WIndows 7 cannot boot - bootrec reports FS not found or corrupt

Question

For 3 days now I've been unable to boot into my Windows 7 partition, and all my research has been to no avail. I'm hoping someone here has more ideas on how to fix this.

When I boot up now, I get the black screen with BCD error that says theres no valid file system or it may be corrupt (pardon my lack of detail, no copy/paste is available then).

When I boot with the Windows 7 disc and go into repair tools, no operating system is found, and attempting to automatically repair the problem fails with Unknown Operating System (Unknown Disk) or something similar. When I drop into the command prompt, I am able to see and navigate my C:\ drive without issue.

I attempt to use bootrec:

C:\> bootrec /ScanOS

Finds C:\Windows as a system partition.

C:\> bootrec /RebuildBCD

Fails with volume does not contain a recognized file system. please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted.

So then I attempt to fix the bootsector:

C:\> bootsect /nt60 C: /force

Which completes successfully (sorry, no output..)

Upon rebooting, I have the same problem.

I've also tried all of the above after making my Windows partition active:

C:\> diskpart
DISKPART> select disk 1
DISKPART> select partition 1
DISKPART> active
DISKPART> exit

Then bootrec as above, both with and without a reboot after the DISKPART commands.

Then I've also tried rebuilding the BCD store by hand:

set systemdrive=C:
set tempbcd=C:\boot\bcd.temp
set tempfile=C:\boot\temp.txt

bcdedit -createstore %tempbcd%
bcdedit.exe -store %tempbcd% -create {bootmgr} -d "Windows Boot Manager"

bcdedit -store %tempbcd% -create -d "Windows Vista" -application osloader>%tempfile%
set /p winvistaguid= <%tempfile%
set winvistaguid=%winvistaguid:~10,38%

bcdedit -store %tempbcd% -set %winvistaguid% osdevice partition=%systemdrive%
bcdedit -store %tempbcd% -set %winvistaguid% device partition=%systemdrive%
bcdedit -store %tempbcd% -set %winvistaguid% path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
bcdedit -store %tempbcd% -set %winvistaguid% systemroot \Windows

bcdedit -import %tempbcd%

However on the import, I get my familiar friendly message:

volume does not contain a recognized file system. please make sure that all required file system drivers are loaded and that the volume is not corrupted

I'm at my wits end here, and I cannot understand why Windows refuses to see this as a valid install.

When I list the disk/partition in DISKPART, it shows up as NTFS and "Healthy", and I can navigate the directory structure from DOS with no problems.

I really, really do not want to reformat and reinstall. I know this problem can be solved!

Answer 1

I solved the problem using diskpart to fix the apparently 'corrupted' filesystem ("... does not contain a recognized filesystem") and then recreating the BCD using bootrec.

C:\> diskpart
DISKPART> select disk 1
DISKPART> select partition 1
DISKPART> active
DISKPART> extend filesystem
DISKPART> exit
C:\> bootrec /rebuildbcd

Be sure to run chkdsk /f after booting to Windows.

I also suggest looking at the EasyBCD program. I have not tried it myself but it looks promising.

Just for the record, I had increased the size of my NTFS partition using Gparted, that's why I used extend filesystem in diskpart.

Answer 2

I had the same problem, I tried exactly the same solutions, and it didn't work.

Then I tried disconnecting all my other hard drives, leaving only the one with my Windows installation on it. I rebooted with Windows7 recovery disc, and ran the automatic repair, it recognized the drive and the windows installation (until I disconnected all my other drives the "System Recovery Options" list was always empty), and it said there was an error with that volume, and that it was successfully fixed.

I rebooted again, ran automatic repair again, and voila, everything was fixed and I was back in Windows.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, none of these answers worked. After 10 days of trying everything I could find and think of, I wiped the drive and reinstalled Windows.

Answer 4

I just had this same issue, which lasted for weeks. For whatever reason I decided to shrink Windows 7 and grow Ubuntu 10.10 using GParted.

Anyway, I followed the same steps you followed over and over again. The trick (and the fix for me) was after setting the partition active, also run RESCAN. Then, exit and run bootrec /rebuildbcd. For good measure I also ran the GUI boot fix. After a reboot, I was back in Windows.

Answer 5

Back up your data and run a chkdsk on the drive, it this does not get it bootable use a utility such as Spinrite or HDD Regenerator on the disk

Answer 6

This may or may not work, but I've had the same problem and found that by installing a second Windows 7 system on the same drive but separate partition will allow you to boot up and run your bcdedit program and add or repair the boot manager to the first Windows 7 system.
Also use the second Windows 7 system to scan and remove any viruses.