Windows 7 Dual Boot

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Posts : 555
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #1

    Windows 7 Dual Boot


    Can I Dual Boot Windows 7 With Windows 7? Haha, yes I know, you guys are doing a double take. I want to dual boot W7 with my current Toshiba install because it is slow to boot, explanation below.

    http://speccy.piriform.com/results/1...DnNeaWscG8OcUh

    My current Toshiba is slow to boot but runs well. Did some stuff with "autoruns" that seemed to help, and removed some stuff that I know I didn't need. I look at the startups and not much there, but there are more things than I would like to be running once all is started up. And, when starting up, it seems that there are way more things started than should be? Lot's of my HP Printer stuff, Toshiba stuff etc. I know you will want to see some logs if helping, so just say the word and will create them with whatever software needed.

    I do have a RAW W7 iso that I would like to install (dualboot) to compare, without all the Tosh and HP Junk, and just leave this install on the local HDD also. This time will not install the whole HP Printer Package and just the Driver.

    This is a newish install, clean and otherwise in good health. I do scans with avast, MBAM, run MBAE, NoScript, SafeScript, ABP, Ghostery and do my best to stay out of trouble. I will see if I can Update my Signature with my Speccy.

    This is a great forum, and I loooove me some W7 man! Just takes forever to boot.

    Thanks Nasty7
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 172
    Windows 7 x64 SP1
       #2

    Yes you can that, best to use something like Partition Wizard and create a new partition for the other Win7 install, if you already have the hidden 100mb partition on the same drive the new Win7 will update the boot code and automatically create the boot menu for you.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 555
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    @Andyrids, thanks, that's the info I needed! I was wondering about the Partition Creation, and which tool to use. I was going to use the Inbuilt W7 tool, but you think it is better to use a third party tool? I will go that route then.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 172
    Windows 7 x64 SP1
       #4

    No problem :)

    Yes the Mini Tool Partition Wizard is more comprehensive than the built in Windows one and quicker.

    On thing I did not make very clear is it is easier to make the new partition on the same HDD as the existing Win7 install so the boot loader files will get updated in the existing hidden 100mb partition...

    There is quite a few other ways to do this but if your not to familiar with duel boot systems I would say it is better to do it that way...

    It would be wise to make an image backup of your existing Win7 install also just in case something go's wrong, unlikely but still a possibility you know what sods law is like lol
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 555
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Okay, will use minitool, already have it on DVD.

    Yes, same HDD.

    System Image all done with AOMEI.

    One thing you might help me with, sometimes I see NTFS as a choice, and sometimes it is FAT32, and sometimes it seems they are considered the same? I'll google it, but sometimes the answers are to technical for me.

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 172
    Windows 7 x64 SP1
       #6

    I don't quite follow you here mate sorry... I know NTFS and FAT32 of course but please specify where you see these options ?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 555
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Andyrids said:
    I don't quite follow you here mate sorry... I know NTFS and FAT32 of course but please specify where you see these options ?
    Forget about this question, I understand now, thanks!

    All went well, backed up original system and installed the second Vanilla Windows 7 at the far end of the drive. I installed to the far end because this drive is failing, CrystalDisk said "Caution" and HDTune would not even make it through most of the diagnostics. I thought this might be a better section of the drive to use, thinking maybe it had not been written to as much as the beginning or the middle, I was wrong, this install failed after a few days and could not be fixed, or even re-installed to.

    I learned a lot doing this and it will be good to know when I get my new drive. Would like to attempt it again just to the right of the current install, next to C Drive. I'm trying to learn how to install all the drivers and such in prep for install to new drive.

    What I would like to do now is "Restore" the MBR so that it don't have Three entries all for Windows 7, and attempt another install to the middle after shrinking the C Drive again. I know there are tutorials here but forgot where, so will post the one I was currently looking at. Not sure which option to use, could someone tell me?
    How to Manually Repair Windows 7 Boot Loader Problems

    I will post a screenshot of my drives, I have not made Unallocated space yet from C Drive. The E Drive is the one that is to damaged to work. I know this is not a solution to anything but for me to learn and not mess up my new Drive with the Vanilla Install.
    [IMG][/IMG]
    Last edited by Nasty7; 04 May 2016 at 17:43.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 555
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    From what I am reading here, looks like I will need to Delete the Unwanted OS and then fix the BCD, either with booting to CMD with Install Disk, Repair Disk or with EasyBCD?
    Dual Boot - Delete a OS

    Then I want to leave E Drive alone, and make C Drive smaller to do another Install of Vanilla Windows 7.

    Thanks Nasty7
    Last edited by Nasty7; 04 May 2016 at 18:28. Reason: Added Info
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #9

    glad you are learning.

    Hopefully your new drive is an ssd and not a spinner.

    SSD 850 PRO 2.5” SATA III MZ-7KE256BW | Memory & Storage

    or

    SSD 850 EVO 2.5" SATA III 250GB | Samsung Solid State Drives
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #10

    Nasty7 said:
    What I would like to do now is "Restore" the MBR so that it don't have Three entries all for Windows 7, and attempt another install to the middle after shrinking the C Drive again.
    From what i've read i don't understand why you have Three entries for Windows 7.
    Post screen prints of EasyBCD View Settings and EasyBCD Edit Boot Menu.
    If your boot menu has 3 entries all with the same name, you can rename them so they are different.
    That way you will know which OS you are choosing when booting the PC, and see what works and what doesn't.

    Example of EasyBCD View Settings:

    Windows 7 Dual Boot-easybcd-01.png

    Example of EasyBCD Edit Boot Menu:

    Windows 7 Dual Boot-easybcd-02.png

    Your Disk Management (DM) screen print in post #7 doesn't show a System partition.
    I don't know if the Recovery partition is the System partition, I don't have a Recovery partition.
    Maybe someone else knows about that and can explain.

    Also, the DM screen print doesn't show the PURPLE32GB [F] drive in the lower pane.
    Here's how to post a maximized/resized DM screen print to show all info:
    Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:36.
Find Us