How to fix Windows Server 2008 R2 bootloader

  • Thread starter Thread starter kingrob
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kingrob

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Had a near-death experience this morning, when our company's Windows Server 2008 R2 production server failed to boot.

The only message I got was : BOOTMGR IS MISSING PRESS CTRL+ALT+DEL TO RESTART, which is not what you would like to see when you boot a production server. :)

I fixed it, so thought I would post the solution here, as it might help someone else.

I tried the old fixes, but that didn't work :

Insert the install CD/DVD and press ANY key to boot from CD/DVD when needed
Choose "Repair the computer" (or something similar)
After selecting the OS, if it finds one, open the Command Prompt
Type DISKPART and hit [ENTER]
Type LIST VOLUME and hit [ENTER] (remember the drive letter of the CD/DVD which has as TYPE 'CD-ROM' or something similar)
Type EXIT and hit [ENTER]
Change to the drive of the CD-ROM
Type CD BOOT and hit [ENTER]
Type BOOTSECT /NT60 C: /FORCE /MBR and hit [ENTER] (this does assume the installation is on the C-drive)
Type BOOTREC /REBUILDBCD and hit [ENTER] (choose the YES option to accept what has been found)
Type EXIT and hit [ENTER]
Remove the install CD/DVD and reboot the computer

So, it didn't work....but this did :

Boot from a Windows Server 2008 R2 DVD, choose repair, load any drivers for RAID controllers and go to Command Prompt.

The command prompt will show you : X:\Sources . Then change folder to Recovery and type in : StartRep.exe . This is the full path : x:\sources\recovery\StartRep.exe

And that was it. Problem fixed and the server is booting again. *phew* :)
 
The_Librarian said:
Good to know.

Now the question is - why (and how) did this happen?

Not good for your nerves though.
Click to expand...

No, it's not good for the nerves!!

I started having failed backups of the server to the NAS and after a while discovered that I must make the main drive active in storage management (for some reason the reserved space was the active partition - dont ask how that happened!). The backup was successful last night, but then the server just refused to boot after applying patches this morning. :(

Check my first post for the fix. ;)
 
kingrob said:
No, it's not good for the nerves!!

I started having failed backups of the server to the NAS and after a while discovered that I must make the main drive active in storage management (for some reason the reserved space was the active partition - dont ask how that happened!). The backup was successful last night, but then the server just refused to boot after applying patches this morning. :(

Check my first post for the fix. ;)
Click to expand...


Obivoiusely you made a the smaller partition the main boot selection. FAIL
 
adielh said:
Obivoiusely you made a the smaller partition the main boot selection. FAIL
Click to expand...

That is the very funny part - I didnt. I right clicked the RAID drive (shown as C in storage manager) and set that as active, not the system reserved storage.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Interesting. What is your opinion of the new improved Server 2008 repair option versus the 2003 option? I prefer 2003 and can see very much of future struggles....
 
Conradl said:
Interesting. What is your opinion of the new improved Server 2008 repair option versus the 2003 option? I prefer 2003 and can see very much of future struggles....
Click to expand...

The 2008 repair option is really good - and saved my life. :)

Still worrying that there should be a repair tool included with the DVD..... wonder how long it's gonna take Microsoft to finally sort NTFS out. *sigh*
 
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