Dual boot Vista X64/7x64

[killerhz]

I have been lurking around this forum for the last several months. I wanted to know how to dual boot on 2 separate hard drive. Last night I installed Windows 7 and all looked good. Upon my first boot after install into Vista all the drives were noticed. Then I booted into Windows 7 to make sure that everything was fine and install drivers. All I can say is wow, what an amazing OS so far.
Here is where it get's bad;

After installing a few games I decided it was time to shut my rig down but check my e-mail over on the Vista drive. When I hit the option to boot into Vista there was an error message "bootloader.exe can't be found" (I think, at work right now)

I put in the Vista DVD and tried a repair but was told that a repair couldn't be done. I unhooked the 7 drive to see if that would make a difference but it didn't. I got a different message this time "DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER" (or something like this).

I guess my question is; am i screwed or is there a way to fix this?

Sorry for the long post and to bother you all with such a newbie question.

thanks in advance

khz

 

[Mark]

Hi Killerhz and welcome to the forum,

You can give Easy BCD a try, it has options to restore boot loaders.

 

[killerhz]

Hi Killerhz and welcome to the forum,

You can give Easy BCD a try, it has options to restore boot loaders.

I did a quick research about this. It's an .exe file right? How to I use that, do you have a link to the file and or how to use.

Thanks GRiM.

 

[SIW2]

Hi killer,

Could you post a screenshot of the bcd entries?

Type cmd in start search >when it pops up, rt click and run as admin >at the prompt, type bcdedit, then press enter.

Like this:



You might also post a screenshot of Disk Management - ( to save asking later if necessary). Like this:



Thanks

To post a screenshot (jpeg ), click the Quick button at the bottom of this post, then Go Advanced, then follow step 8 onward of this tutorial

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/148532-how-use-snipping-tool-vista.html

 

[killerhz]

Hey SIW2, I am at work but can post this for you once at home. TO do what you are asking I should be in teh Windows 7 drive correct?

Thanks for the quick response.

 

[SIW2]

Yes the 7 drive will be fine - we need to see both drives - so make sure the other one is attached.

 

[killerhz]

Yes the 7 drive will be fine - we need to see both drives - so make sure the other one is attached.

Will do. 3 more hours before I get home and will be sure to post this ASAP.

 

[killerhz]

Hey SIW2

Here are those screenies sir...

 

[SIW2]

Ok, the second HD is a Dynamic disk.

It should work with 7 as it is the Ultimate version.

The problem you may have is that only Vista Enterprise and Ultimate support Dynamic disks. Even then, you may have some difficulties.

I suggest converting it to a Basic Disk. Unfortunately, Windows Disk Management can only do this destructively, i.e you will lose all the data on it and have to reinstall Vista. This will give it a drive letter and correct the bcd entry as well.

Otherwise, you will need a third party partition manager to convert the Dynamic disk to a Basic disk , without data loss.

 

[killerhz]

Ok, the second HD is a Dynamic disk.

It should work with 7 as it is the Ultimate version.

The problem you may have is that only Vista Enterprise and Ultimate support Dynamic disks.

I suggest converting it to a Basic Disk. Unfortunately, Windows Disk Management can only do this destructively, i.e you will lose all the data on it and have to reinstall Vista.

Otherwise, you will need a third party partition manager to convert the Dynamic disk to a Basic disk , without data loss.

I guess I would like to not lose any data right now so a third party software would be needed. I do not understand what I need to do so please link me to an explanation? Once I do what you suggest Vista & 7 will work?

 

[ickymay]

Ok, the second HD is a Dynamic disk.

Otherwise, you will need a third party partition manager to convert the Dynamic disk to a Basic disk , without data loss.

can that be done ?

I have had two bad experiences with dynamic disks and both times recovered only by copying data to another drive then starting again

the only third party partition manager I find works well with all OS from XP thru to win 7 is Eausus

 

[SIW2]

Hi,

The only free software that I know of for that is Testdisk - instructions here:

How to non-destructively convert dynamic disks to basic disks « My PKB

Copy any really essential data off beforehand.

You should then be able to sort out the boot problems using Startup Repair on the dvd.

I say should , because nothing is ever certain. What have you got to lose except a little time - and you may have fun doing it.

 

[killerhz]

Hi,

The only free software that I know of for that is Testdisk - instructions here:

How to non-destructively convert dynamic disks to basic disks « My PKB

Copy any really essential data off beforehand.

You should then be able to sort out the boot problems using Startup Repair on the dvd.

I say should , because nothing is ever certain. What have you got to lose except a little time - and you may have fun doing it.

Thanks man it looks like my seagate barracuda s dead. I tried to even format but can't find the drive that is connected. looks like it's RMA time.
Man this really bums me out. Not even 2 months old and craps out on me. I have had my WD for 2+ years and not one issue that wasn't cause by me.

 

[SIW2]

That's bad news .