OS is now on E: instead of C:; Recovery doesn't work

Hi:

As I mentioned, I did not do the windows repair.  Instead, I went back to the option to fix it ourselves. I typed your list of instructions and as I reported, Disk 0, Partition 2 is active and Volume 2 is now C:

I left diskpart and went back to command. I typed C:

Then once on C:, I typed bootrec.exe /scanos and it found one version of Windows.

Should I try to reboot as it is and see if it boots into Windows before messing around with Linux?  BTW - I have all my data backed up.

Go ahead and reboot. See if Windows starts. If that does not work then do the Startup Repair again and give it three tries. Nice that you have your data backed up. Not many people do.

I did the reboot and sadly, it came back to the missing bootmgr screen again. Darn.  Anyway, I'll try the system repair with the CD as you mention, but I think I'll do it tomorrow.  Thank you for all your help. I'll post updates and information as soon as I try it.

Okay, hopefully everything goes well. It may take up to three tries using the Repair Disk. If that does not work then there is a bcdboot command we can try.

I decided to do one repair and it didn't work. When I rebooted, it came back to the missing bootmgr screen. Drat. Anyway, I'll try it twice more and let you know tomorrow the outcome. Keep your fingers crossed for a good beginning to 2016.

Happy new year and thank you again for the help.

Fingers crossed. Have a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Nothing worked, but at least now the OS is on C: drive. Thank you for that.  Anyway, I'm going to leave it alone today, but here's what I tried since the last post.

I tried the Windows disk that came with the computer. This try, it offered to repair, but when I chose that option, it went to the usual list of choices that are usually shown in startup repair. I chose system repair anyway, but it wasn't successful. I also tried the rescue disk again and the startup repair.  I also ran chkdsk from the command prompt. No problems found.  I ran the memory test. No problems found.

From System repair details:

OS loader generic failure 0xc0000225 (not sure of my writing whether it says xc or xg)

and said:

Root cause found a patch is preventing the system from starting.

The System Startup Repair details:

Problem Signature:

Problem Event Name:   StartupRepairOffline

Problem signature 01:  6.1.7600.16385

Problem signature 02:  6.1.7600.16385

Problem signature 03: unknown

Problem signature 04: 21200624

Problem signature 05: AutoFailover

Problem signature 06: 7

Problem signature 07: corrupt file

OS version:                 6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.1

Locale ID:                     1033

From System Restore:

An unspecified error occurred during System Restore (0x8000ffff)

Edited by francealot, 01 January 2016 - 12:16 PM.

When you do the following from a command prompt does it list the OS at Boot in the last column?

diskpart

list volume

When you get the time boot your System Repair Disk and at a command prompt type the following

bcdboot C:\Windows /s C:

This will copy boot configuration files from C:\Windows

Reboot

There's nothing in the last column under Info.

I did the copy procedure and it said it was successful, but when I rebooted, an error came up telling me to insert my Windows installation disk and choose "repair."

The error code was:

Status:  0xc0000225

Info: Windows failed to load because the NLS data is missing or corrupt.

I've put in the disk and I'll run it, but I'm doubtful it'll fix it.

I am afraid Windows is broken beyond repair. If I was doing another clean install, I would first detach your scratch drive to take that out of the install and follow this guide. I would first do a check on both drives to see if they are in good condition. You can download PartedMagic here. Burn the iso file and click the DiskHealth icon on the Desktop. Do the short and long tests of both disks.

You can try doing another Startup Repair and if that fails do the following

The only other command you can try that may or may not help is

bootrec.exe fixmbr

bootrec.exe fixboot

You need to make sure you are doing this at the C: prompt

Edit: You can use Parted Magic to recover any data off the drive(s) you may have missed such as browser bookmarks.

Edited by JohnC_21, 01 January 2016 - 01:49 PM.

I think you're correct in your diagnosis that this installation is kaput.

I'll go ahead and try these other commands you've listed, but that will be the end of this repair road. I've ordered another computer, but had hoped to keep this one working. 

You can use a live linux distro like Mint booted off a USB flash drive or DVD. This would let your computer function until the new one arrived. Using Linux Live Creator you can create a USB flash drive with persistence which would let you save your setting. It would run off RAM and the USB stick and it give you a chance to learn linux at the same time. Who knows, you may prefer it to Windows for some things and BC has a good Linux Forum for any questions you may have.

http://linuxmint.com/rel_rosa_cinnamon_whatsnew.php

Edit: And sorry we could not get your Windows install working again.

Edited by JohnC_21, 01 January 2016 - 02:10 PM.

I tried to create a boot dvd with Linux Live, but it only would recognize a USB. 

Yes, Linux Live only is used with a USB. I was not clear on that. For a DVD right click the iso file and burn the disk image but you will not be able to get persistence as the DVD cannot be written to.