Easy BCD is not writing MBR


  1. L0ckd0wn
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       New #1

    Easy BCD is not writing MBR unless I update it


    Hi all,

    I am at my wits end trying to solve this so any help greatly appreciate.

    On my laptop I had XP Pro and decided to get and instal Win 7 (x64), on restart had the dual boot as expected.
    All was working fine until I needed to do a clean install of XP which after I ran Win 7 start up repair 3 times which let me into Win 7 where I installed Easy BCD. I ran it and got my dual boot back.
    So all good until I needed to do a clean install of XP again, did the start up repair got into Win 7 ran the previously installed Easy BCD 'add entry' 'write mbr' reboot and no dual boot, so played with settings in Easy BCD and nothing worked so I updated the version I had to 2.1.2 ran it and did 'add entry' 'write mbr' rebooted and voila dual boot.
    Should have learned my lesson but needed to clean install XP yet again, did the usual ran start up repair, ran Easy BCD and no dual boot spent ages ticking and unticking the boxes in options on Easy BCD and nothing worked.
    Then I remembered last time i did this I updated Easy BCD and it worked so grabbed me 2.2 installed, ran, 'add entry' 'write MBR' reboot, yippee dual boot.
    I just reinstalled XP again and now stuck as no new version of Easy BCD. What am I missing here please? Why will only updating Easy BCD let me add the entry? I add it and can see it's there, restart laptop and its gone from the list? Please someone help.
    Last edited by L0ckd0wn; 02 Nov 2012 at 18:47.
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  3. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #2

    Please post back a screenshot of your maximized Disk Management drive map and listings:

    1. Type Disk Management in Start Search box.
    2. Open Disk Mgmt. window and maximize it.
    3. Type Snipping Tool in Start Search box.
    4. Open Snipping Tool, choose Rectangular Snip, click New, draw a box around full drive map and all listings.
    5, Save Snip, attach using paper clip in Reply Box.

    Tell us what is on each partition.
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  4. hArLtRoN
    Posts : 191
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       New #3

    L0ckd0wn said:
    Hi all,

    I am at my wits end trying to solve this so any help greatly appreciate.

    On my laptop I had XP Pro and decided to get and instal Win 7 (x64), on restart had the dual boot as expected.
    All was working fine until I needed to do a clean install of XP which after I ran Win 7 start up repair 3 times which let me into Win 7 where I installed Easy BCD. I ran it and got my dual boot back.
    So all good until I needed to do a clean install of XP again, did the start up repair got into Win 7 ran the previously installed Easy BCD 'add entry' 'write mbr' reboot and no dual boot, so played with settings in Easy BCD and nothing worked so I updated the version I had to 2.1.2 ran it and did 'add entry' 'write mbr' rebooted and voila dual boot.
    Should have learned my lesson but needed to clean install XP yet again, did the usual ran start up repair, ran Easy BCD and no dual boot spent ages ticking and unticking the boxes in options on Easy BCD and nothing worked.
    Then I remembered last time i did this I updated Easy BCD and it worked so grabbed me 2.2 installed, ran, 'add entry' 'write MBR' reboot, yippee dual boot.
    I just reinstalled XP again and now stuck as no new version of Easy BCD. What am I missing here please? Why will only updating Easy BCD let me add the entry? I add it and can see it's there, restart laptop and its gone from the list? Please someone help.

    My question is why have you had to do a clean install of Windows XP so many times???
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  6. L0ckd0wn
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Never knew there was a snipping tool, I'm still old school Ctrl + PrtSc so thanks for that.

    C is 7
    D is XP
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Easy BCD is not writing MBR-capture.png  
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  7. theog
    Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       New #5

    1)
    I just reinstalled XP again and now stuck as no new version of Easy BCD. What am I missing here please? Why will only updating Easy BCD let me add the entry? I add it and can see it's there, restart laptop and its gone from the list? Please someone help.
    EasyBCD only works once.

    2) Why do you have D: marked active & not C:.
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  8. L0ckd0wn
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Strange a program would only work once, yet I can use it multiple times to change the name entry, order & boot menu time. Not doubting your answer but why would updating it then make it work?

    I have no idea why D is active, is it relevant to my problem?
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  10. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #7

    You'll need to mark Win7 Active then run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times
    to restart Win7 so it holds the System Active flags in Disk Mgmt.

    Then you can add XP with EasyBCD.
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