Dual Boot Menu Problems

jweigel · Jan 12, 2009

I am having trouble getting both the 32bit and 64bit installs to show up on the boot menu. I orginally had Vista as the Default/boot. Created a second partion and installed Win732bit. It added the second boot option and all was fine. I recently installed Win764bit overtop (formatted - clean install) of the orginal Vista/boot partition. WHen it completed and reboot I now only see the new Win764bit as a boot option. I also noticed the Win732bit partition was assinged a drive letter whereas before when I was logged into Win732bit, you only could see the vista partition within Disk mgmt and it was not assinged a drive letter.

Attached is what I now see in Disk Managment. I have EasyBCD installed and have tried to get Win732bit option added but with no luck. Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

jjw
ND

Brink · Jan 12, 2009

Hello Jweigel,

You will just need to add a drive letter for the Win732bit partition other than C: from within Windows 7 Disk Management. For some reason it just does not do it automatically during the installaton of Win764bit. When you startup in Win732bit again, it will still be the C: drive there though.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

jweigel · Jan 12, 2009

How to get dual boot option back

I really do not need to see the non-boot OS partition. I am more interested in getting the option to boot into either Win732 or Win764 at startup. I am suspicious that the fact that the Win732 OS partion was assinged a drive letter while I am logged into WIn764 is part of the problem. Should this partition be set to Active? Should only one partition be set to active or can more then one?

Attached is what I see in EasyBCD now. I have made several attemps at getting the Win732 added so it might not be exactly as it was just after I installed Win764 into the original Vista (Factory Boot Partition) which removed the previous dual boot (Vista and Win732) and replaced it with just one boot (Win764).

One small observation is I now see the older Win7 (6801) boot splash (the green horizontal bars versus the quad color Windows Star spash (7000) even though I boot into WIn764.

THe Win732 I have installed is 6801. The Win764 is 7000.

jjw
ND

Brink · Jan 12, 2009

You could run a Startup Repair on the Win732 to fix it's boot file for it be included in the boot selection, but then you will need to change the default boot OS back to Win764 if you wanted that one instead.

limneos · Jan 12, 2009

You can just update bcdedit to show both installations at boot time.
Like this:

Code:

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {current}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7 Beta 32bit Build 7000
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {d22b5cc4-c693-11dd-b04b-ebb59894af39}
nx                      OptIn
numproc                 2
usefirmwarepcisettings  No
 
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {ddab5cc4-cd93-13dd-c04b-fbb59894af39}
device                  partition=D:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7 Beta 64bit Build 7000
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
osdevice                partition=D:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {d22b5cc5-c694-d3dd-b04b-ebb59894af39}
nx                      OptIn
numproc                 2
usefirmwarepcisettings  No

To do that, do the following...

1. In 64 bit version, locate what drive letter has your win732bit partition. (e.g. D: )

2. In 64 bit version, open cmd with administrative rights ( elevated command prompt)

3. In command prompt, type:

bcdedit /copy {current} /d "Windows 7 32bit"

this will copy your existing boot settings to a new entry.
when you do that, you will get a line like:

The entry was successfully copied to {d22b5cdb-c693-11dd-b04b-ebb59894af39}.

this {d22b5cdb-c693-11dd-b04b-ebb59894af39} is your new identifier...you will use it below:

4. bcdedit /set {your_new_identifier_as_given_with_command_above_including_brackets} device partition=D:

(or any drive you 32bit W7 is )

5. bcdedit /set {your_new_identifier_as_given_with_command_above_including_brackets} osdevice partition=D:

(or any drive you 32bit W7 is )

6. Reboot and enjoy

A complete example:

C:\Users>bcdedit /copy {current} /d "Windows 7 32bit"
The entry was successfully copied to {d22b5cdd-c693-11dd-b04b-ebb59894af39}.

C:\Users>bcdedit /set {d22b5cdd-c693-11dd-b04b-ebb59894af39} device partition=d:
The operation completed successfully.

C:\Users>bcdedit /set {d22b5cdd-c693-11dd-b04b-ebb59894af39} osdevice partition=d:
The operation completed successfully.

C:\Users>

I hope it helps

jweigel · Jan 13, 2009

That is what I needed....everything back to normal.

Thank You.

jjw

saiboat · Jan 13, 2009

hey, i didnt want to open another thread for this.
i installed win7 but my fav game tf2 didnt work as it should so i reinstalled xp on a newly created partition. after that the system only booted xp. so i used that win7 startup fix thingy and now it only boots win7 again and i cant work out any way to make it show xp aswell at startup.
any ideas?

Bare Foot Kid · Jan 13, 2009

Hello saiboat,welcome to Se7en Forums!

Have a real good look through this, it'll answer any questions you have; at the link below.

It works for Windows 7 also.

How to dual boot Vista and XP -- the step-by-step guide with screenshots

Be sure to keep us informed!

Later :shock: Ted

saiboat · Jan 13, 2009

that didnt work out. it keeps saying something like
"couldnt fint /NTRL" or so. tried it a couple of times with different drive letters aswell :S

limneos · Jan 13, 2009

saiboat said:
that didnt work out. it keeps saying something like
"couldnt fint /NTRL" or so. tried it a couple of times with different drive letters aswell :S

How exactly did you try that?

open elevated command prompt (with admin right) and type this.

bcdedit {enter}

post results here.

saiboat · Jan 13, 2009

C:\Users\saiboat>bcdedit

Windows-Start-Manager
---------------------
Bezeichner {bootmgr}
device partition=C:
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {globalsettings}
default {current}
displayorder {current}
{294cf40a-df57-11dd-8b
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 30

Windows-Startladeprogramm
-------------------------
Bezeichner {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winl
description Windows Vista
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {e8709fb7-fa5f-11db-be
nx OptOut

Echtmodus-Startabschnitt
------------------------
Bezeichner {294cf40a-df57-11dd-8b
device partition=D:
path \NTLDR
description Microsoft Windows

edit:
ted: my windows sp3 cd doesnt show me the repair option... it doesnt recognize the installed xp (although i installed it with the same cd just hour ago haha)

limneos · Jan 13, 2009

saiboat said:
C:\Users\saiboat>bcdedit

Windows-Start-Manager
---------------------
Bezeichner {bootmgr}
device partition=C:
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {globalsettings}
default {current}
displayorder {current}
{294cf40a-df57-11dd-8b
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 30

Windows-Startladeprogramm
-------------------------
Bezeichner {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winl
description Windows Vista
locale en-US
inherit {bootloadersettings}
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {e8709fb7-fa5f-11db-be
nx OptOut

Echtmodus-Startabschnitt
------------------------
Bezeichner {294cf40a-df57-11dd-8b
device partition=D:
path \NTLDR
description Microsoft Windows

Ok there's a mistake there...
If you can "see" your windows XP partition from Win7 in My Computer, find it's letter.
If it's D: , go on below with D:, else change as needed.

If you can't see the windows XP partition , open Control Panel, All control panel items, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Disk Management, select the partition without a letter and right click - > Change drive letter and paths... - ADD, select drive letter. use that letter below in place of D:

open elevated command prompt and type the flollowing:

1. bcdedit /delete {294cf40a-df57-11dd-8b .... and the rest in as you posted above}

2. bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Windows XP"

3. bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=D:

4. bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr

5. bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast

Reboot...

saiboat · Jan 13, 2009

limneos said:
1. bcdedit /delete {294cf40a-df57-11dd-8b .... and the rest in as you posted above}

2. bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Windows XP"

3. bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=D:

4. bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr

5. bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast

when i tried to do the second point it said that it couldnt be created because there was already one. it now looks like this:

Code:

Windows-Start-Manager
---------------------
Bezeichner              {bootmgr}
device                  partition=C:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {globalsettings}
default                 {current}
displayorder            {current}
                        {ntldr}
toolsdisplayorder       {memdiag}
timeout                 30

Windows-Startladeprogramm
-------------------------
Bezeichner              {current}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows Vista
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {e8709fb7-fa5f-11db-be4d-e219ece5282e}
nx                      OptOut

Windows-Legacybetriebssystem-Ladeprogramm
-----------------------------------------
Bezeichner              {ntldr}
device                  partition=D:
path                    \ntldr
description             Earlier Version of Windows

limneos · Jan 13, 2009

That seems correct.

The only problem you might have would be not being D: your WINDOWS XP partition. Do you see it in My Computer as D: ?

saiboat · Jan 13, 2009

yes.

limneos · Jan 13, 2009

ok we're getting somewhere... Go to folder options and at View tab, select "Show hidden files and folders" and uncheck the option "Hide protected operating system files" so you can see all hidden files in D:\

Tell us :

1. if you see a file called ntldr in D:\

2. Post the contents of BOOT.INI file here , found in D:\ too.

saiboat · Jan 14, 2009

ive wondered about that before: theres not a single lonly file in d:\ its all just folders. yes no hidden files either...

limneos · Jan 14, 2009

hmm..how did that happen now?

Are you sure you have un-checked "hide protected operating system files" in folder options?

Try placing the files in my link below to the root of D:\

and restart to see what happens...

link removed by me, job done.

saiboat · Jan 14, 2009

i love you! that worked perfectly. am now on xp again

thank you so much

limneos · Jan 14, 2009

saiboat said:
i love you! that worked perfectly. am now on xp again thank you so much

Glad you could sort it out

Dual Boot Menu Problems

New member

Attachments

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Administrator

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

Attachments

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Administrator

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

MIA

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

R.I.P. August 13th 2014

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

MIA

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

MIA

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

MIA

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

MIA

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

MIA

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

New member

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

MIA

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Similar threads

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer

My Computer