Dual booting question: I have 2 hard drives.


  1. LordArcus
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       New #1

    Dual booting question: I have 2 hard drives.


    The original one had Windows Vista on it along with my apps, programs, etc.

    I clean installed Windows 7 on a second drive that had nothing on it.

    They don't seem to recognize each other and I can only change which one boots through F8 and the BIOS settings.

    How do I get them to recognize each other at boot up?

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

    Check out this Tutorial

    Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and Vista
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  4. LordArcus
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Yeah, I did everything in that tutorial and actually posted there but my post got moved.

    The computer still doesn't let me choose when it boots up.
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  6. DocBrown
    Posts : 9,606
    Win7 Enterprise, Win7 x86 (Ult 7600), Win7 x64 Ult 7600, TechNet RTM on AMD x64 (2.8Ghz)
       New #4

    This other tutorial may help in understanding how to use BCEDIT for dual boots

    BCDEDIT - How to Use
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  7. Bare Foot Kid
    Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       New #5

    Hello LordArcus, welcome to Seven Forums!



    If you want a Windows managed dual boot instead of the BIOS managed, you can do the startup repairs to the partition that is marked as "Active" whether it be Vista or 7 and that will configure the Windows managed dual boot; have a look at this tutorial at the link below for an outline of the process.

    Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times



    If there is more than 1 partition marked active that will cause issues and it would be helpful if you would post a snip of disk management for us to look at for further instructions and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.
       Note

    In the Windows start menu right click computer and click manage, in the left pane of the "Computer Management" window that opens click disk management and post a snip of that.

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  8. gregrocker
    Posts : 50,642
       New #6

    You currently have the cleanest method of Dual Booting: via the BIOS using Boot Order to boot first the preferred HD, then using the one-time BIOS Boot menu key (F8) to access the other HD. This keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please.

    If you want to create a Windows-managed Dual Boot then install EasyBCD 2.0 to Win7 and add Vista on the Add OS tab.
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  10. LordArcus
    Posts : 3
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       New #7

    I love programs and applications that do work for me. So, EasyBCD was PERFECT.

    Thanks guys, you all work so quickly, efficiently, and seem to know the answer. I'll definitely be coming back if I have any more issues.

    Much love,
    Arcus
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  11. Bare Foot Kid
    Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       New #8

    Good to see you found a solution and thanks for the update.
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