How do I keep Win 7, Dump XP from dual drive, dual boot

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  1. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 and XP
       #1

    How do I keep Win 7, Dump XP from dual drive, dual boot


    As currently configured, XP is on drive C:, Win 7 was added to drive E:, and the system is currently run as a dual boot. Attempting to boot without the XP drive present will yield a "NTLDR is missing" error very early in the boot process.

    I have already tried the following:
    (1) I moved the hidden Windows Boot Manager files (bootmgr as well as the associated Boot folder) from the XP drive root to the Win 7 drive root.
    (2) After physically removing the XP drive, I rebooted to the Win 7 installation DVD, and used the "Repair Your Computer" option to pull up the "Recovery Tools". Then, using the command prompt utility, ...
    (3) I attempted to write a new boot sector to the Windows 7 disk using the command: Bootrec /fixboot, - that yields an error though. The Bootrec /fixmbr claimed success, but ultimately did not make Win 7 drive bootable.

    I had to reconnect drive C: just to boot into Win 7 again to write this. I do have files backed up, but to format and reinstall files would take many hours beyond just the time to transfer 400 GB of data, since I have dozens of purchased applications that need to be freshly reinstalled and validated as well. Basically I want my E: drive now to be my boot drive while the C: drive is reformatted and used for general storage.

    Any idea how to make my Win 7 drive bootable? Do I need a partition program that is more adept at creating a viable boot sector, or is that even the problem?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 2,736
    ...
       #2

    maxit said:
    As currently configured, XP is on drive C:, Win 7 was added to drive E:, and the system is currently run as a dual boot. Attempting to boot without the XP drive present will yield a "NTLDR is missing" error very early in the boot process.

    I have already tried the following:
    (1) I moved the hidden Windows Boot Manager files (bootmgr as well as the associated Boot folder) from the XP drive root to the Win 7 drive root.
    (2) After physically removing the XP drive, I rebooted to the Win 7 installation DVD, and used the "Repair Your Computer" option to pull up the "Recovery Tools". Then, using the command prompt utility, ...
    (3) I attempted to write a new boot sector to the Windows 7 disk using the command: Bootrec /fixboot, - that yields an error though. The Bootrec /fixmbr claimed success, but ultimately did not make Win 7 drive bootable.

    I had to reconnect drive C: just to boot into Win 7 again to write this. I do have files backed up, but to format and reinstall files would take many hours beyond just the time to transfer 400 GB of data, since I have dozens of purchased applications that need to be freshly reinstalled and validated as well. Basically I want my E: drive now to be my boot drive while the C: drive is reformatted and used for general storage.

    Any idea how to make my Win 7 drive bootable? Do I need a partition program that is more adept at creating a viable boot sector, or is that even the problem?
    Hello, maxit, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

    Here is a link to a similar thread that may give you some ideas:

    Changing the System Partition?

    Cheers!
    Robert
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 16,132
    7 X64
       #3

    Hi maxit,

    A screenshot of 7 Disk Management would be useful.

    https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...en-forums.html
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 and XP
    Thread Starter
       #4

    iseeuu said:
    Hello, maxit, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

    Here is a link to a similar thread that may give you some ideas:

    Changing the System Partition?

    Cheers!
    Robert
    Thanks, but in my case the OS partitions are on separate physical drives.

    The Win 7 partition and drive do not appear to be bootable by themselves. I used the built in Windows partition utilities to make sure the Win 7 was listed as active, but I am not sure how to ensure it is also bootable.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 2,736
    ...
       #5

    maxit said:
    iseeuu said:
    Hello, maxit, and welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

    Here is a link to a similar thread that may give you some ideas:

    Changing the System Partition?

    Cheers!
    Robert
    Thanks, but in my case the OS partitions are on separate physical drives.

    The Win 7 partition and drive do not appear to be bootable by themselves. I used the built in Windows partition utilities to make sure the Win 7 was listed as active, but I am not sure how to ensure it is also bootable.
    I would suggest to you to save your current 7 partition as an image (doing that is in the thread link I posted) then install a fresh 7 on your hard drive (leave the XP drive unplugged). Then restore the saved image to the new 7 partition. You wont need to install any programs or transfer any settings and your 7 hard drive will be bootable.

    Robert
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 16,132
    7 X64
       #6

    Boot 7 dvd to command prompt.

    Type :

    bootsect /nt60 all /mbr

    Then press enter.

    Unless you exported the bcd hive to the 7 \boot folder - you will get another error.

    Have you done that already? If not, boot into 7 , open an elevated cmd and type:

    bcdedit /export 7driveletter:\boot\bcd

    Obviously, replace 7driveletter with the letter as seen when booted into 7
      My Computers

  7.    #7

    Consider: All of these boot commands are automated in Win7 installer>Repair console> Startup Repair

    You already have your Win7 drive set active.

    Now you can unplug the XP drive.

    Make sure BIOS is set to boot installer first, then Win7 drive

    Boot into Win7 installer Repair console and run Startup Repair 3 times to fix multiple issues, including rewriting the MBR onto the 7 drive.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 and XP
    Thread Starter
       #8

    SIW2 said:
    Hi maxit,

    A screenshot of 7 Disk Management would be useful.

    https://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...en-forums.html
    another try

    [img=http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/203/diskmanager01nov121550.th.gif]
      My Computer

  9.    #9

    Too small to read here as posted. But I see many other drives, which can be a problem if boot is diverted to a data drive.

    Make sure no other drives are marked Active (or unplug them during operation) besides 7

    Unplug your XP drive

    Set Win7 installer to boot first in BIOS, then Win7 HDD next.

    Boot into Win7 installer>Repair console and run Startup Repair 3 times to repair multiple issues including rewriting the MBR to Win7 drive
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 and XP
    Thread Starter
       #10

    gregrocker said:
    Too small to read here as posted. But I see many other drives, which can be a problem if boot is diverted to a data drive.

    Make sure no other drives are marked Active (or unplug them during operation) besides 7

    Unplug your XP drive

    Set Win7 installer to boot first in BIOS, then Win7 HDD next.

    Boot into Win7 installer>Repair console and run Startup Repair 3 times to repair multiple issues including rewriting the MBR to Win7 drive
    What do you mean by boot first in BIOS? ... do you mean boot to the Win 7 installer DVD first, run the repair 3 times, then try rebooting to the HD?

    PS. I reposted the link to the disk manager screenshot, so it should be legible.
      My Computer


 
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