Boot error: "Reboot and select proper boot device" suddenly after no hardware/software changes

Southclaw

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Nov 23, 2013
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(Same issue as this thread, however no answers work http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-1765695/windows-suddenly-boot-samsung-840-pro-ssd.html)

Machine has worked fine for a long time (Samsung 840 240GB installed last year). This morning it didn't boot and there have been no hardware OR software changes made recently.

I plugged in one of my other machine's HDDs and booted up the OS on there, looked in Computer and the SSD reads fine, "WINDOWS" folder is there and looks in order (though I don't know the layout off by heart). So fall-back plan is to load that up and find somewhere to dump all my data and reinstall windows.

So now I downloaded a W7 ISO and put that on my USB, same error so I can't even run that (can't remember if there's a repair feature on the install disk, repair ISO doesn't work anyway though).

Side notes/what I've tried:
- I have no disk drive so repair disk isn't an option
- I put a repair disk ISO onto a USB and booted that, it said I'm not using the correct version of windows (my v: windows 7 x64, repair v: windows 7 x64).
- Boot menu recognises my drive fine
- SATA cable works fine, used the same cable for the backup HDD (also tried other SATA cables and ports)
- Followed this, left the machine for a good hour, doesn't work.

If you need any more information let me know, I've been at this for hours now and need my main machine for work.


DISKPART attempt on another machine:

Code:
Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7601
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: SHINY

DISKPART> list disk

  Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
  Disk 0    Online          149 GB      0 B
  Disk 1    Online          232 GB  1024 KB        *
  Disk 2    Online           15 GB      0 B

DISKPART> select disk 1

Disk 1 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> active

There is no partition selected.
Please select a partition and try again.

DISKPART> list partition

  Partition ###  Type              Size     Offset
  -------------  ----------------  -------  -------
  Partition 1    System             100 MB   516 KB
  Partition 2    Reserved           128 MB   101 MB
  Partition 3    Primary            203 GB   229 MB
  Partition 4    Primary             29 GB   203 GB

DISKPART> select partition 3

Partition 3 is now the selected partition.

DISKPART> active

The selected disk is not a fixed MBR disk.
The ACTIVE command can only be used on fixed MBR disks.

DISKPART> select partition 1

Partition 1 is now the selected partition.

DISKPART> active

The selected disk is not a fixed MBR disk.
The ACTIVE command can only be used on fixed MBR disks.

DISKPART> detail disk

Samsung SSD 840 Series ATA Device
Disk ID: {55B1E1E1-49C9-4077-861E-FCF6F6ABBBC2}
Type   : ATA
Status : Online
Path   : 1
Target : 0
LUN ID : 0
Location Path : PCIROOT(0)#PCI(1F05)#ATA(C01T00L00)
Current Read-only State : No
Read-only  : No
Boot Disk  : No
Pagefile Disk  : No
Hibernation File Disk  : No
Crashdump Disk  : No
Clustered Disk  : No

  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  Volume 1     D                NTFS   Partition    203 GB  Healthy
  Volume 2         New Volume   NTFS   Partition     29 GB  Healthy
* Volume 3                      FAT32  Partition    100 MB  Healthy    Hidden

DISKPART>
 
In the other machine, same error.

I've added a diskpart output to the first post, I'm particularly concerned about these:

"The selected disk is not a fixed MBR disk.

The ACTIVE command can only be used on fixed MBR disks."

and

"Boot Disk : No"

Just copying some important software and data off the SSD now so I can't do anything for a few hours. Since the data reads perfectly fine I'm guessing it's not a major hardware problem, just something screwed up with boot information.
 
Thanks for the link I'll check it out. However, as mentioned, I don't have a disk drive that can burn (and I don't even know if mine reads properly) so burning is impossible, I need to get whatever ISO I acquire booted from a USB as that's the only option.

I have found a windows installation disk that I used to install the OS I'm running on this backup machine but it just shows the exact same error when trying to boot from the disk drive: "Reboot and select proper boot device".

If I plugged my working OS HDD into my machine and booted from that, could I do it that way?
 
Hello... go to your local computer re-cycling store and get a used DVD ( $5-$10 ).
As I understand it at this time, a Bootable USB ISO will not work for the MBR repair option... Am I Wrong? Please let me know... B )
Also I had a Windows 7 SP1 ISO DL that was not in the proper format to Burn a USB stick... Was a DVD burn only option... and worked just fine.
 
I'll give it a try. I spent my last shred of money yesterday so buying is out of the question (and without that machine earning is also). I'll have to loan some if worse comes to worse. Thanks anyway!
 


I'm not sure but I forgot about that! Windows aren't very good at writing error messages as it never mentioned my SP version and I couldn't check.

Now I can since I managed to boot using a hacky method: plugged in my other HDD because the boot record is on there but without that HDD installed it won't boot. Only having 2 SATA ports on my mobo really sucks though because I can't access my work drive. I'll try and find an SP1 repair ISO now...
 
Okay I downloaded "X17-59186" which supposedly W7 Professional SP1 and it still gave me the "wrong version" error. I got it from this page: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/looking-for-how-to-get-a-newer-install-image-with/fa8c2dc1-5563-4345-a1dc-7c0b26391f11

This is my machine:

65dc52e70a.png


So other than service pack, what else is required to match these versions? Useless windows error messages tell me nothing (as always).

Edit: Maybe I need the version that's on the other HDD? That one is W7 Home x86 I think.
 
Bought a drive waste of money as the disk still says wrong version (tried both my SSD os and the HDD os)

I really need another solution for this now, uni is coming up soon.
 
Hello... Well... you need your COA for that Windows install... AND then you can fix by a proper install of that Version ( Was it a Upograde Install? ) , or a phone call to the Microsoft Activation Hotline.
You should keep your COA's and Disks in a safe place... like your other important Information. B )
Check the type and failure records on the net for your SSD... they can fail like this, Do a software check on your Drive.