Trying to boot from 2 existing windows 7 installations?

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  1. Posts : 5
    win 7 64
       #1

    Trying to boot from 2 existing windows 7 installations?


    So I recently built a new computer. I sysprepped 2 windows 7 hard drives I had in other computers and now I want to set these up to dual boot. I have looked at some tutorials but most of them say you need to install a fresh copy of windows in order to do this. My problem is I do not have a Windows 7 disc and these are both existing installations. Is there any other way to set this up to dual boot?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #2

    We are interested in what you built. Could you give us the specs ?

    System Info - See Your System Specs

    Do you need to have both of these HD's booting into 2 versions of Win7 ?

    PS: Welcome to SF
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 5
    win 7 64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    DocBrown said:
    We are interested in what you built. Could you give us the specs ?

    System Info - See Your System Specs

    Do you need to have both of these HD's booting into 2 versions of Win7 ?

    PS: Welcome to SF
    They are both running windows 7 64-bit. Both hard drives came out of working machines (with files/programs I want to use) that had been sysprepped. I am currently using one of them but trying to figure out how to have the option to boot either drive. I'll post the specs shortly.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #4

    On Boot up or a reBoot of the computer have you tried tapping the F12 key to get a one time Bios Boot Menu of choices that you could choose between the two different HD's ?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 5
    win 7 64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    DocBrown said:
    On Boot up or a reBoot of the computer have you tried tapping the F12 key to get a one time Bios Boot Menu of choices that you could choose between the two different HD's ?

    Yeah it only gives me one option for HDD. Any other idea's?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       #6

    If you click on the Option for HDD, does it give you a second menu showing both HD's ?

    Are these SATA or IDE Hd's ?
      My Computer

  7.    #7

    If correctly SysPrepped to move HD to another computer then they should start.

    Plug them in one at a time until each will boot.

    If one will not boot, with other unplugged confirm that Win7 partition or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) is Marked Active,

    then run Startup Repair - Run up to 3 Separate Times until Win7 starts.

    It will install most drivers requiring several reboots. Then run all Important and Optional Windows Updates after enabling Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3).

    Once this is completed on each HD plugged in alone, set preferred HD to boot first in BIOS setup, trigger other HD using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key. If this is not acceptable method, install EasyBCD to the primary booting Win7 to add the other on Add OS Entry tab. EasyBCD (click Download - no Name or Email required)
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 11,408
    ME/XP/Vista/Win7
       #8

    So I recently built a new computer.
    As the new MOBO's now have a uEFI BIOS.

    Your old windows 7 install will not boot.

    For better help with problems, Can you post your specs.
    Filling out System Specs
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 983
    7 x64
       #9

    Sorry to bring this up but if they came out of other systems and you don't have media you more then likely don't have valid licenses for either of them.

    You need TWO Retail license keys to do what you want. Otherwise you are pirating the software and we here at Seven Forums don't help with Pirating software.

    Good Luck.
      My Computer

  10.    #10

    Simply transferring an OS from another PC is not evidence of piracy.

    Do you have licenses for each of these OS's to activate after they start up?
      My Computer


 
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