How to use BCDEDIT to create a new entry for Linux?

Hello all!

Recently I installed Linux (Kali) as a dual boot with my Windows 7 Ultimate X64. Though I was messing with EasyBCD and as a result now whenever I boot my Laptop I dont enter Grub2 to select what OS to boot, but Windows start automatically
My total aim is to use Windows boot menu instead of Grub2 and I want to create an entry there for my Linux which is installed in the 2nd partition of my HDD (around 100GB). And I know that I can use EasyBCD for that, but I am against using softwares to deal with such important things. I prefer to use the original, safe Windows' BCDEDIT tool, even if it is more difficult to make it work.
So I want to use bcdedit to create an entry for the Kali Linux. I have read the How to use BCDEDIT tutorial but unfortunately it does not offer much info about the bcdedit /create command
I have searched so much to make it work but no results...So I would like you to explain me what should I do!

Thanks

Thanks for your reply:)

Though as I said in my thread I don't want to use EasyBCD or any relative software. Instead I prefer to use the BCDedit tool.

Hi there
If your Machine boots from an EXTERNAL device why don't you create your Linux system on the external HDD and also write GRUB to the external HDD so you can boot TOTALLY from the external HDD without TOUCHING your windows partition.

Any old laptop HDD with a SATA==>USB2 cable will boot and run Linux just fine -- I'm running a DEBIAN WHEEZY and an OPEN SUSE 13.1 system from external HDD's -- and then I start VMWARE and load up a Win 7/ Win 8 / XP Virtual machine at choice.

Response time is fine, especially if you use an SSD -- and the whole kybosh runs TOTALLY FROM THE EXTERNAL HDD making it a nice portable system. It works even if there's no HDD in the main computer or if the HDD is broken.

Read my thread here


How to make Portable Windows system (any version)

IMO much better than messing about with BCDEDIT / screwing up MBR or whatever.

The Linux systems these days can mount / read write windows files without any problem too.

Cheers
jimbo

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
If your Machine boots from an EXTERNAL device why don't you create your Linux system on the external HDD and also write GRUB to the external HDD so you can boot TOTALLY from the external HDD without TOUCHING your windows partition.

Any old laptop HDD with a SATA==>USB2 cable will boot and run Linux just fine -- I'm running a DEBIAN WHEEZY and an OPEN SUSE 13.1 system from external HDD's -- and then I start VMWARE and load up a Win 7/ Win 8 / XP Virtual machine at choice.

Response time is fine, especially if you use an SSD -- and the whole kybosh runs TOTALLY FROM THE EXTERNAL HDD making it a nice portable system. It works even if there's no HDD in the main computer or if the HDD is broken.

Read my thread here


How to make Portable Windows system (any version)

IMO much better than messing about with BCDEDIT / screwing up MBR or whatever.

The Linux systems these days can mount / read write windows files without any problem too.

Cheers
jimbo

Hello there,

Thanks for your reply. Very useful and informative. Unfortunately though I don't use any external HDD or SSD. I use my internal HDD and I have "shrank" it. So a part of it is used for Windows 7 and the second part is used for Kali Linux. I want to use only the bcdedit. I know that my thread is very difficult to solve, but if someone knows very well the Bcdedit commands I think he/she can help me.
Thanks again.

I found this article
How to Dual Boot Windows 7 and Linux using BCDEdit | iceflatline

Hello all,

Excuse me for not replying earlier.

I followed the article which DavidW7ncus linked and it worked! Though I had to do some changes, as for example in a bcdedit command I had to use the partition in which Grub2 was installed and not the primary Linux partition. So it took me a while to get it work but yea it worked!

Of course I believe that many people will probably have the same problem. So I think this thread might be useful. And if you want a quick answer, then go here ===> How to Dual Boot Windows 7 and Linux using BCDEdit | iceflatline

Thanks all of you who replied to this enough difficult thread and ofc special thanks to DavidW7ncus.
Congratz to sevenforums and its members for their work.Now I have no doubt that this Site is the best for Windows 7 problems and info.Ofc I will try to help too in other threads

You're welcome and glad to hear you got this issue sorted out.
Thanks for replying with your comments and solution.
And, Welcome to Seven Forums.


You now are the SF Win7/Linux/Dual-Boot/BCDEdit guru