HELP - x220 SSD/mSATA died and 2.5" SATA will no longer boot

[DWSpiro]

I've had an x220 for the past year. About a month into it, I got a Renice X3 120GB SSD, so I copied my operating system (Win 7) onto that and basically only saved data on the SATA (I didn't take the OS off of that - it just wasn't being used).

Today the Renice died, but at least I still had the SATA still in there. It may not have all the MS updated and a few programs, but I figured I could still boot and get to my data.

Windows tried to boot to it, but then would get the BSOD (error codes: STOP: 0x0000007B (0xFFFF880009A97E8, 0xFFFFFFFFC0000034, 0x00000000000000000,0x0000000000000000)

I took the SATA out and connected it to another machine via USB. All the files are there, so no problem with that. Took the mSATA out to test it in the other machine. No detection (although the red light does light up).

I tried to boot the x220 with only the SATA in there. Gets far along in the boot process but still the same BSOD and error codes. Tried to repair - didn't happen. Tried Safe Mode. Last Known Good Config, etc. Nothing.

From the codes and what I've read, seems like somehow the MBR or something like that either got corrupted or some switch or setting needs to be toggled. I don't see anything in the BIOS, so I'm at a loss.

For now, I can use the trusty old X61s with the SATA plugged into the USB, but I'd really love to get my x220 back up and running without having to go through a whole System Restore (which I know would work, but it doesn't seem like I should have to do that). And, of course, Lenovo doesn't give us Win 7 disks, so I can't even try a Repair Console. HELP!

[91011]

I’ve recovered the MBR several times using the Startup Repair option (not the Win 7 boot menu option) from a Win 7 Retail install disc.
You can legally dload it from MS here:

64bit http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59465.iso
32bit http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-59463.iso

But for me, it only worked after running the repair three or four times in a row; it seemed to repair a portion each time.
You'll probably get some sort of repair did not finsh message, just reboot and go again.
If you keep an eye on the menu options, you’ll see they will change slightly on the second or third pass.

Here’s an overview of what you’ll see when you boot to the install disc:
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofth ... repair.htm

Good luck, hope it works for you.

[Brad]

Try chaning the BIOS SATA setting.

Brad

[DWSpiro]

Hi Brad. On the x220 Bios I don't see a setting for the SATA to change. The only option is AHCI or Compatible. I've tried both (although it defaults to AHCI). I did find a clone of the original SATA on the smaller drive that came with the notebook (the 250GB) and when I put that in, it boots up fine. So I think something happened to the SATA that was in the machine with the SSD. I will try the suggestion about trying to repair the MBR and see if something there got corrupted. I don't suppose there's a file I could just copy from the working SATA or something as simple as that....

[Brad]

Those were the two SATA settings I was suggesting.

The MBR fix sounds like you are heading in the right direction. I would be certain that there is a working backup of the data before attempting any fix.

Brad

[DWSpiro]

Unfortunately, still having problem. I downloaded the 64-bit version but when I went to run it, got an error message that the version of Windows on my disk was not compatible. I double checked and the Windows installed initially was Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64 bit. I searched online for that ISO, downloaded it, burned it on a DVD, and ended up with the same error.

Since I can read the drive when connected as a secondary USB drive, I loaded the reg HIVE to double check and I have the right version. The actual number is Windows 7 Version 6.1.7601.17567.

It seems like I should have the right version, but maybe someone out there has a better idea. I know I could wipe the drive, do a clean Factory install, reload all my programs and then transfer data back, but it sure seems like there should be an easier way to solve this problem (although at this point, not a quicker way since I'm in Day 3 of this).

Anyone?

[Brad]

Since the original drive you cloned works I would simply start using that and copy all the data from the non booting newer drive.

Once I was satisfied all your data is there and working I would again clone to the non booting drive.

Brad

[DWSpiro]

Yeah, Brad, I would do that. The problem is that the original drive is a 200GB and the one that I can't boot from is 750GB. Yes, I can basically clone the 750GB onto another drive, then do a factory reinstall on the 750GB thus wiping it clean, then reinstall the 100 or so programs, and then move all the data back. But that's a day or two of work for something that I'm sure has to have a simpler fix.

I talked to someone else who told me he had a similar problem on his Thinkpad. He had two drives that he would swap out for his C - one had XP and one had Win7. At some point, swapping back one of the drives wouldn't boot. Everything was there, but it just wasn't booting for some reason. He never found out how to solve the problem and did end up doing it the long way....but I have to think some setting or file is simply corrupted....

[91011]

He had two drives that he would swap out for his C - one had XP and one had Win7. At some point, swapping back one of the drives wouldn't boot.

That's basically how my MBR was corrupted.

FWIW, I used the repair tool on clean, not factory installs, so just tried the retail Win 7 repair tool on a factory install and it didn't give me the error you're seeing.
Also tried a 32bit disc on a 64bit install and got the error message you're getting. You're sure one of the discs is 64bit?
The SP1 32bit is ~2.38GB and the 64 ~3.09

Assuming you can get to the proper menu, you might try the Bootrec.exe tool on the Win 7 disc you already made.
Instructions here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

Haven't used a Thinkvantage recovery partion since the T30-era, can you get there? Any MBR repair options?
Or a WINPE bootable disc should have bcdboot in it.

[DWSpiro]

Actually, the first one I downloaded was the 32 bit - which didn't work. Once I got the 64 bit, I figured I was home free - but still got the same message. I wanted to make sure I have the right version so I booted into the registry hive and saw it lists as Windows 7 version 6.1.7601.17567. Can anyone confirm that is Windows 7 Home Premium SP1? I did think that perhaps after a year of updates from Microsoft that maybe it was something more advanced.

I'm not sure what is in the Thinkpad Restore partition in terms of tools. The only thing I've used it for is to boot into and then to format a disk with the factory installed software so you can start from scratch.....

[91011]

6.1.7601.17567

That number won't tell you much more than it is SP1.
As far as the disc being HPre, Pro or Ultimate, it doesn't matter for doing a repair - only using the correct 32/64 bit matters.
In fact, the HPre, Pro & Ultimate discs are almost identical - only difference is in the ei.cfg txt file.

How big is the second disc you tried, ~2.38GB or ~3.09GB?
If it is 64bit it should be about 3.09GB.

[DWSpiro]

Yeah, the one I downloaded was 3.2GB. I just wonder if somehow the repair program tests the version of Windows you have, and since mine is an OEM maybe that's the problem? I guess I could also try running the DVD with the original drive (the one I know works) just to see if I get the same error.

Just all very weird.

[91011]

FWIW, I used the repair tool on clean, not factory installs, so just tried the retail Win 7 repair tool on a factory install and it didn't give me the error you're seeing.

Don't know where you got your 64 bit from but the direct-from-MS version is 3.09GB - all versions are the same size.
Home Pre 64bit: http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58997.iso

The 58997 is HP, 59186 is Pro and 59465 is Ultimate (for final SP1 64bit versions)