Dual boot Win 7 on separate drives

[newtie]

Hi-

I currently have Win7 installed on two separate drives in my box. I can only set (select) boot sequence in the BIOS. If I recall correctly, way back when a boot selection menu would appear when I think I was running Win7 (when it first came out) alongside XP but that screen no longer appears with my current setup. Is there a way to get that screen back, or an alternate way to select the OS of choice without the hassle?

Thanks,
Mark

 

[seavixen32]

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums.

Your problem has occurred because you have two copies of Windows 7 installed resulting in confusion at startup i.e. the computer doesn't know which OS to boot into because both boot records have the same name.

You need to edit the boot name for each system thus:

1. Boot into the first Windows 7 installation whose boot entry you wish to change.
2. Click Start.
3. Type cmd in the Search field.
4. Look under the Programs list, right-click cmd and choose Run as Administrator.
5. At the command prompt window type bcdedit to produce the boot text.
6. In the Windows Boot Loader section you will see the name for the current Windows 7 boot menu entry.
7. To change this boot menu entry for this installation of Windows 7, enter the following command:
bcdedit /set description “boot menu text”
where “boot menu text” is a description of your choosing e.g. “Windows 7 Professional”.
8. Press Enter to run the command.
9. Type Exit then press Enter to close the command prompt.
10. Close the Command Prompt Window.
11. Repeat steps 1 to 10 for each boot entry you wish to change.

For example, you could choose something like Windows 7 Drive C and Windows 7 Drive D for your boot menu text, but as long as you have two different names you should be able to choose either in the boot menu at startup.

 

[newtie]

Hi seavixen-

Went through your directions successfully and the new description did stick, however, no selection between the two drives upon boot. The second drive does appear in Computer btw so it's definitely there.

Thanks,
Mark

 

[metalmania31]

Isn't there an option when hitting F8 during boot up? It gives you the drive selection.

 

[bassfisher6522]

My question is why would one want a dual boot of the same OS? Not that there's anything wrong with that...just curious. My suggestion would be try your dual boot with 2 different drives with 2 different OS's....using the new Windows 8 Consumer build. See if that makes a difference in the screen option your looking for.

 

[seavixen32]

It should help if you disconnect one drive while you install Windows to the other and vice versa.

All being well, both boot entries should then appear on startup.

However, like Bassfisher, I am intrigued as to why you want to install the same system twice.

 

[newtie]

Isn't there an option when hitting F8 during boot up? It gives you the drive selection.

F8 is safe mode on my computer.

 

[newtie]

It should help if you disconnect one drive while you install Windows to the other and vice versa.

All being well, both boot entries should then appear on startup.

However, like Bassfisher, I am intrigued as to why you want to install the same system twice.[/QUOTE]

I disconnected each to install as you mentioned.

I run one Win7 OS (optimized) exclusively to power my flight simulator. The other I use for everything else, including running VMWare workstation. I'll figure it out eventually I suppose. Thanks for the help.

Mark

 

[seavixen32]

OK, that makes sense.

Keep us posted as to how things pan out.

Check out this old thread on the same subject.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/24414-dual-boot-windows-7-twice.html

 

[newtie]

Will do.

 

[seavixen32]

Will do.

Did you notice the link to the thread I just posted, it should provide you with all the information you need.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/24414-dual-boot-windows-7-twice.html

 

[newtie]

Will do.

Did you notice the link to the thread I just posted, it should provide you with all the information you need.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/24414-dual-boot-windows-7-twice.html

Missed that but did this..

Downloaded East BCEdit, added the drive number of the second drive as a Windows 7 OS, rebooted, and both systems show up on a boot menu to be selected, ex. Windows 7 and VMWare (2nd Win7 OS)

Done.

 

[seavixen32]

That's great news.

Thanks for the update as it'll probably help others with a similar problem.

 

[FWD40]

Dual Boot of same Operating System

Another reason is one I have. When 1st getting my Laptop with Vista Ultimate it ran great 2.5 years ago, but inspite of trying to clean registries and normal maintenance I really need a clean install. But I do not want to take the time all at once. Plus there are a few older versions of a couple of programs that allow me to do things online that the newer versions don't and unable to get older versions now.

This is my 1st post so not positive if this is best place to post this ? but what is best way to create dual boot of Vista Ultimate. I assume I would need to make new partition but have no disk just drive D with original boot drive instalation?