Solved Dual boot - Recovery screen when booting to Win8

Dual booting Win 7 and Win 8. Win 7 is C: Primary installed first, Win 8 is installed to a primary partition (25GB). I get the blue recovery screen after starting Win 8 from bootloader menu. Win 7 starts fine. I have installed Win 8 on another computer using the same flash so I know the flash is good. First I defraged and cleaned out C: then created the partition. I have installed it on the computer before(preview edition) then removed it(formated D: partition), this is the RTM 9200 build. Did I mention that on the other computer when installed it asked for Key which I temporarily skipped, on this computer however when installed it did not ask for the key. Before the install I ran bootrec /fixmbr, /fixboot and also /rebuildbcd from Win 7 install disk. I don't think it's a problem with the Win 7 boot loader. My guess is some registry value or other setting or file in Win 7 is preventing normal startup of Win 8. I do believe it's not hardware related. Any thoughts on what could cause this? Could it be the Win 8 bootloader now causing problems and if so how would I fix this issue? Do I need to fix bootloader in Win 8 and should I run the bootrec cmd's from the Win 8 flash this time ? Not sure which has taking over now! I have searched in these forums and online for a couple of day's to no avail though references have been made that the Win 8 bootloader has now taken over, if so were does the now functioning bootloader reside - C: or D: (partition) and which one is it Win 7 or Win 8 loader? This is driving me nutz cause it should start without a hitch!
Thanx for the help.

If it's an issue with Windows 8 Start up. your best heading over to the Windows 8 forum.

Hi,

Please refer to this:

Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista

Regards,
Golden

Have been on the Win 8 forum, waiting for replies. I think that there must be a few others out there with a problem very similar to this. If I knew for sure that the Win 8 loader takes over on Win 7, I would use the Win 8 flash to recover boot files. Right now Win 7 boots fine so until I know I don't want to mess that up. SO far It's been suggested that the Win 8 loader takes over but I don't know if it alters the Win 7 or just replaces it and if it does is it residing in the Win 8 partition or the Win 7. Well, I will keep digging till I hit pay dirt. Since the system(Win 8) is relatively new I'm thinking there's still alot to yet be discovered. So far I read that sales are less than when Vista came out. That say's alot. Good job boy's and girls.....

Why are you using dated XP-era commands to mess with the boot during a dual Boot install? All of this is automated in Win7/8 Startup Repair, or when correctly installing the OS from boot to another partition.

To sort the Dual Boot now run Windows 8 Automatic Repair

If for some reason it doesn't include 7 after reasserting the Win8 boot which was messed up, install EasyBCD (click Download - no Name or Email required) to Add Win7 by unique name, type and drive letter.

Gregrocker, thank's for the suggestions. I have used EasyBCD 2.2 to no avail. Doesn't change anything. I have run the auto-repair from the Win 8 flash, tells me there IS no problem with startup OR install, however I still get the recovery window when booting to Win 8. I had previously had the preview release on the system and took it off to instal RTM to check it out before converting. So after the reading and research I've done I'm convinced it's something like a registry error, .ini file, hell maybe a .dat file in Win 7 system somewhere thats preventing the startup. I tend to think that the install went alright cause ALL the folders and files that should be there are on the partition. I have used same flash to install on another computer just to make sure the install files on flash are good and they are. Oh yeah I tried a clean install with the same results.

Did you boot the Win8 installer to reinstall? Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade

It should configure a Dual Boot during install and work unless there is corruption on the HD which may require wiping it first with Diskpart Clean Command.

Unfortunately, NO. It was not a reinstall of the Win 8 with the RTM. I previously deleted partition along with the Win 8 preview. I have used the diskpart clean command both on the C: partition and second EWin 8) partition. Doesn't help that is why I think there is some kind of marker in Win 7 from the previous install thwarting my attempts for this supposed clean install. I hope I can get a resolution for this seems that both on 7 forum and 8 I have many folks viewing to see the topic and possible results. SO, it must be of interest to many more than just me... LOL

There is no "marker" blocking Dual Boot from Win7 partition. Boot the Win7 installer and follow the steps to Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade, this time deleting the Win8 partition first to create and format a new one, try install.

If it fails post back the exact step in tutorial and verbatim error message.

Check also in BIOS setup what is the SATA controller setting. It may need to be changed to AHCI first, then follow these steps to adjust Win to boot from that mode before trying 8 install: AHCI : Enable in Windows 7 / Vista - Windows 7 Forums

While in BIOS setup see if this is an EFI BIOS which requires special steps for install to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) - Install Windows 7 with - Windows 7 Forums

Gregrocker, thanks again. I will try the clean install as in your post later today. I am running both Win 7 and Win 8 on an older HP Compaq NC6230, 160GB IDE HDD - NO Sata, NO UEFI not even VD or VHD capable. It is a Pentium M class single 2.3 GB With 2GB Mem. Surprisingly made in 2004(tweaked as much as possible) a true workhorse, it Hasn't failed me yet as meager as it is... Yah, I know, I'm pushing this thing to it's max limits. Until our economy recovers(as hopefully I will) it will just have to do.....

After reading the clean install instructs, I do not have an upgrade ISO, I have an OEM RTM Build 9200 Copy of the Win 8 ISO that has been flashed to USB using the Win 7 USB Flash Tool. See first post Window.....

Shouldn't make a difference. What might be happening if all other steps fail, you've not installed Win8 on this PC before and the PC has IDE drives is that your hardware is too old to have its IDE storage driver in the Win8 installer.

You can locate the driver in the extracted XP chipset on the PC or mobo's Support Downloads webpage, insert it at Load Drivers link on the drive selection page.

If your installer has also not been tried successfully before it might be faulty so use the tool which always works: UltraISO Software To Create Bootable USB Flash Drive.

Clean install didn't make a difference. Someone recommended VisualBCD, no luck there. Since Win 8 Preview had worked before, NO it's NOT the HD Driver, it did however need my XP drivers for Wireless, sound and Video. I don't think it's the loader. Something else is a miss. When selecting Win 8 I get the recovery screen. This time error message is, The system registry file is missing or contains errors. File: \windows\system32\config\system - Error Code 0xc0000001. Well, the system file is there. Corrupt, maybe - however every attempt for Autofix or Restore System in Advanced menu have failed miserably... Have done a completely clean reinstall and that also failed. I'm still thinking Registry Entry somewere... Between the Metro start screen scaring off some, and problems like this, no wonder why people are afraid to switch over - it seems like a coin toss(either it works or it don't). Shame on MS for not giving people a choice, and thinking that they should try to give something like Google Android a run for it's money. NEVER GONNA HAPPEN!!! MS Stick to PC's - something you know!!! Google Android is too well established and wonderfull to those in the know - easy system to change(rom's and Kernals Plus there apk's are Gre-e-e-at) update and very usefull when rooted.... SO, Even though my computer doesn't support VM's I have read that Virtualbox Portable could be used with Win 8. Might consider that when time permits, I do have a spare portable(USB) good 60GB HD lying around. I definately think I will have learned a thing or two to add to my vast repertoire of knowledge when ALL is said and done..... LOL

Reading back over the thread I'd say the problem is likely the boot commands which were run have corrupted the boot beyond repair. You may need to wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command to clear the boot sector and then reinstall both OS's in order of age which should configure the Dual Boot when second OS is installed.

Gregrocker, If Win 8 was going to be the next big thing for 3 to 5 years like Win 7 was, I might have considered a reinstall of both - just because... BUT, since Win 8 is not all that and a bag o' chips (MS themselves have stated that there will be a new change EVERY YEAR at reduced price similar to Mac OS) and right now who know's what next years BLUE Edition will bring. I think that's way to much BS to go through for something that has a 1 year duration!!!! If I can't resolve it in an easier fashion I'll just drop it till sometime in the future when MS get's it right. But thank's for the help. P.S. I REALLY don't want that on my Celly, REALLY... Anyone else got some tips???

FIN

Well, look's like no solutions to this problem. Thank's again to everyone. So, I will call this one done. I have installed Win 8 to go on a second 60GB IDE USB HD. Works fantastic! The only thing missing is the Metro STORE. Seems that when it's a TO GO OS MS think's you don't need OR wan't the STORE. No big loss. The simple fact is my machine boots off the to go drive just fine. That being said I'll say my feelings on the problem are: That there DEFINATLY is something in Win 7 holding back that startup of Win 8 and NO it's NOT the Loader! I still think that somewhere in the Win 7 registry there is an entry blocking Win 8 startup that needs to be either taken out or changed from a 0 to a 1 OR something like that! I do think Win 8 is a good OS just that MS needs to put back the start menu and a few other minor changes. Good luck to ALL!