The Boot Configuration Data File Does Not Contain Valid Information Error is often caused by misconfigured system files that are an essential part of Windows operating system. When these files are corrupted or modified, this error code appears and the system fails to boot properly. There can be several causes for “bootmgr is missing” error code: incorrect BIOS settings, incorrect boot order, CD/DVD drive or a hard drive failure, corrupted or missing boot files. We strongly recommend that you download and run Reimage Plus to repair the boot configuration data file and diagnose system errors.
In addition, this error code may be caused by:
- Corrupt partition table on your hard drive
- Corrupt installation files of Windows OS on your PC
- Incompatible hardware, such as an outdated BIOS
In this article we will explain what causes “Boot Configuration Data File Does Not Contain Valid Information” error and how to fix it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below.
How to fix Boot Configuration Data File Does Not Contain Valid Information Error?
Boot Configuration Data is an important part of Windows boot loader which contains information about the location of critical files necessary for startup, such as winload.exe or winresume.exe. When this file becomes corrupted, missing or misconfigured, you may receive “Boot Configuration Data File Does Not Contain Valid Information” error message. Running the chkdsk command or using Windows Startup Repair can help fix this type of boot issue but sometimes errors are so serious that manual fixing is required.
We suggest following these steps to repair Boot Configuration Data:
- Start your computer with the Windows Installation Media
- Click Repair your computer after choosing proper language, time and keyboard input.
- Click Troubleshoot and then choose Advanced Options.
- Select Startup repair or press Enter. If you can’t access Safe Mode with networking: Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked).
- Click Startup Repair. Windows will then check your system and try to repair the problematic files that may be causing this error: check over here
- If Startup Repair can’t find a solution, you might need to replace some of the core Windows 7 files: “explorer.exe” or “winload.exe”.
- Insert the Windows 7 Installation Disk into the drive and restart your computer.
- Click on the Boot menu in the Install Windows window.
- Select your optical drive with the Windows 7 disc in it.
- Press “R” to start Repair Console with command prompt option.
- Type “bootrec /rebuildbcd” and press Enter. This will scan all of your hard drives for installations of Windows.
- Type “y” when you are prompted to confirm that you wish to write a new boot configuration data file and rebuild the BCD store. Wait for the process to finish. Keep in mind that this may take some time since it needs to check every drive on your computer for Windows installations!
- When finished, restart your computer. You can now test if your issue is resolved or not.
- If the problem remains, check “C:\boot\bcd” file to see if there’s a mention of Windows boot loader files on it. If you don’t see those lines, run the bootrec /scanos command and then bootrec /rebuildbcd once more.
- If you face this error while upgrading to Windows 10, you should run the DISM commands:
- DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Scanhealth
- DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
- And if the problems still remain, you might need to use automatic repair tools like “Startup Repair” or “Automatic Repair” from an Advanced Options menu.
- In case of problems when performing a clean installation of Windows 7 after reinstalling your system, try these steps:
1) Boot from your Windows 7 DVD disc and start by selecting your language settings, time and currency and keyboard input. After that you will see the Install Windows screen.
2) Choose the “Repair your computer” link instead of “Install Now”.
3) Now click on the Troubleshoot option.
4) Select Advanced Options > Automatic Repair. Wait for the automatic repair to finish.
5) After that you should be able to boot into Windows 7 normally and transfer your data from a backup or other drive. Note that you may need your installation disc for some of these steps.
6) If Startup Repair can’t find a solution, you might need to replace some of the core Windows 7 files: “explorer.exe” or “winload.exe” for example.
7) You will need your Windows 7 installation disc and the Product Key which is on a sticker attached to your computer or with the email confirmation you received after buying Windows 7.
8) Insert the Windows 7 Installation Disk into the drive and restart your computer.
9) Click on the Boot menu in the Install Windows window.
10) Select your optical drive with the Windows 7 disc in it.
11) Press “R” to start Repair Console with command prompt option.
12) Type “bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr” and press Enter.
13) Type “bcdedit /copy {default} /d “Windows 7″” and press Enter.
14) Type “bcdedit /set {default} device partition=C:”. This will configure Windows to look for its boot files on the C: drive. If you had another drive with an active system on it that you want to boot into instead of your Windows 7 drive, type the correct partition letter in place of C: .
15) Type “bcdedit /set {default} osdevice partition=C:” and press Enter. This sets the Windows 7 installation as the default operating system to be loaded. If you wanted to boot into another drive, you’d enter the correct partition letter here.
16) Type “exit” and press Enter to restart your computer.
17) Test if Windows 7 is working by choosing your Windows installation drive as an option in your Boot Manager menu (usually F8 or F12). You may need to hit a function key or Escape to bring up the Boot menu.
If Windows 7 was installed as a second operating system on your computer, you will need to choose the new installation from the boot loader menu each time you start it.
18) If that doesn’t work, try running Startup Repair from a Windows 7 DVD disc. You can run it even if there’s no bootable media present.
