[Solved] Disk Boot Failure Repair for Windows 7

This article will introduce disk boot failure repair for Windows 7. If you encounter Disk Boot Failure message due to a damaged disk or partition, please follow our guide to fix that.

Posted by @Irene December 17, 2024 Updated By @Irene October 17, 2024

What is "Disk Boot Failure" error

If you start your computer and see the error message “Disk boot failure - insert system disk and press Enter,” it means the BIOS can't read your disk, stopping Windows from starting. This could happen because of a damaged hard drive, the wrong boot order in BIOS, a corrupted operating system, or faulty data cables. Don't worry about this error; there are several ways to fix it. Follow the methods outlined below, and you'll be able to resolve the “Disk Boot Failure” error.

Except message "DISK BOOT FAILURE INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER" when starting up, here are some common signs of a disk boot failure:

  • The computer won’t boot and shows a black screen or says there is no bootable device.

  • You may hear unusual sounds like clicking, grinding, or buzzing during startup.

  • Your Windows 7 computer might keep crashing or freezing while booting.

  • The computer may keep restarting or shut down by itself.

If you notice any of these signs, your computer likely has a disk boot failure issue. You might need to troubleshoot or recover data from the affected system.

How to repair boot failure for Windows 7

To fix Disk Boot Failure in Windows 7, you generally have 3 methods. Please follow the step-by-step guide to solve the problems.

Method 1. Use a handy tool

When you see a "Disk Boot Failure" error in Windows 7, it usually means there’s a problem with the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) file, which is necessary for Windows 7 startup. This file contains important information needed for the boot process, similar to the older boot.ini file. Fortunately, the Boot Repair feature in AOMEI Partition Assistant can effectively fix these issues by repairing damaged or missing BCD files, helping you restore your computer’s normal boot functionality.

AOMEI Partition Assistant

The Best Windows Disk Partition Manager and PC Optimizer

The system fails to boot: Error warnings like "Boot Configuration Data file is missing" or "Boot Configuration Data file is corrupted" appear.

Boot failure after an update: The boot configuration becomes corrupted after a system update or upgrade.

Multiple-system boot conflict: Boot configuration files may conflict or be incorrectly configured in a multi-OS environment.

Damaged boot sector: Boot sector corruption can occur due to a malware assault or for another reason.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant on a working PC, click "Recovr"-"Boot Repair" and then click the "create a bootable disk" option to create a WinPE "Boot Repair" disk.

Step 2. Boot the PC that cannot boot into WinPE. It will automatically load the Boot Repair tool and start the boot entries scan process. All boot entries will be displayed.

✍ Advanced Settings(Select a location to store the repaired boot entry):

1. Repair to the current disk: The system will boot from the current disk and ensure the boot files are complete and functioning properly. (By default)

2. Repair to another disk: This operation will repair the boot entry or create a new system boot entry to ensure the system can boot from the disk you select.

You can either repair to the current disk or repair to another disk. Repair to the current disk is recommended for common users.

Step 3. Select one/multiple repairable boot entries you want to repair and click the "Repair" button to start the boot repair.

Step 4. Wait for the repair process to finish. Once it is finished, you can check the repair result. If it succeeds, you will get a "Repair Successfully" result.

Method 2. Run Startup Repair or System Restore

Startup Repair or System Restore can effectively resolve the "Disk Boot Failure" error. If the issue remains after running one program, you should run the other.

Startup Repair automatically addresses startup issues on your PC, while System Restore restores your computer to a previous state based on the available restore points. Running these two tools sequentially is recommended if the first one doesn't fully resolve the problem.

Insert installation media and boot from it. Select "Repair your computer," then go to “Troubleshoot” >>> “Advanced Options.” Select "System Restore" or "Startup Repair." Restart the computer afterward.

Method 3. Check BIOS boot order

Changing the BIOS boot order is one way you can fix a “Disk Boot Failure” error on Windows computers. Since the BIOS is in charge of booting your computer, this is the first thing to try. This method does not require an external installation disk or other bootable device.

Restart the computer and open the BIOS menu by pressing your PC's special key (Del, Esc, F2, F8, F10, or F12) immediately after pressing the power button. On the BIOS screen, go to the "Boot" tab. Set your hard disk to be at the top of the list. Save your changes and restart the computer.

Conclusion

If you need Disk Boot Failure repair for Windows 7, you can use a hany tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant. This software also supports recovering deleted NTFS partition, rebuilding corrupted MBR, or even recovering any lost data after system crash. For Windows Server users, this tool offers AOMEI Partition Assistant Server edition.