M17x-R1 Boot Device Order

Some weeks ago i installed an SSD into my laptop, but i'm having a little problem, wich i don't how to solve.

Sometimes after having my computer turned off and the charger taken off, my computer goes through all the bios loading screens, and then shows me some text saying "bootmgr is missing".

I get my computer to boot again, when i load up the BIOS, and change the boot order so my ssd boots first. But i still wonder why my BIOS keeps changing boot device?

Has anybody else experienced this issue?

 

Check the firmware on your new SSD and update it if necessary. That is a good first step. Also, which BIOS version are you running?

 

I'm running A07, wich means i don't have any options to update my bios, as dell doesn't make any new revisions unfortunately

 

Gotcha, just checking. What about your firmware for the SSD?
BOOTMGR is missing can mean anything from corrupted OS files to malfunctioning SSD firmware or loose or faulty SATA connectors.

 

Probably the most common cause of the "bootmgr is missing" message occurs in exactly the situation you describe -- the laptop is trying to boot from a non-bootable drive, generally because the boot order is pointing to the wrong drive. Since you are resetting the boot drive to the SSD, but the revision won't hold, I suspect that the CMOS battery needs to be replaced. An interim workaround might be to swap your drives around so that the SSD is in the default (first) position. If that don't work, you may need to rebuild the boot sector or the BCD. You can also try having Windows perform a Startup Repair, but I've had very little success with that approach. A new CMOS battery is the easiest and most likely fix. Good luck.

 

i could try the CMOS change, but if there isn't any power on the CMOS, wouldn't all the BIOS settings reset?

 

Yes, they should if different than default. But it doesn't really make much sense that there could be errors in the boot sector or BCD because those would result in the same problem even after you change the boot order to the SSD. And that apparently doesn't occur. So it almost has to be caused by improper BIOS boot order configuration, meaning the changes you are making and saving in the BIOS are not being imprinted. That suggests that the CMOS is not holding the config data. It is not unknown with older systems. But your point is well taken about other BIOS settings. Do you see other changes?

 

Wouldn't he get the customary 5 beeps if the CMOS battery is failing?

 

That's a good point too. LOL. I'll get out of the way and let you guys fix it.

 

Naw, I've got my hands full...took my sister's Droid all apart & trying to shock it back to life.

OK, Droid's dead...back to your problem. Revelator's right. Change out your CMOS battery. Just because you're not getting the 5 beeps doesn't mean the battery isn't failing. Also, CHECK YOUR FIRMWARE. And while you're at it, check if the hard drive is correctly seated in it's SATA connector, and if it is in the HDD 1 bay (as opposed to the HDD 0 bay), there should be an interposer on the end of it. Make sure that is secure and the little copper tabs are making contact on both the SSD and the MB.

 

You don't have to leave Revelator, you are just trying to help me out, wich is nice of you

I will try to change the CMOS, and if that doesn't work, i will simply swap my Harddrives, if you think this could solve my problem?

@radji, i see you have an ssd too, and as the BIOS on the M17x-r1 and r2 should be the same, you would experience the same problem as me, if it actually was a problem with the BIOS, right?

EDIT:
Nevermind found out we use entirely different BIOS'..

 

Yeah, the R2 uses way different BIOS than the R1 (different MB's). In the six months I've had this SSD, its only given me trouble ONCE. And that was the second or third boot-up after I installed it, Intel Boot Manager said it detected no bootable discs. It was resolved when I set my boot order in the BIOS' power menu. Haven't had any issues since then.
Changing your drives around to where the SSD is in HDD Bay 0 is a start. But it is a little worrying if your southbridge is defaulting to other HDD even though your programmed it otherwise in the BIOS.

 

Funny thing is, it doesn't change default from HDD 1 to 0 but from 0 to 1 wich is even weirder as port 0 would be default port..

Just a thought, could it be a mobo problem?

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Yup, or a BIOS problem.

 

Sorry I haven't been able to answer the last two weeks.. I read a little bit on google about the problem, and some dude fixed the problem by updating his sata controller through a custom bios update.. I.can't really do that as there is no newly update r1 bios is this something Dell could fix or will I be able to get a replacement through my warranty?

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