Not able to boot without windows disk/usb

[lucax]

Hello,

I was running windows 7 up until yesterday and was dual booting with windows xp (which got corrupted). I decided to upgrade to 8.1, so I used msconfig to remove the windows xp from Boot tab. After that I restarted to install windows 8.1, I noticed that it wasn't booting windows 7 but I didn't give much thought.
I installed windows 8.1 it went nice and smooth. After the installation was done, while installing drivers it asked me to restart. I did and it refused to start back. Showed the mobo logo on screen with bios key (F2) information and stuff then it turned black, restarted and asked me which drive to boot from lisitng my HDD and DVD drive.
So basically now, I have to put in windows disk/usb and wait for the "Please press any key to boot from disk...." to go away to boot windows 8 on my HDD.

Apologies for the big boring story-ish post but I am new to all this 'windows boot stuff'.

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hey there, lucax!

Make sure that the boot priority in BIOS is set in the proper order.
I'd suggest to run the System Repair Options > System Startup Repair.
Another thing you can try if the Startup Repair doesn't work is fixing the Master Boot Record through Command Prompt (again from the System Repair Options).
Here's a tutorial that can help you fix the issue: http://www.7tutorials.com/command-prompt-fix-issues-your-boot-records

Keep me posted! Hope this helps you!
SuperSoph_WD

 

[lucax]

Tried all of that. Didn't help :/

No matter what the bootrec /scanos command returned 0 windows.
My windows is installed in C:\Windows, is there a way to manually point bcd there ?
PS : Again, booted using the Windows 8.1 usb and let the timer go out.

 

[jonespwns]

I would try using bootrec.exe /fixboot /fixmbr in CMD with your operating system CD.

 

[lucax]

Tried it already.
If it helps, this problem is occurring on a Samsung ultrabook actually certified for windows7. I look around and found some stuff relating UEFI and GPT boot systems but, honestly, as I said, I don't know much about boot-sector stuff.

 

[Astralv]

Did you have Win 7 and XP on the same drive? Because you stating that XP corrupted and Win 7 would not boot either, I am wondering if HDD went corrupted. Never had 2 OSs on the same drive. What dries do you see in BIOS? What happens if you press F4 on startup and then when in BIOS, click on C? Will it boot Win 8, Win 7 or nothing? If you had healthy partitions- shouldn't you be able to see them?

Some computers not able to run Win 8. You may just clean install Windows 7, if everything else fails.

 

[lucax]

I did not had win xp and win 7 on same drive, in-fact, win xp was pretty much super corrupted and was installed in a ssd so I went on and did a quick-format :b

It wasn't a problem, I would just had to select windows 7 at startup [from list of windows 7 and Microsoft windows(xp)].

I don't wanna go back to windows 7 though...

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hi again, lucax!

I'd agree with what @Astralv mentioned.
So I'd suggest you to run a diagnostics test on your drive and check up on the health and S.M.A.R.T. status.
Check your HDD manufacturer's website for this testing utility. If there is no such tool, take a look at this thread:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/282651-32-best-diagnostic-testing-utility

Keep us posted with the results!
SuperSoph_WD