Is it possible to recover dual boot Menu?

Someone from the EasyBCD forum said in EasyBCD 2 under MBR Configuration Options I can click "Install Windows7/Vista Bootloader" Reinstall the W7 boot, then add an XP entry, letting 2.0 auto-configure. It will recreate your dual boot automatically. I want a second opinion because im a little worried having never used EasyBCD before.

Do you think this would work?

If EasyBCD forums says you can use 2.0 in XP to recover the Win7 boot, then add XP, it is worth a try.

Before doing that can you post back a screenshot of your full Disk management drive map, as we need to see what the exact config is to advise you.

How did you lose your Dual Boot due to ghosting XP?

theog said:

Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7 & Win XP.
EasyBCD 2.0 Beta Builds - The NeoSmart Forums

How to use check this tutorial:
Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

How to use EasyBCD in the link above.

Since you haven't posted the requested screenshot we can't advise you with any certainty.

You need to mark Win7 active, then boot the Win7 DVD Repair conosle or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots until Win7 starts.

Then install EasyBCD 2.0 and add XP, accepting boot files, let it autocomplete, Save, restart.

gregrocker said:

If EasyBCD forums says you can use 2.0 in XP to recover the Win7 boot, then add XP, it is worth a try.

Before doing that can you post back a screenshot of your full Disk management drive map, as we need to see what the exact config is to advise you.

How did you lose your Dual Boot due to ghosting XP?

I lost my dual boot because the ghost I used to restore my C drive was made prior to having dual boot so it wiped it out. Im not sure if this is screenshot you want, but you can let me know.

Another thing is that after I tried the win7 repair now my EasyBCD says something totally different when I start it up. It listed the Win7 in the bootloader. I tried adding my XP to it and this is what it now says.

There are a total of 2 entries listed in the bootloader.

Default: Microsoft Windows XP
Timeout: 30 seconds.
Boot Drive: C:\

Entry #1
Name: Microsoft Windows XP
BCD ID: {default}
Device: boot
Bootloader Path: \NTLDR

Entry #2
Name: Windows 7 Ultimate (recovered)
BCD ID: {3ab64be2-54f1-11df-a299-f1b9aa3a99d0}
Drive: D:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe


Do you think this will work? Is it safe to reboot and try it? My XP is on C drive and the Win7 is on my D drive.

Which OS starts up now? Do you have a dual boot?

You can't recover the MBR into Win7 until it is converted to Primary using free Partition Wizard bootable CD.

But it might not be necessary if the repair reconstructed your Dual Boot with the System MBR remaining on XP. Try it.

The Easy listings look correct, while the Disk Mgmt screenshot is lacking Active flag on XP.


Get separate drive images using free Macrium Reflect, or Win7 Backup imaging will image them together while XP holds System MBR.

gregrocker said:

Which OS starts up now?

Do you have a dual boot?

You can't recover the MBR into Win7 until it is converted to Primary using free Partition Wizard bootable CD.

But it might not be necessary if the repair reconstructed your Dual Boot with the System MBR remaining on XP. Try it.

XP boots up now. I dont have dual boot because the boot menu is gone, but I do have Win7 installed on another partition which did work fine before I lost my boot menu. If I make Win7 primary then wont that stop XP from booting? Im not sure how to proceed. After I make Win7 primary then just reboot and see what happens? When you said try it do u mean just try to reboot now and see if the EasyBCD repaired my MBR properly?

Yes, of course try to see if you have a Dual Boot.

If you don't then the reason you would use free Partition Wizard bootable CD to convert Win7 from Logical to Primary is so that the System Active MBR can be written back into it, then start Win7 to add XP using Easy 2.0 which is an easier approach. A Logical partition cannot be marked active.

But first, confirm you have no dual boot now after the changes you made in Easy which look correct. If not, try removing Win7 in Easy 2.0 Add/Remove then Adding it back making sure you are using Easy BCD version 2.0 beta.

IF this fails, we will give you the steps to start up Win7 to try adding XP.