Restored Windows Back Up To Another Partition Of Dual Boot Drive

Botard said:

Yes Greg, I unplug it and found Windows 7 needs a Windows installation disc to repair it from booting. I didn't insert the Windows 7 installation disc because I'm afraid it will change the booting menu from Windows 8 to Windows 7 (black Screen menu). I'm in Windows 8 now and downloading EasyBCD and hopefully this will not change the Windows 8 booting menu when it successful to boot the Windows 7.

Just add the new win7 clone to the boot menu using easybcd from within win8. In win8 the drive letter is also F?

Is it in the boot menu afterwards?
I think it doesn't boot.... what error message?

gregrocker said:

Didn't Botard just report that it booted into Windows 8 when the other drive was unplugged? This would confirm that the Dual Boot hard drive is bootable on its own since the System (Boot in Partition Wizard) flag that normally confirms this will not show on a drive that is not booted.

So this is why we do not see the PW Boot flag on Drive 1 System Reserved partition in screenshot that is booted into Drive 2.

In that case all that's needed is to add Win7 to Dual Boot using EasyBCD.

If Drive 1 is not bootable on its own, then it would need Windows 8 Automatic Repair to start 8 and then add 7 using EasyBCD. This will preserve the modern Dual boot menu.

Sorry... I did make my message while he was posting. So i didn't read that post. I removed my previous post

gregrocker said:

Where it becomes tricky is if the copy will not start once added to Dual Boot menu. Is it because it's copied and not imaged? If Repairs are run it may replace the Modern Dual Boot menu with the older style. Kaktussoft may have commands to try to start Win7 without affecting the modern boot menu, which he knows better than I. If not then once Win7 starts if you want the Modern boot menu back then run 8 Automatic Repair to restore it, if necessary add Win7 again.

Greg he did clone... so an EXACT copy.




In the clone:

• It registry has a value that defines C. It is pointing to the old C.
• It registry has a value that defines F. It is pointing to the old F.

Old C is unavailable so can be reused automagically. That's why you always advise to unplug the old drive.
But new C is already called F.... so won't be renamed automagically!

All he has to do is:
Mount the win7 registry from within win8. And modify key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\MountedDevices

So from elevated command prompt in win8:

Code:

reg  load  HKLM\MY_SYSTEM   D:\Windows\System32\config\system
REG  DELETE  HKLM\MY_SYSTEM\MountedDevices  /v  \DosDevices\C:  /f
REG  DELETE  HKLM\MY_SYSTEM\MountedDevices  /v  \DosDevices\F:  /f
reg  unload  HKLM\MY_SYSTEM

Replace D with actual drive letter of new win7 partition.

Botard said:

gregrocker said:

Didn't Botard just report that it booted into Windows 8 when the other drive was unplugged? This would confirm that the Dual Boot hard drive is bootable on its own since the System (Boot in Partition Wizard) flag that normally confirms this will not show on a drive that is not booted.

Two drives have each system reserved. Windows 8 was booted but not the Windows 7 for 1T Bytes while other drive was unplug. When I booted the Windows 7 there are 3 step to take. I remember step 1 to insert Windows 7 installation disc...

Until all has been fiexed... keep other drive unplugged! What exact error message if you boot to new win7?
new win7 already added to bootmenu using easybcd (done when other drive was unplugged!!)?