard method</li>
 	<li>Select your Windows installation drive (usually <code>C:\</code>)</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Command Prompt</strong> in the <em>System Recovery Options</em> box</li>
 	<li>Write the following command and press <kbd>Enter</kbd>:
<pre>bootrec /rebuildbcd</pre>
</li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #4: Run System Restore</h3>
The next solution will work only if you have System Restore enabled on your Windows.

Here are the steps for restoring your PC with System Restore:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the Windows 7 or Vista install disc</li>
 	<li>Restart your computer and boot from the install disc</li>
 	<li>Press a key when "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" message appears on your screen</li>
 	<li>Click on <strong>Repair your computer</strong> after selecting a language, time and keyboard method</li>
 	<li>Select the drive where you installed Windows (usually <code>C:\</code>)</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Select <strong>System Restore</strong> from the <em>System Recovery Options</em> box</li>
 	<li>Follow the System Restore wizard instructions to select a restore point</li>
 	<li>Restore your PC by clicking <strong>Finish</strong></li>
</ol>
<h3>Fix #5: Use bootrec.exe to fix the boot</h3>
The partition boot sector is stored on the hard disk drive and contains the necessary code to start the Windows boot process. If this partition is corrupt or not properly configured during a Windows install it would lead to "BOOTMGR is missing or corrupt" errors at startup.

This method needs a copy of your original Windows installation disc.

Here are the steps to fix this error using the bootrec.exe tool, the same tool used in Fix #4 above:
<ol>
 	<li>Insert the Windows 7 or Vista install disc</li>
 	<li>Restart your computer and boot from the disc</li>
 	<li>Press any key at the "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD" message</li>
 	<li>Choose <strong>Repair your computer</strong> after you select the language, time and keyboard method</li>
 	<li>Select your Windows installation drive (usually <code>C:\</code>)</li>
 	<li>Click <strong>Next</strong></li>
 	<li>Select <strong>Command Prompt</strong> from the <em>System Recovery Options</em> box</li>
 	<li>Write the following command and hit <kbd>Enter</kbd>:
<pre>bootrec /fixboot</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Wait for this message to appear:
<pre>The operation completed successfully.</pre>
</li>
 	<li>Restart your computer</li>
</ol>
<h2>More Information</h2>
<h3>Linked Entries</h3>
<ul>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootrec/">Bootrec</a></li>
 	<li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/fix-mbr/">Fix MBR</a></li>
</ul>
[partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="vista,7,8,10"]