Error: Bootmgr is missing Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart when starting Windows

Hello,

I receive the error “Bootmgr is missing Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart” when I start Windows. I have found the issue but I don’t see a good solution. What’s the best way to fix this issue?

Thanks

LD

On start up I receive the bootmgr is missing press ctrl+alt+del to restart

I can hit esc and go to boot menu

at boot device I can click st31000528as return and computer comes up

I tried several of the fixes but did not work do you have any suggestions?   Ralph

Okay, I am encountering this problem, but in a somewhat unique situation. I got my hands on an older Dell machine with no HDD. I put one that I know works, which was completely formatted and empty, in, connected everything and whatnot, and went to the BIOS to make the boot priority CD/DVD drive. The Machine acknowledges the presence of the disk drive but will not display a "Press any key to boot from CD/DVD" message as my other machines do, it simply displays the "BOOTMGR is missing, press Ctrl Alt Del to restart" message, and yes, the disc is in the drive. 

I'm out of ideas.

I'm having the same problem. I have an old generic pc that I want to repurpose as a dedicated xp machine, in order to run a legacy program that cannot run on my Win 7 Home machine. MS won't allow me to download or install xp mode on this Home Premium machine, I can't even install a virtual disc on it, or at least I can't find any virtual software that will work; my one alternative seems to be to buy an upgrade to Win & professional, but I balk at spending $80 - $100 on an upgrade for an OS that will be phased out in a short time, just as XP was.

The machine I want to use as an XP-only machine is a generic PC with 2Gb RAM, an 80Gb HDD, and an Intel 2.5 processor.

Prior to this issue, I was running both XP and Win7Home in a dual-boot environment, with no problems.

I then acquired a new case with a better board, better processor, sata and ide capable, and I got for it a new SSD. While building this new machine I cannibalized the old one, using two IDE drives from it, one with many of my programs and data, the other with (formerly) the XP and & OS.

Rather than migrate a lot of trash and temp files onto the new ssd, I opted to do a clean install, and in the process, formatted the old drive that had held the 7 and XP dual-boot OS.

I didn't realize at the time that MS had only recently ended all support for it's "XP Mode" software which was only intended to make things easier for corporate users to wean themselves over to Win 7 or above. 

Ok, no problem, I'll simply reinstall the empty reformatted drive in the old box, then load my licensed XP OS onto it, then the ONE legacy program that I depend on most of all, and whose support ended many years ago, and which will not run on an OS newer than Win7. This dedicated XP machine was never going to see the internet, all I needed for it was to run my one essential but antique graphics program.

Everything hooked up ready to go, I inserted my XP disc, and got the "boot mgr not found" message.

I entered BIOS, should boot from the cd rom, but can't find the "boot mgr". Tried several old backup and recovery discs, still "can't find the boot mgr"

All the helpful suggestions I have found are based on the fact that an installed OS cannot boot. I have no installed OS, I have an empty reformatted disc, an OS installation disc ought to be able to install, but does not.  I even went all the way back to y Win 95 installation disc, and several flavors of Linux, but nothing works because the "boot mgr is not found".

Sorry for posting such a lengthy message, but I've hit a wall with this problem. If anyone has found a workaround for this boot mgr error, or if anyone knows a way to get the old JASC Paint Shop Pro 9.01 to run on a Window & Home Premium machine I would certainly appreciate the help.

1. How to Boot Your Infected Computer Using an USB Stick When BOOTMGR Is Missing Displays

If "BOOTMGR Is Missing" displays on you screen then I recommend that you watch this YouTube video which explains a solution that has allows users (it worked for me) to access all the files on my computer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnRjxHKN6p4

In addition to your damaged computer you will also need another healthy computer to prepare the files needed on a USB stick with is used to boot up the damaged machine.

2. Rufus and Hiren's Boot CD

It involves using two programs called Rufus and Hiren's Boot CD. This method allowed me to access all of my Windows XP files (this same method can be used for more recent versions of Windows) by following the video and then booting with a USB plugged in and using the Mini XP option to boot the machine.

3. Rufus

Download and install Rufus.

http://rufus.akeo.ie/

4. Hiren's Boot CD

Download Hiren's Boot CD 15.2

http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/

Extract the .iso file using WinZip Evaluation version or similar software.

5. YouTube Video Procedure

Use the procedure in the Youtube video to use Rufus to put the Hiren's Boot CD .iso file on a USB stick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnRjxHKN6p4

6. Booting Infected Computer with USB Plugged In

Start up you computer with the USB connected and press F2 at first screen.

Change the boot order to that the USB sick is first in the list.

Restart the computer with the USB in.

The USB should kick in to action.

Select Mini XP (or similar for different operating systems) and it will hopefully load allowing all your files to be accessed and backed up.

7. Backing Up Files

Plug another USB into the infected computer and copy files across and save these files on another computer.

8. Scan For and Remove Infections Using Malwarebytes

This webpage show how viruses can be removed using Malwarebytes which is included in Hiren's Boot CD.

http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/41669/remove-nearly-any-virus-using-hirens-bootcd/

Just follow steps 6 to 12.

This should help some people.

Regards

James Cox