Restore boot manager when it is missing or compressed
Windows Vista includes a new Boot Manager (BootMgr) that replaces the old NT Loader (Ntldr).
If you don’t have the install DVD, then go ask friends/family/work whether they have a disc you can borrow. If your computer cannot boot from a DVD, then you can use another computer to Create a Windows Vista/7 Recovery disk on an USB stick.
Boot Manager is missing
If the boot partition no longer can be found, then Vista will display the following error:
BOOTMGR is missing. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart
The Windows Boot Configuration Data file is missing required information
More Info MS KB919529
More Info MS KB927391
More Info MS KB2622803
Check points for fixing missing boot-manager:
- Check that your boot device is configured properly
- Boot into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and perform a “Startup Repair”.
- If that also fails then boot into WinRE again, and go to the “Command Prompt” and execute this command:
Bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd
Boot Manager is compressed
If by accident having compressed the entire boot partition, then Vista will display the following error:
BOOTMGR is compressed. Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart
Check points for fixing compressed boot-manager:
- Boot into Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) and perform a “Startup Repair”.
- If the above doesn’t solve the problem then boot into WinRE again, but when selecting the Vista-installation, then press “Load Drivers” (Instead of “Next”) and use the mini Windows Explorer to right-click the boot-drive and deselect “Compress this Drive” and choose Apply to sub-folders and files.
- If that also fails then boot into WinRE again, and go to the “Command Prompt” and execute these commands:
compact /U C:\bootmgr compact /U C:\ntldr
- If you for some strange reason have lost your Vista DVD, then you can also use a Windows 2000 / XP install CD and enter the recovery console instead and execute the following commands:
attrib -c c:\bootmgr attrib -c c:\ntldr