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An interstate colleague copied the contents of a Windows 7 install disc onto the network, and I copied the network files to my desktop.

I burned the files onto a blank DVD, as they appear on the original DVD.

However, a laptop won't boot from this DVD. The extension bay is set to boot before the HDD.

When I press F11 during startup, I receive a message saying "BOOTMGR is missing". The file "bootmgr" is present on the DVD, in the root directory.

Why won't the burned DVD boot?

Steve
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  • By copying contents do you mean. He went copy/paste from the dvd to a folder or did he create an image(iso) of dvd? – Tim Jonas Oct 24 '14 at 05:01
  • @TimWilliams: He copied/pasted from DVD to a folder. – Steve Oct 24 '14 at 05:17
  • Then you have a DVD of files, not a DVD which can be executed. It's not an image. – Dave Oct 24 '14 at 05:25
  • @Dave: can I convert the files to an ISO image? – Steve Oct 24 '14 at 06:36
  • I found Magic ISO (paid) and [ISO Creator](http://sourceforge.net/projects/iso-creator-cs/) (free) – Steve Oct 24 '14 at 06:58
  • See http://superuser.com/questions/78761/where-can-i-download-windows-7-legally-from-microsoft for where to get an official iso you can make a bootable installer from – Tetsujin Oct 24 '14 at 07:21

1 Answers1

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The boot file wasn't added. Much like OS installations hide the bootloader in the first sectors of the hard drive, the installation discs use a hidden boot file. Without that file there is NO way to make the disc bootable. The boot file is located in the /boot folder of the directory you downloaded. You will need to use a program like IMGBurn, or PowerISO that support manually adding a boot file, to make a disc bootable.

In which-ever program you decide to use you will need to use the add boot file option, and browse to /boot/etfsboot.com, that is the file you need.

If you'd like you can get an installation disc from here: https://superuser.com/a/305434/383497 this would be much less work.

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Rodney S
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