Windows Server: How to Repair the Boot Files in Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 if the Server Won't Boot

Windows Server: How to Repair the Boot Files in Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2 if the Server Won't Boot

Introduction

When booting to the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), the drive letters are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. For example, the C: drive in Windows will often have a different letter in WinRE. The DiskPart utility can be used to keep track of the drives and what is stored on them.

  • First Partition: 100 MB System Reserved (No drive letter)

  • Second Partition: 60 GB (C:) OS

  • Third Partition: 1.5 TB (D:) Data

  • DVD Drive: E:



Figure 1: Illustration of Drive lettering in Windows and WinRE (English only)
Note: If there is no System Reserved partition. It is okay to select the drive containing the Windows folder.



Restoring Boot Files

  1. Boot to the Windows Server DVD.

  2. Open the command prompt.

    1. Server 2008 R2:

      1. If no driver is needed, press Shift-F10 to open the command prompt.

      2. Continue with step 3.


    2. Server 2008 (or 2008 R2 if a driver is required)

      1. Click Next at the first screen.

      2. Click Repair your computer.

      3. If no driver is needed, click Next and proceed to step vii below.

      4. If a driver is needed, click Load Drivers.

      5. Insert the media containing the needed driver.

        Note: The media can be a CD, DVD, or USB storage device


      6. Navigate to the folder containing the driver, select it, and click Open.

      7. Click Command Prompt.



  3. The command prompt appears.

  4. Type DiskPart at the command prompt.


    Figure 2: DiskPart result (english only)


  5. Type List vol at the DiskPart prompt.

  6. Write down the drive letter of the DVD drive. In this example, it is F.

  7. Write down the drive letter of the system reserved drive. In this example, it is C.

  8. Type Select vol 1 (assuming volume 1 is the System Reserved volume, as it is here).

  9. Type active. This sets the selected volume as active.

  10. Type exit to return to the command line.

  11. Type Copy f:\BootMgr c:\ at the command prompt. One of two things will happen:

    1. If the file Bootmgr already exists on C:, type N to avoid overwriting it.

    2. If the file Bootmgr doesn't already exist on C:, it will automatically be copied.


  12. Type Bootrec /Fixmbr at the command prompt.

  13. Type Bootrec /Fixboot at the command prompt.

  14. Type Bootrec /rebuildBCD at the command prompt.

    1. If no OS is found, the following appears:


      Figure 3: Result when no OS is found (English only)


      This means that one of the following is true:

      1. The boot configuration database (BCD) already exists.

      2. The OS is not there.

      3. The OS is damaged beyond the ability of BootRec to recognize it.


    2. If BootRec /RebuildBCD succeeds, it will list any installations of Windows that it found. Press Y to accept and add them to the BCD.


  15. The server is now configured to boot from the proper partition. Close the command prompt and reboot the system into normal mode.


    • Related Articles

    • Server not booting to windows.

      External hard drive was plugged into server USB. Removed and reset server

    • Windows PC not booting - Black screen

      A computer running windows sometimes can be set to boot off a USB storage device as the primary boot.  When the  This will cause, typically a black screen .. maybe a cursor blinking.  That's because Windows cannot find a Windows Installation.   So if ...

    • Fix: Windows Error 0x80070718: Not enough quota is available to process this command Windows 10

      Fix: Windows Error 0x80070718: Not enough quota is available to process this command Windows 10  Problem saving /moving files.  Problem is that the Offline Storage Default Limit was reached. This article explains how to fix this.   Offline files is ...

    • Church Windows and Payroll not communicating

      Church windows lives on the 'Z:' drive on the server. You can check if that is the case by right clicking on the Church windows icon (stained glass icon) on the desktop and going to properties. under Start in shows where it lives.   copy the 'Start ...

    • Complete-Mail Pop Server Settings

      How to Configure POP Mail Settings in Outlook (Manual Setup) for Pop Account Use Complete-Mail Hosted Exchange Prerequisite:  Set up Hosted Exchange Lite service for the user in the Customer Portal 1. On the Control Panel in Windows, click the Mail ...