Cloned dual boot drive won't boot Win7


  1. Posts : 3
    Win7 Ultimate and Win 10 Pro 64bit
       #1

    Cloned dual boot drive won't boot Win7


    I have a Dell3010 running Win 10 but it unfortunately upgrades and prevents one of my critical software programmes from working and as i know it remains stable in Win 7 i decided to dual boot both systems.
    I did all the necessary and the computer will boot in either Win 7 or 10 and both work. On Win7 the DVD player isn't recognised and it won't connect to the internet but that's not a major problem.
    Great so far!
    I then wanted to change the hard drive to an SSD and used Macrium Reflect to clone the drive. Cloned OK and installed it.
    Win 10 opened as expected but Win 7 hangs on "preparing your desktop".
    I've opened it in safe mode but it hangs in this as well.
    I could install Win 7 as dual boot on the SSD, along with the critical software, and see if that works but i'm curous to know why i have the problem.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 16,187
    7 X64
       #2

    An unsuccessful clone, not al that uncommon with the software you used.

    I have made a thing to fix it, which I will post in a few minutes
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 3,803
    win 8 32 bit
       #3

    Welcome to the forum. Can you post a screenshot from disk management showing all the details of old disk and ssd
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 16,187
    7 X64
       #4

    Cloned dual boot drive won't boot Win7-nt6repair6fix.jpg


    Boot into your working win10

    In the Fix os drive letter section

    Select the win7 partition in the dropdown

    Click FIX
    Last edited by SIW2; 25 Sep 2020 at 13:14.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 3
    Win7 Ultimate and Win 10 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks for the speedy replies.
    I'll supply the screenshots and try the fix tomorrow.
    SIW2 - When i try and open your files they fail as "virus detected"
    I've used AOMEI Backupper when macrium had problems before. I could give that a try.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 16,187
    7 X64
       #6

    Use this one, the packing is better
    nt6repair9x86.zip
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 3
    Win7 Ultimate and Win 10 Pro 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I took the easy way out and loaded Win7 onto the SSD seperately and it works OK.
    Prior to that i tried AOMEI and the result was worse; it wouldn't even start to open.
    I've also got the internet connection working alng with the DVD unit.
    I w need t repeat it on a laptop.
    Thanks for your help.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16,187
    7 X64
       #8

    It is quicker to fix os letter ( 2-3 seconds) than to redo the clone.

    The problem occurs because the cloning software hasn't told the os it is on a different device. The os is looking for the old device and gets stuck at preparing desktop.

    There have been several reports of that with macrium clone attempts.

    With aomei, I think you would need to use the "system clone" function, but I haven't tested to see if that copes with multiple os on the same disk. Most likely, it expects just one os to be cloned. Possibly that is why it didn't adjust the bcd entry for the second os ( win7 in your case).


    Either or both are easily fixed with the little thing I made.
      My Computers


 

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