Cant find OS

[shouksta]

Well i'm booting my laptop from a recovery disk to run a start up repair because ive recently received a bootmgr is missing error but when i click on repair there are no OS listed for me to repair i'm using a Compaq Presario A935EA Notebook pc with OEM 32 bit vista any help would be appreciated

[HaggisCat]

Boot manager was missing on my mothers laptop, and I tried everything. I eventually had to use my recovery discs and reinstall the OS system from scratch. If you did not back up your personal items, then you will loose everything.

 You can buy a device that will allow you to retrieve files from the hard drive, but you will have to take the drive out of the laptop and connect it to another computer for this to work.

 Here is just one example.

 http://the-gadgeteer.com/2005/08/21/usb_2_0_to_ide_cable_version_2/

[shouksta]

Would i be able to install it without being on windows? The upgrades need to be installed while your on your OS

[HaggisCat]

Please tell me what the "it" stands for ?

 You said

 Would i be able to install it without being on windows? 

 Not sure what you mean by upgrades while your on your OS.

[shouksta]

I mean would i be able to install a new Operating system without actually being on windows, Update packages require you to install them while Your on your Windows

[HaggisCat]

You are making this more difficult then it needs to be. It doesn't matter what is on the hard drive now. Ounce you have the installation disc's from HP for your model, it formats everything on there and reinstalls the factory image that was on the machine when new. There is an easy procedure to make the laptop boot into the recovery disc's, see the solution in this thread.

 http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Operating-systems-and-software/do-not-have-the-recovery-option/td-p/279...

 After that Windows will find you and install automatically any updates that are required.

[shouksta]

Do you have any idea how long it takes for the recovery disks to be delivered? it's kind of urgent so if it's going to take a long time id rather just replace my OS if that works

[HaggisCat]

It depends where you are, if you are in the US, HP usually sends it by truck_so a few days. Mine took a week to get to Canada.

 You certainly can buy a retail copy of your OS, either Vista or W7, but it's a lot more work, because you have to manually install all your drivers and software. Not only that a retail copy will run around 110.00$ to 198.00$ depending on what version you want.

You could probably shop around on the internet and find it cheaper, but stay away from e-bay !

 It may be urgent, but it's worth the wait for your factory disc's. Installing a retail version is just so impractical, especially if you are staying with Vista. If you want to upgrade to W7 now is the time to do it, but at this point I think you are opening up a can of worms.