Question Borked bcd/mbr, can't boot to Windows after using IM-Magic Partition Resizer ?

[TG-]

Hi all, this is my first forum post so apologies if I do something wrong.

To preface, this has been over the past few days so I might get some details wrong, sorry.

This all started from me wanting to make a partition on my ssd for Linux to mess around with. To do this I used an up to date version of IM-Magic Partition Resizer and made 64gb of empty space to install Linux then rebooted.

After this, any attempt to boot to Windows resulted in a black screen with "Error! Code: ERR_CHK_BATCH_FILE." But I could get to the recovery tool.

After this, I asked a family member for help and they suggested exploring Hiren's boot environment's(?) utilities. They specifically pointed towards the mbr/bcd folder which had bootice and easybcd since they thought it was a bcd error. I didn't understand bootice so I started with easybcd. At first I think I tried cleaning or repairing the bcd, which didn't work, then by deleting it and making a new one, which also didn't work. Then at some point I tried bootice and I think I ended up making a new mbr which was windows 6.x.x, but before that, one of the bcd edits made windows show a "bcd corrupt or missing" error.

After using bootice I got a "no os found" error. I also did some searching at some point and found some cmd stuff like "bootrec /fixboot, bootrec /fixmbr," plus some other commands which I think was supposed to delete the existing bcd and make a new one from scratch, but did nothing.

I have that very old Hirens boot CD which looks like either a fancy windows 7 or windows 10, 32 bit and I have my windows installation CD. I also can't reinstall windows.
Currently I'm sitting on that "no os found" error. Really sorry if this is a lot, hope you guys can give some suggestions.

Cheers, and thanks.

 

[TerryLaze]

After using bootice I got a "no os found" error.

This means that your MBR is working now, the issue now is that the BCD expects windows to be on the first partition, my guess is that you made the new partition at the beginning of the disk so the bcd has no idea what to do now.
Easybcd has a pretty easy way to add a partition to the boot menu, so if you can still run that use it to add the windows partition to the boot menu.

 

[TG-]

This means that your MBR is working now, the issue now is that the BCD expects windows to be on the first partition, my guess is that you made the new partition at the beginning of the disk so the bcd has no idea what to do now.
Easybcd has a pretty easy way to add a partition to the boot menu, so if you can still run that use it to add the windows partition to the boot menu.

Firstly thanks so much for the response, I really appreciate it.

I booted off Hiren's and used easybcd. When I opened easybcd it said it couldn't find a system bcd. At some point it did recognize a bcd off startup, but I don't think I did anything differently for that to happen, it very well could've been me just closing and reopening it.
I manually opened the bcd in both "C:\boot" and "C:\Windows\boot" and added drives C through F in hopes any drives would work but it didn't.
I also pressed the "Change boot drive" option under BCD Backup/Repair which didn't work. After a reboot easybcd didn't find a bcd again.
After this for fun I wanted to see if it was a file extension problem so I tried adding the .bcd file extension which didn't work.
Then in "BCD Deployment" I added the C drive as a Bootable media and added windows to it, which made a bcd file in "C:\boot" which also didn't work. Oddly says it was created in 2018 haha. Maybe that can help show what programs I have access to?
I did that again but afterwards re repaired it and changed the boot drive and vice verca. After it failing I opened easybcd and it yet again didn't find a bcd.
Then I tried adding windows with the "skip boot menu" checked, also didn't work. After this, yet again easybcd didn't find a bcd when I launched it.

Every time I open easybcd it doesn't find one. Do you think Hiren's and/or easybcd might not be saving anything I do?

Edit: I still get the no OS error

 

[SkyNetRising]

Edit: I still get the no OS error

What windows version do you have installed there?

If it is windows 10, then boot from windows 10 installation media into command prompt,
execute following and show screenshot with command output.
(upload to imgur.com and post link)

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 0​

list partition​

list volume​

if you have more than one drive connected, then also (depending on, how many you have there)

select disk 1​

list partition​

select disk 2​

list partition​

...​

select disk n​

list partition​

 

[TG-]

What windows version do you have installed there?

If it is windows 10, then boot from windows 10 installation media into command prompt,
execute following and show screenshot with command output.
(upload to imgur.com and post link)

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 0​

list partition​

list volume​

if you have more than one drive connected, then also (depending on, how many you have there)

select disk 1​

list partition​

select disk 2​

list partition​

...​

select disk n​

list partition​

Yes just Windows 10 Pro, I think the version is 22H2.
Here's the link:

https://imgur.com/a/6tGbQiM

View: https://imgur.com/a/6tGbQiM

 

[TerryLaze]

Firstly thanks so much for the response, I really appreciate it.

I booted off Hiren's and used easybcd. When I opened easybcd it said it couldn't find a system bcd. At some point it did recognize a bcd off startup, but I don't think I did anything differently for that to happen, it very well could've been me just closing and reopening it.
I manually opened the bcd in both "C:\boot" and "C:\Windows\boot" and added drives C through F in hopes any drives would work but it didn't.
I also pressed the "Change boot drive" option under BCD Backup/Repair which didn't work. After a reboot easybcd didn't find a bcd again.
After this for fun I wanted to see if it was a file extension problem so I tried adding the .bcd file extension which didn't work.
Then in "BCD Deployment" I added the C drive as a Bootable media and added windows to it, which made a bcd file in "C:\boot" which also didn't work. Oddly says it was created in 2018 haha. Maybe that can help show what programs I have access to?
I did that again but afterwards re repaired it and changed the boot drive and vice verca. After it failing I opened easybcd and it yet again didn't find a bcd.
Then I tried adding windows with the "skip boot menu" checked, also didn't work. After this, yet again easybcd didn't find a bcd when I launched it.

Every time I open easybcd it doesn't find one. Do you think Hiren's and/or easybcd might not be saving anything I do?

Edit: I still get the no OS error

Booting from hiren's will make hiren's be the c drive so writing to c will not affect your hard drive.
Easybcd has a file menu that lets you 'select bcd store' , you would have to use that to find your windows disk and load the bcd store from that.

Easybcd just does the same thing as windows commands so you could try and type things in manually, but it gets pretty confusing pretty fast.

BCD System Store Settings for UEFI

BCD System Store Settings for UEFI

learn.microsoft.com

 

[SkyNetRising]

Yes just Windows 10 Pro, I think the version is 22H2.

549MB reserved partition seems to be your bootloader.
Note drive letter. It is G: currently.
In windows recovery environment drive letters can change.
Execute following. If you get any errors, then stop immediately and show command output.

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 0​

list partition​

select partition 1​

(select 549MB partition)​

format fs=ntfs quick​

active​

list volume​

(verify 549MB partition has drive letter G )​

(find drive letter for windows OS partition. Looks like it's 292GB C: partition)​

exit​

bcdboot C:\windows /s G:​

​

Last message should be "Boot files created successfully".

 

[TG-]

549MB reserved partition seems to be your bootloader.
Note drive letter. It is G: currently.
In windows recovery environment drive letters can change.
Execute following. If you get any errors, then stop immediately and show command output.

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 0​

list partition​

select partition 1​

(select 549MB partition)​

format fs=ntfs quick​

active​

list volume​

(verify 549MB partition has drive letter G )​

(find drive letter for windows OS partition. Looks like it's 292GB C: partition)​

exit​

bcdboot C:\windows /s G:​

​

Last message should be "Boot files created successfully".

Firstly, I wanted to follow through with SkyNetRising and well, thanks man this ended up getting me back to the first error I had from IM-Magic so, progress!

While I was typing this I got to a blue screen after the batch file error, (Error! Code: ERR_CHK_BATCH_FILE) that said the following:

Recovery

Your PC couldn't start properly

After multiple tries, the operating system on your PC failed to start, so it needs to be repaired.
Error code: 0xc0000001

 

[SkyNetRising]

Can you show a photo of this ERR_CHK_BATCH_FILE error?
Have never heard of that.

That could be some pre windows load script Magic Partition Resizer, wants to run.
Do you have any options to skip this script?
Try booting into safe mode.

 

[TG-]

Can you show a photo of this ERR_CHK_BATCH_FILE error?
Have never heard of that.

That could be some pre windows load script Magic Partition Resizer, wants to run.
Do you have any options to skip this script?
Try booting into safe mode.

Sure thing, also yeah I think you're correct. No option to skip that I can tell. This error with the batch file is how this thing started which was only after using Magic Partition Resizer.

https://imgur.com/a/zLYcHJ8

View: https://imgur.com/a/zLYcHJ8

 

[SkyNetRising]

I see.
ERR_CHK_BATCH_FILE - is not a windows error.
That seems to be a mess made by Magic Partition Resizer.

You could try contacting Magic Partition Resizer support.

 

[TG-]

I see.
ERR_CHK_BATCH_FILE - is not a windows error.
That seems to be a mess made by Magic Partition Resizer.

You could try contacting Magic Partition Resizer support.

Gotcha, I'll definitely do that then. Thanks a bunch for helping out. One thing though, do you have any ideas about the recovery screen and the 0xc0000001 error? This wasn't here before I did a bunch of stuff in my first post. If not no worries.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Here's a link with similar problem.

Windows 10 - Windows 10 Startup Loop

when starting up windows it goes into batch operation then prints out error code 400d, ERR_READ_DISK_UUID and I'm stuck in this loop, tried bootrec /fixmbr, fixboot, rebuildbcd tried recovery essentials pro win 10 and hirens boot cd and windows 10 repair all failed I have access now only to...

windowsforum.com

It says to boot from windows install media,
use regedit,
load HKLM hive (C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM)
find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager\
and check BootExecute value
Should be set to:

autocheck autochk *​

then unload hive.

 

[TG-]

Here's a link with similar problem.

Windows 10 - Windows 10 Startup Loop

when starting up windows it goes into batch operation then prints out error code 400d, ERR_READ_DISK_UUID and I'm stuck in this loop, tried bootrec /fixmbr, fixboot, rebuildbcd tried recovery essentials pro win 10 and hirens boot cd and windows 10 repair all failed I have access now only to...

windowsforum.com

It says to boot from windows install media,
use regedit,
load HKLM hive (C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM)
find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager\
and check BootExecute value
Should be set to:

autocheck autochk *​

then unload hive.

Sorry, I don't understand how to run HKLM live. I can browse to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager\" but don't see anything about a BootExecute value...

Imgur if it helps,

https://imgur.com/a/0DOSxDV

View: https://imgur.com/a/0DOSxDV

 

[SkyNetRising]

That is registry from windows installation media PE environment.
You have to load HKLM_SYSTEM hive from your windows OS drive.
1. Open regedit
2. Click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
3. In Menu choose load hive
4. Point to C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM
5. and load it (you'll have to assign name to loaded hive - for example: blablabla )
6. then navigate within loaded hive to to ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager\
7. find BootExecute key
8. and edit value of BootExecute key to

autocheck autochk *​

9. Do not forget to unload hive or you may end with corrupt registry

Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\blablabla​

and in Menu choose Unload Hive​

 

[TG-]

That is registry from windows installation media PE environment.
You have to load HKLM_SYSTEM hive from your windows OS drive.
1. Open regedit
2. Click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
3. In Menu choose load hive
4. Point to C:\Windows\System32\config\SYSTEM
5. and load it (you'll have to assign name to loaded hive)
6. then navigate within loaded hive to to ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager\
7. find BootExecute key
8. and edit value of BootExecute key to

autocheck autochk *​

9. Do not forget to unload hive or you may end with corrupt registry.

Oh alright, my bad. If I try to boot normally instead of from the installation disk, I get the second image from here,

Sure thing, also yeah I think you're correct. No option to skip that I can tell. This error with the batch file is how this thing started which was only after using Magic Partition Resizer.

https://imgur.com/a/zLYcHJ8

View: https://imgur.com/a/zLYcHJ8

Followed by this screen after hitting F1.

Recovery

Your PC/Device needs to be repaired.

The Boot Configuration Data file doesn't contain valid information for an operating system.

File: \BCD

Error code: 0xc0000098

Also seriously thanks so much for sticking with me on this.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Oh alright, my bad. If I try to boot normally instead of from the installation disk, I get the second image from here,

So you managed to get rid of ERR_CHK_BATCH_FILE error. Correct?
Then redo instructions listed in post #7.

 

[TG-]

So you managed to get rid of ERR_CHK_BATCH_FILE error. Correct?
Then redo instructions listed in post #7.

No, sorry if I wasn't clear. I still get that error. After Error! Code: 4005, Text: ERR_CHK_BATCH_FILE fails and restarts after 10 seconds is when I get this.

Your PC couldn't start properly
After multiple tries, the operating system on your PC failed to start, so it needs to be repaired.

0cx0000001

If I hit F1 on that screen is where I get the bcd error.

Your PC/Device needs to be repaied
The Boot Configuration Data file doesn't contain valid information for an operating system.
File: \BCD
Error code: 0xc0000098

So I don't think I can get into windows without a CD currently.

 

[SkyNetRising]

No, sorry if I wasn't clear. I still get that error. After Error! Code: 4005, Text: ERR_CHK_BATCH_FILE fails and restarts after 10 seconds is when I get this.

Boot from windows install media and
follow instructions in post #15

 

[TG-]

Boot from windows install media and
follow instructions in post #15

Got it. I've never used regedit before and didn't think to do File, load hive.

Now I don't get the IM-Magic error anymore, just the 0xc0000001 error.
Edit: Doing post 7 now

 

[TG-]

We're back! You're a legend man.

Now that the crisis is over, any ideas as to what went wrong with partitioning so I can better understand?

Also oddly enough, the partition did get made, just my drive letters are messed up.
My SSD had C:\ for boot, E:\ for games and a disc drive was D:\. Now I have C:\ as boot, D:\ is now games and that new partition is E:\.
As I don't wish to repeat my mistake, do you have any suggestions to safely change the drive letters?

 

[SkyNetRising]

any ideas as to what went wrong with partitioning so I can better understand?
do you have any suggestions to safely change the drive letters?

Clearly that was problem caused by IM-Magic Partition Resizer.
Don't use it anymore.

And change drive letters with Disk Management.
You can't change drive letter for OS partition and partition containing pagefile.
For all the other partitions you can change drive letter freely.

 

[TG-]

Clearly that was problem caused by IM-Magic Partition Resizer.
Don't use it anymore.

And change drive letters with Disk Management.
You can't change drive letter for OS partition and partition containing pagefile.
For all the other partitions you can change drive letter freely.

Gotcha.

I tried changing the new partition from E to another letter but I get a The parameter is incorrect error. I tried changing the Games partition letter from D to H which did work.
Edit: The new partition has this in disk management

(E: )
64.32 GB NTFS
Healthy (Page File, Logical Drive)

 

[SkyNetRising]

I tried changing the new partition from E to another letter but I get a The parameter is incorrect error.
(E: )
64.32 GB NTFS
Healthy (Page File, Logical Drive)

You have to remove pagefile from partition first, before you can change drive letter.

 

[TG-]

You have to remove pagefile from partition first, before you can change drive letter.

Got it! All partitions have the right letters and everything is working normally. It's so nice to have my computer back, thanks so much dude.