BOOTMGR Missing!

I got the dreaded message. I understand the easy fix to this is a simple vista re-install, but thats not really an option for me. I'm running three HDDs w/out any raid. I think i might have caused the problem by choosing the "active" selection for all three drives in the storage management screen. Next time I started it i received the error. Tried to restard it about 5 times before i figured out the trick. In the Boot selection menu i moved everything except my main partition to the "do not use" section. After that it worked.

Anyone know what might have caused this problem?
How can I turn the "active" status off?
Will this cause any long term problems?

 

I'm not totally certain but here is what I understand :The vista master boot record (MBR) stored in a dedicated place on the hard-drive tell the computer to search the bootsector on the active partition. Vista boot manager is stored in the bootsector so it is essential to have only one partition set as active on the other hand grub (linux bootmanager) is stored in the MBR so the active partition is not as important.

If somehow you set the wrong partition active and nothing work you can simply download & burn gparted live cd then boot onto it and change the active partition in two click with a friendly user GUI.

If with only one partition set as active it still does not work you can use fixmbr and fixbootsector with a vista dvd google it there is plenty of guide

 

just boot from some Vista DVD and go to repair option select repair boot or something like that is the option and this will be fixed

 

He speaks the truth, the Vista Installation Disc can fix the Boot Manager, especially because it is so sensitive.

 

wrong I did that on mine like everybody told me to and right after that when I started my laptop I got a nice boot1:error and it would restart.

First you have got to verify that the right partition is set to active