Multi-Boot Nightmares

Hopalong X · 13 Oct 2010

Trailerman said:

Many thanks for the helpful suggestions.

So far, I have run startup repair from the Win7 install DVD, and have run Bootsect and Bootrec.exe with various MBR suffixes as suggested here and elsewhere. None of these processes have made any difference.

The Startup Repair DVD only sees the new Win7 install (H), and although the system boots into this drive ok, it then appears to run the actual OS from drive C. I've confirmed this by umounting C whilst booted into drive by running chkdsk, which causes all desktop icons disappear, and all programs to become unavailable. I guess it's booting into H but because the MBR was copied, it's referencing C for all OS files and data.

I'll try the scannow command now and will try disconnecting the drive tomorrow and see if Windows is able to find the old system volume and boot into that, if it can't I guess I'm stuffed. Your offer of help setting up a dual system is appreciated Hopalong X. At this stage I'd just like to get one partition working properly and go from there.

Thanks again.

Jules

Read the first part of my post and you will get back to your main HD and OS.

That I thought was your goal at this point.

Trailerman · 13 Oct 2010

Sorry I missed the 'Bootmanager is missing fix' you referenced on first reading. Is that what you're referring to, or do you mean I should go stright to the hardware disconnection approach?

Sorry if I'm being dense here, and thanks again.

Jules

Hopalong X · 13 Oct 2010

Disconnect the cloned drive. PC offf!!!!

Restart it may boot properly into main OS.
If not then do the boot is missing fix .
You already tried it with both HD's running and it only boots the clone.

This will not get the clone working right necessarily but it will get you back into your main OS and HD.

We can go from there on the cloned drive.
I hopefully have some help coming to assist with that.

Mike

Help coming I think.

gregrocker · 13 Oct 2010

Please post back a screenshot of your maximized full Disk Management drive map with listings, with all drives attached. Use Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

If you wrote the MBR to the new clone you should be able to boot either via the BIOS boot order or BIOS Boot Menu key. Test this.

Bootsect and bootrec are automated in Win7 Startup Repair. If either Win7 is not marked System now, mark it Active and run Startup Repair x3 while the other drives are unplugged.
Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times
Partition - Mark as Active

If you have any questions or are unsure wait until we read the screenshot. There may be other complications which will become clear once we see it. Going surfing til 7 pm PST.

Trailerman · 13 Oct 2010

I removed all drives except the original Windows 7 drive and booted up.

As before, it got to the point where I would normally get the login screen and then I got the 'autochk program not found - skipping autocheck' message followed by a blue screen.

I'm trying the boot is missing fix now, but it doesn't sound like the MBR is missing on this drive.

Jules

Trailerman · 13 Oct 2010

Sorry Greg - missed you post.

Is it ok to try and troubleshoot this with just the single drive in place? Seems to make more sense. I'll run startup repair on this drive and see if that helps. Maybe previous runs were actually runnig it on the clone ...

Jules

Trailerman · 13 Oct 2010

PS. Sorry - should have mentioned this before, but I also had an old WinXp partition on the system, again on a separate drive. Not been used for ages, but maybe it's MBR was also contributing to the mess. Now removed.

Hopalong X · 13 Oct 2010

Greg

He is following my instructions before you got here.

Let him know what you want and I'll just watch.

Just got the surfing reference. Go.
Trailerman can be working on your posted cures.

Mike

Hopalong X · 13 Oct 2010

Trailer

Try Gregs suggestion Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times on the single HD you have operating.

Mike

Greg will be back or someone else may give us a hand by then.

Trailerman · 13 Oct 2010

OK - Startup Repair sees the drive fine. First run through went fine - found some boot related stuff and did it's thing.

Second run through I get:

Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically.

Details show:

Problem event name : StartupRepairOffline
Problem Signature 01: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 02: 6.1.7600.16385
Problem Signature 03: Unknown
Problem Signature 04: 157
Problem Signature 05: ExternalMedia
Problem Signature 06: 1
Problem Signature 07: BadDriver

etc.etc

Will rerun and then see where we are with booting.

Jules

PS. Massively appreciate all the help.