Win 7 Home Premium Restore error 0xe0ef0003 - Boot Mgr Missing - on Pavilion s5257c desktop

[kempoman1]

Hi.  I have a Pavilion s5257c with Windows 7 (64bit) installed.  The computer had been going to blue screen and memory dump randomly for several months. 

I decided to do a system restore with previously created recovery disks.  Did not work and received the 0xe0ef0003 error.  Tried several times and always hung-up on the 3rd recovery disk.  Ordered HP recovery disks for desktop (5 disks).  Have tried recovery many times, using the HP Recovery Disks and still hangs on the 3rd disk with the same error.  Ran PC Doctor several times (provided with recover disk options), check HD OK, but has random memory fails (sometimes on high bit test, sometimes low bit test, sometimes checkered pattern, etc).  Tried formatting the HD with Kill Drive (free version) which does a simple 0 write in formatting.  Same error comes up with recovery disks after HD format (tried 2 times).  Tried a Win 7 Install ISO, downloaded from internet (several times).  Still cannot install Win 7 or restore PC.  Same error at same stage (3rd disk) of recovery.

Yesterday I found an ISO fix from the HP download center for the 0xe0ef0003 error, to fix some problems with certain PC video configurations during the system restore process.  From looks of my problem, seems I have the video config problem, but I do not know how to fix.  By the way, I can no longer boot from HD because system gives error (Boot Mgr Missing).

Any help will be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!  Thanks in advance!

[GLJun]

You might want to try reseating your ram sticks. Most recovery failures are caused by defective hdd or memory cards.

[kempoman1]

Indeed, I found a bad ram stick; removed the stick and finally was able to restore the PC.  Finally resolved!!  Thanks for the help!

regards

[ddot561]

HOW TO FIX!

I ordered 3 system restore cd from HP as the system restore was not working on the computer,

I installed the 3 dvd...I got the 0x03f0001 message on the black screen.... Upon bootup I got the boot mgr missing of course because the 3rd (official cd from Hp) could not fully install. I ran HP diagnostic and everything  passed. I removed the memory and installed new memory. After 4 failed installs and 2 calls to HP, I was told that the computer was defective and it needed to be sent back.

I installed a new hard-drive and ran the restore cd from HP and got the message above upon boot up after the 3rd cd installed and the system rebooted. Just a reminder only keyboard and mouse was installed and I disconnected the flash ports which were located on the front of the computer. I also change the cmos battery and reset the bios to factory defaults. Still could not get those bloody windows 7 restore (offical HP) 64 bit home to install.

So after much frustration, I installed an hp windows vista cd from hp from another hp that I own. GUESS WHAT MY NOW DEFECTIVE COMPUTER DIAGNOSED BY HP... AS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE SENT BACK IS WORKING! WITHOUT PROBLEMS.

I DOWNLOADED AND INSTALLED OEM WINDOW 7 CD and UPDATED THE SYSTEM. (NO PROBLEMS)

So Its the cd's, and those that think its a cdrom drive issue, I also replaced the cd rom with an official hp cd rom drive and I still could not get those restore cd to work.

THANKS HP, I spent 6 hours to realize that the bloody cd's that I many others have are defective.....