Lesson 8 - Chapter 1: Narrowing Down the Problem

Question 1

When the startup process begins, the motherboard firmware does a POST and tries to locate a valid boot device and transfer control over to it. If it can’t find one, what error shows up?

Answer 1

Operating System Not Found

(Windows hasn’t even tried to boot bc no boot drive)

Question 2

If you see “Operating System Not Found”, what kind of problem is it classified as? (2)

Answer 2

Hardware (or a firmware setting) problem

(like the cable is disconnected from the boot drive, or the drive has failed)

Question 3

What causes the ‘BOOTMGR is missing’ error?

Answer 3

The boot drive is present but doesn’t contain the files it needs to start things up

Question 4

When does the ‘BOOTMGR is missing’ error occur in the startup sequence?

Answer 4

After the boot drive powers on and the POST succeeds, and the computer is attempting to boot an OS

Question 5

Most failed boot scenarios require you to analyze where the fault might have occurred in which 3 areas?

Answer 5

1. Hardware
2. Firmware Configuration
3. in the OS

Question 6

When a user calls you and says “My computer won’t boot” or that it’s dead, what are 4 good questions to ask them?

Answer 6

1. “What displays on the screen (if anything), after you press the power button on the case?”
2. “What do you hear (if anything) after you press the power button on the case?”
3. “Is the computer plugged in?”
4. “Do you smell anything weird?”

Question 7

When you see the error “BOOTMGR is missing” what is the message implying?

Answer 7

the UEFI/BIOS is unable to pass the baton to the OS

(a good question to ask yourself about any error)

Question 8

____ ____ can give you a blank screen on bootup

Answer 8

hardware problems

Question 9

To find the root cause of “BOOTMGR is missing” what is the methodology for hardware troubleshooting that we learned to apply to this situation? (5)

Answer 9

1. Make sure everything is plugged in and turned on
2. If the device is new <30 days old, it might have suffered burn-in failure
3. Use your senses - strange sounds, smells, follow them to the source
4. Disconnect any new hardware
5. Try swapping out components for others you know are working

Question 10

To find the root cause of “BOOTMGR is missing” and having already followed hardware troubleshooting methodology, what is the next step? What do you ask yourself?

Answer 10

What does the error message imply? The UEFI/BIOS is unable to pass the baton to the OS

Question 11

We know what the “BOOTMGR is missing” error implies and already checked hardware, how do we troubleshoot it now? (7)

Answer 11

1. check for any USB drives left plugged in
2. check external ports for erratic drives
3. check any optical drives and flash card readers
4. confirm the boot sequence is correct
5. check settings for when it will boot from USB/other sources
6. check power and cables to the drive where the OS is located on
7. check RAID or multi-boot configuration settings, if using