Windows 7 - Cannot see Windows 7 at boot now

new · 03-10-2009

I had XP on main drive and installed Windows 7 on partition. All was fine and at boot I had a choice of systems. However I had to run 'repair' on XP and now only XP is showing at boot, Is there a way of getting Windows 7 back as a boot choice without having to re-install. I am still able to see the Windows 7 Folders and Docs when I boot into XP. I tried Acronis OS selector but it didn't find Windows 7.

limneos · 03-10-2009

Hello New.

You need to boot using your Windows 7 DVD and do a "Repair Computer -> Startup repair" when prompted.

This will fix your problem. (You will have both options at startup)

Hope it helps.

new · 03-11-2009

Thanks, I read about this, but I cannot see a repair option in any of the folders that I have on the downloaded Windows 7 Beta that I turned into a DVD and used to install the system in the first place.

darkassain · 03-11-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by new

Thanks, I read about this, but I cannot see a repair option in any of the folders that I have on the downloaded Windows 7 Beta that I turned into a DVD and used to install the system in the first place.

hello new you have to boot from it and follow this System Recovery Options

the after you get to that screen follow what limneos said...

new · 03-11-2009

Sorry limness and darkassasin I did find the option to repair when I booted to the DVD, I had just been running the DVD in XP before and there was no repair option that way. I needed to run repair 4 times before it picked up Windows 7, however I have yet to see if I get the XP option at startup now as well as Windows 7. Thanks again to you both.

new · 03-11-2009

Hi again, just tried a re-boot and I found that I boot straight into Windows 7 now with no option to boot to XP.

limneos · 03-12-2009

To restore the option for XP:

1. Check My Computer to see if your XP partition is visible. If you can't see your XP partition, you need to assign a drive letter to your hidden XP partition. To do that, open Control Panel - Administrative Tools - Computer Management - Disk Management. Right click on the partition without a drive letter and select "Change drive letters and ...." and assign a drive letter , e.g. D:. If you already can see the XP partition , skip this step, just note its drive letter.

2. Open an elevated command prompt (run as administrator) and type:

Code:

 
bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Windows XP"
 
bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=D:
 
bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr
 
bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast

Note: Change D: above with the letter of your XP partition

Reboot, and you should see Windows 7 and Windows XP as startup options.

new · 03-12-2009

Thanks Limneos, however, what I did and what might work for others in this situation, was to download and install Easybcd, it put the problem right instantly.

One thing though, could you explain 'elevated command prompt', I am the only user on my computer. I tried using the script you showed in a Command Point, but got access denied.

limneos · 03-12-2009

Quote: Originally Posted by new

Thanks Limneos, however, what I did and what might work for others in this situation, was to download and install Easybcd, it put the problem right instantly.

One thing though, could you explain 'elevated command prompt', I am the only user on my computer. I tried using the script you showed in a Command Point, but got access denied.

EasyBCD is a tool that easily does what I described above. You can do this either the manual way, or the EasyBCD way, no difference.

Elevated command prompt is a command prompt that you have chosen to "Run as administrator". Unless you have turned off UAC, you still need to do that even if you are the only user and admin.

See this Tutorial for more:
Elevated Command Prompt

new · 03-12-2009

Thanks again for your help. I will make notes of what you have told me for future use.

Windows 7 - Cannot see Windows 7 at boot now

Cannot see Windows 7 at boot now problems?