Is there a way to load and run Win7 from D:

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  1. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #31

    I gotcha now Simon and Sigma. I just set up a dual boot of XP and Vista (which I found out isn't horrible) because I had no w7 disk. Whichever OS I boot too the partition is called C, so not just a w7 thing.

    It will work for me becuase two OSes are enough unless I go the VM route to experiment.

    As a further experiment I imaged the whole drive with both OSes, wiped the drive, then restored it successfully. I used free Macrium and its WinPE disk to restore the image.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 46
    win7 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #32

    SIW2 said:
    You are getting two things confused here.

    BCD is different. The drive letters are an alias to make it easier for the user.

    The entries are made up of the disk and partition id.

    That is why you are having the issue. You would either need to generalise the bcd store before cloning, or correct the entries after cloning. Easiest way to correct is to run startup repair from win 7 dvd/repair cd.

    To generalize the bcd- at an elevated command prompt:

    bcdedit /set {current} osdevice boot
    bcdedit /set {current} device boot
    bcdedit /set {bootmgr} device boot
    bcdedit /set {memdiag} device boot
    Thanks SIW2. I realized that the bcd setting was just pointing to the partition to initiate the install... but not assigning the drive letter I learned that the hard way... lol (the OS pointed to, just automatically starts on C, which of course I can now see and appreciate the utility and practicality of that, etc...) But that is what I have been harping on for the last few weeks..

    Are you saying there is a way to get BCD to assign the drive letter into the Boot process? is that what those commands are ?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 46
    win7 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #33

    Britton30 said:
    I gotcha now Simon and Sigma. I just set up a dual boot of XP and Vista (which I found out isn't horrible) because I had no w7 disk. Whichever OS I boot too the partition is called C, so not just a w7 thing.

    It will work for me becuase two OSes are enough unless I go the VM route to experiment.

    As a further experiment I imaged the whole drive with both OSes, wiped the drive, then restored it successfully. I used free Macrium and its WinPE disk to restore the image.
    Right... what I am saying and has now been confirmed by Greg and Simon is that if you do the Win7 install after the XP AND from within XP it will install Win7 on the second partition and it will also boot up as the D drive... This is a subtle but good to know factoid imo ... because it exposes a lot of the behaviour and nature of the MS boot process... and the biggest takeaway I got is this idea of creating these identifier codes and assigning them to each partition as part of it's process, that and when adding an entry (in BCD) it is only "pointing" not "assigning"

    I am still learning all the ins and outs of how to control the letter assignment process... I have to admit this whole boot technology really boggles and attracts me at the same time... it's definitely a worthy 'pet project' to study and learn...
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 16,132
    7 X64
       #34

    Bootmgr looks for winload.exe based on the unique number in the bcd.

    That number is generated form the Disk id ( actually the disk signature in the mbr ) and the partition offset .

    If that is right, bootmgr should find winload.exe and start it up, Then you will get as far as the welcome screen. At that point as the os is loading, drive letters come into play.

    There is a second potential issue at that point - if the drive letters have changed - which can happen when restoring an image/cloning.

    The best programs (e.g. Paragon ) will check that during the process.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 16,132
    7 X64
       #35

    It is very different for XP - which isn't phased by changes in disk sig.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 46
    win7 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #36

    SIW2 said:
    Bootmgr looks for winload.exe based on the unique number in the bcd.

    That number is generated form the Disk id ( actually the disk signature in the mbr ) and the partition offset .

    If that is right, bootmgr should find winload.exe and start it up, Then you will get as far as the welcome screen. At that point as the os is loading, drive letters come into play.

    There is a second potential issue at that point - if the drive letters have changed - which can happen when restoring an image/cloning.

    The best programs (e.g. Paragon ) will check that during the process.
    Righteous SI... haha I would like correspond more with you on this (if you don't mind) this is the info I have been looking for... finally... I knew it had to do with those signature numbers

    ... and yes there has to be something that controls also for the letter assignment as well, because Win7 will do it if installed from inside a previous existing XP for example...
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,476
       #37

    I still have my doubts. May I see the screenshots that I requested before please?

    1. Screenshot from within XP of My Computer
    2. Screenshot from within 7 of My Computer

    Or is it currently not set up the way you want? I mean, would you prefer that while you're in Windows 7, your OS drive for Windows 7 says D:?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 46
    win7 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #38

    twocables said:
    i still have my doubts. May i see the screenshots that i requested before please?

    1. screenshot from within xp of my computer
    2. screenshot from within 7 of my computer

    or is it currently not set up the way you want? I mean, would you prefer that while you're in windows 7, your os drive for windows 7 says d:?
    Is there a way to load and run Win7 from D:-win7-d.jpg
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 46
    win7 32bit
    Thread Starter
       #39

    SIW2 said:
    It is very different for XP - which isn't phased by changes in disk sig.
    the good ol days... lol
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 1,476
       #40

    sigma6 said:
    twocables said:
    i still have my doubts. May i see the screenshots that i requested before please?

    1. screenshot from within xp of my computer
    2. screenshot from within 7 of my computer

    or is it currently not set up the way you want? I mean, would you prefer that while you're in windows 7, your os drive for windows 7 says d:?
    Is there a way to load and run Win7 from D:-win7-d.jpg
    No, I'm asking for 2 screenshots of My Computer. One from within XP, and another from within 7. I don't want Disk Management.

    I apologize for pushing, but I really need to see this because I genuinely want to have a full understanding. I want to see this in the practical sense, and that's why I'm asking for 2 screenshots of My Computer: one from XP, and another from 7. So I'm saying boot to XP, take the screenshot, boot to 7, take the screenshot, and then post them.
      My Computer


 
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