Fixing “BOOTMGR is Missing” Error in Windows 10
If you've encountered the frustrating “BOOTMGR is missing” message on your Windows 10 laptop, you're not alone. I recently faced the same issue when I switched from an HDD to an SSD. Fortunately, I was able to fix it after following a few steps. If you're in the same boat, don't worry. Here are some methods to fix the “BOOTMGR is missing” error in Windows 10.
Before we dive into the solutions, let's first understand what the Windows Boot Manager is. In Windows 10, the boot manager is an application that stores boot environment variables and boot file locations. In simpler terms, it's the file that tells the system where to find the Operating System that needs to be booted. When the boot manager goes missing, the system doesn't know what to boot and where to find the other boot files. It's important to note that a missing boot manager doesn't necessarily mean that your Operating System has been erased. It simply means that the file is missing, and we'll try to rebuild it through the following steps.
1. Check Boot Order
First and foremost, ensure that you're booting from the correct storage device. To change the boot order, access the BIOS (EFI Firmware Settings). The method to access the BIOS settings may vary depending on your device, but generally, you can force shut down the device by long-pressing the Power Button, and then restart it and press F2 until you reach the BIOS settings. Once in the BIOS settings, change the boot order and prioritize your SSD or HDD. Additionally, make sure that the boot mode is set to UEFI instead of Legacy, and ensure that secure boot is turned on. This ensures that GPT partitioned drives work properly and that Windows 10 boots regardless of the boot device order.
2. Use Startup Repair
If the boot order is correct and you're still facing the “BOOTMGR is missing” error, you can try using the Startup Repair option. To do this, you'll need a Windows bootable USB. You can create one using the Windows Media Creation Tool or a third-party USB bootable software. Insert the bootable USB drive into your PC, restart the system, and boot from the USB drive. On the installation window, click on “Repair your computer”, then click on “Troubleshoot” and select “Startup Repair”. Follow the on-screen instructions to let Startup Repair fix the issue.
3. Use the bootrec Utility
If Startup Repair doesn't resolve the issue, you can try using the bootrec utility. This is a native Windows command-line tool that rebuilds and fixes the Boot Manager files. Open the Command Prompt from the Advanced Options menu, and run the following commands:
bootrec /fixmbr
bootrec /fixboot
bootrec /scanos
bootrec /rebuildbcd
These commands will attempt to fix the boot files and rebuild the Boot Configuration File (BCD). If successful, you'll see a prompt asking you to add the Windows Installation to the BCD file.
4. Create a New Boot Configuration File
If the previous steps didn't work, you can try creating a new Boot Configuration Data (BCD) file. To do this, open the Command Prompt from the Advanced Options menu and run the following commands:
bcdedit /export C:BCD_Backup
ren c:bootbcd bcd.old
bootrec /rebuildbcd
These commands will rename the old BCD file and create a new one. Restart your system and check if you can boot into Windows.
5. Use System Restore
If you've previously taken a backup of your Windows system, you can use the System Restore option. Boot from the Windows bootable USB, go to the “Repair your computer” options, and click on “System Restore”. This will allow you to restore your system to a previous backup.
6. Reinstall Windows
If none of the above methods work, the last resort is to reinstall Windows. Before doing this, you can create a Windows Live Boot USB to back up your important files. To do this, you'll need access to another laptop, a Windows ISO file, and a third-party tool like WinToUSB. Once you have the Windows Live Boot USB, you can back up your files and proceed with a fresh Windows installation.
In conclusion, these are the steps you can take to fix the “BOOTMGR is missing” error on your Windows 10 laptop. If you have any other issues or questions regarding Windows 10, feel free to ask in the comments.
Also Read: How to Transfer Windows 10 License To New Computer, Hard Drive, or SSD

Jim's passion for Apple products ignited in 2007 when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone. This was a canon event in his life. Noticing a lack of iPad-focused content that is easy to understand even for “tech-noob”, he decided to create Tabletmonkeys in 2011.
Jim continues to share his expertise and passion for tablets, helping his audience as much as he can with his motto “One Swipe at a Time!”