The error: Bootrec /fixboot Element not found
“Just got the error ‘BOOTMGR IS
MISSING’ when boot my computer, so I search solutions online. I was told to run
Bootrec /fixboot in CMD. Then, boot from my Windows 7 installation disc and approach
to Command Prompt. I input the command, only to get ‘Element not found’ return
error. It seems like I have got into another trouble. How could I fix the problem
and get my Windows boot normal?”
Element not found error usually occurs when you try to run Bootrec /fixboot in CMD to
fix other system boot issues in Windows 7/8/8.1/10 and Windows Server 2012, etc. The
boot issue might be caused by disk cloning, system migration, Windows updating, MBR
& GPT conversion and so on. That’s really bad when one problem remains and
another appears. You may urgent to learn how to fix the issue. However, knowing
causes for that error is also important because causes mean the clues.
Possible causes for Bootrec Element not found
In general, the Bootrec /fixboot command will solve the boot issue when you find the
system is unbootable. Nevertheless, it may not work in following situations.
The system partition or boot drive is not marked as Active.
You get Element not found on GPT disk. If convert MBR to GPT, an EFI
partition will be created to store boot files. If the EFI partition does not
have a drive letter, you will not be able to boot.
The Boot Configuration Data (BCD) files are damaged.
The Master Boot Record (MBR) of the disk is corrupted.
After acquiring the reasons for Element not found error, you can take responding
measurements then.
How to fix Windows Bootrec fixboot Element not found error accordingly?
Four solutions will be introduced in following parts. Make sure you are able to
access Command Prompt interface via Windows installation disc or Windows repair
disc.
Tips: the second and the third solutions fix Bootrec fixboot element
not found on GPT disk only.
Make partition as Active
Step 1. Boot your PC from any of the bootable discs. Choose the Repair option and
open Command Prompt. Type DISKPART in the prompt, and then input these commands
successively:
Step 2. Back to the Repair option and choose Startup Repair this
time. You may need to run it several times.
Step 3. In the Command Prompt, type these commands to have a try.
BOOTREC /FIXMBR
BOOTREC /FIXBOOT
BOOTREC /SCANOS
BOOTREC /REBUILDBCD
Step 4. Restart you computer. The method works in Windows 8 especially.
Assign drive letter to EFI partition
If the EFI partition that contains the BOOTMGR and BCD files (Windows boot files)
does not have a recognized drive letter, you can try this way.
1. Open Command Prompt and type DISKPART as instructed.
2. Input these commands in sequence:
3. Restart your computer to fix Bootrec fixboot Element not found error.
Recreate BCD store
1. Open Command Prompt and type cd /d b:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot and
press Enter.
2. Type bootrec /fixboot and press Enter.
3. Type ren BCD BCD.bak and press Enter to delete or rename the BCD
file.
4. Type bcdboot c:\Windows /l en-gb /s b: /f ALL (replace b: with
the correct boot letter in your case) and press Enter to recreate BCD store by
bcdboot.exe.
5. Restart your computer.
Descriptions: the “/f ALL” updates the BIOS settings including UEFI
firmware/NVRAM; the “/l en-gb” localize for UK/GB locale.
Rebuild MBR
If the Master Boot Record of the disk is damaged, you can turn to some free yet
professional tools to rebuild an MBR. AOMEI
Partition Assistant Standard is such a tool you may need. It supports
creating a repairing bootable USB drive to rebuild the MBR in WinPE environment. You can free download the tool on a good
Windows-based computer and create bootable device there. Steps below takes fixing
Bootrec fixboot Element not found in Windows 7 as an example.
1. Connect an USB drive or CD/DVD disc to the good PC. Install and run AOMEI
Partition Assistant. Click on Make Bootable Media in the left
wizard and complete as guided.

Tips: the bootable media contains installed AOMEI Partition
Assistant.
2. Insert the bootable media to your PC which has a boot issue. Boot from the media
by changing boot order in BIOS.
3. You’ll see loaded AOMEI Partition Assistant once login. Right click the disk you
want to repair and select Rebuild MBR.

4. Select the partition type for your operating system.

5. Click Apply and then Proceed to commit the
pending operations. Restart your computer later.
Tips: to fix Bootrec /fixboot Element not found in Server 2012
through this way, please refer to AOMEI
Partition Assistant Server edition.
Verdict
Generally, the Bootrec /fixboot Element not found error caused by damaged BCD store,
not-recognized EFI partition on GPT disk, not-activated boot drive or corrupted MBR.
After fixing the problem, you can still install AOMEI Partition Assistant on your
computer to manage your hard disk. For instance, you can check
hard drive for error now and then in case disaster happens unexpectedly; migrate
OS to SSD while keeping files on HDD to upgrade speed and improve
experience.