Cannot Restart dv6 laptop after using recovery discs

[hppeteg]

After attempting a factory reset from the hard disk recovery partition that resulted in an error that I could not load windows, I performed the same reset using the recovery discs.  After receiving the message recovery complete the laptop turned off.  I waited 5 seconds and turned it back on.  After a scroll bar at the bottom finished saying loading windows files, I got a black screen with the error "BOOTMGR is missing, press CNTL+Alt+Del" 

All of the instructions I see to resolve this seem to point to the windows partition not being the primary partition.  Unfortunately, I do not have a windows disc, and when I start the recovery console, I only have the option to do perform the same system recovery which I have tried 3 (very long) times.

Ideas?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Unfortunately, I can't help you with why the recovery disks don't work, but if you can read all 25 characters of the W7 product key on your notebook's case, you can make your own plain W7 installation media., and use that to install W7.

This site claims to have genuine, unadulterated W7 ISO files for download...

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-iso-download-tool

Click on the link labeled Windows ISO Downloader.exe

You can use either the:

 Win 7 Home SP1 or the (Retail version, but the  OEM key on your PC's case will work with it)

 Win 7 Home SP1 COEM (This version would be for what HP would have used--System Builder)

N is for European Union (EU) countries.

K is for South Korean markets.

Then you can use this tool to transfer the file to a 4 GB USB flash drive or a DVD.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/windows-usb-dvd-download-tool

Then install the drivers and available software from your notebook's support page.

 http://support.hp.com/us-en/product/HP-Pavilion-dv6-6100-Quad-Edition-Entertainment-Notebook-PC-seri...

[hppeteg]

Paul,

Thanks for the guidance.  However, when I try to download the Windows ISO file, I get a message that says I have to be an administrator to download it. 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

I'll generate the download link and see if you can download it from there.

The link is good for 24 hours from the time I posted it.

I assume W7 Home Premium SP1 64 bit English, correct?

https://software-download.microsoft.com/pr/Win7_HomePrem_SP1_English_x64.iso?t=7036ff9d-4c65-44f0-9f...

[hppeteg]

Yes, Win 7 Home Premium  SP1 saves me some time... 🙂  I'll let you know how it works.

Its funny how I got here and you may enjoy the tale.

I took over the dv6 notebook from my son and was concerned about malware so I wanted to reinstall without his added apps or data.  The notebook had been upgraded to Win10.  I only saw an option to dump all apps and data or to keep it.  I chose dump it all.  Everything worked great.

Unfortunately along with the ALL, it included the HP apps that came with the notebook and I wanted to try and get the finger print reader to work.  That app was missing but the driver was installed and working.  So I decided the only way to get that back was to do a system restore to factory defaults and then work to upgrade back to Win10.

I tried to run the restore form the recovery partition and it completed but wouldn't load windows.  I forgot the exact error but I was able to get to the start screen where I could select safe mode.  Thinking something was messed with in the Win10 redo I decided to just use the recovery disks that came with the notebook. 

I went ahead and did that and it completed successfully as I said in my original post but then I got the missing BOOTMGR message.

Most of the fixes say to re-run the recovery manager and select fix boot (or something like that name).  I remember seeing this the first time I ran it from Win10, but now all I get is the option to do a factory restore by selecting next on the first screen.  That is why I was trying to locate a copy of the Win7 software to boot from.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

As long as you can now download the W7 ISO file from the link I posted, you should be good to go.

But...if your ultimate goal is to go back to W10, you can just clean install W10 without going via W7 to upgrade.

Download the W10 ISO file using the media creation tool below.  Then use the Microsoft ISO to USB or DVD tool that is linked on the below page.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

When you get to the part during the W10 installation process where you are asked to enter a product key, you select the other option...'I don't have a product key,' and Windows 10 will install and automatically activate once you are reconnected to the internet.

[hppeteg]

Thanks for all the help, I am back up and running on Win10!

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.

Glad to have been of assistance.