Hi guys, please help!!!
I've had MONTHS of issues, I'm 'only' trying to boot from windows 7 (and fully understand backing up, migrating to new disk, etc) no differencing / multiboot (yet).
Everything was fine (yesterday) I had several local VHDs, and I'd added them all to BCD. I'd proved to myself HOW to copy, and attach and boot from the copy. I then tried to use system repair to fix an unbootable VHD (my original full windows 7 native VHD install on bare metal).
The repair operation reverted my drive back to reflecting a capacity greater than it was (would we call this a 'bad MBR'? see here http://windowsitpro.com/systems-management/fix-unbootable-systems-bootsect)
Partition Magic quickly fixed (I just deleted all the partitions that were being reported, that WEREN'T 'real'). After applying changes I again had a 300gig system, active partition, and unallocated space.
reboot now says windows can't start. i bcdedited (/v) and see old entries. bootsect /nt60 /mbr was ran, along with bcdboot, which someone created bcd entries, but still they won't boot...
The web is LITTEREd with my vHD issues now, but, if I can recover from the 4th DISASTER of unbootable native VHDs/badBCD (or whatever the exact issue is) I PROMISE to provide clear video and textual guides for eVEryone, so that others don't sacrifice hundreds of hours of their short lives.
WHAT I KNOW
There is a difference between an 'active' partition and a 'bootable' partition...
WHAT I DON'T KNOW
What makes a partition 'bootable' (check ya diskmgmt, mounted VHDs will probably have a system,heathy, active,'BOOT' partition)
how to confirm the status of your MBR/BCD/etc
Happy to follow any advice on bcd recreation. Currently no windows access (cmd prompt + diskpart from windows install media)
ps please verify my account technet!!!
ideas welcome, bribes possible!