W7-64 clean install will not boot without Windows DVD ?

Hi,


I previously had XP32 running from the first partition of an SSD.
I cleaned off the second partition, shrunk it down to 90GB, TRIM, and performed a clean install of W7-64 onto it. I allowed it to install only essential security updates during installation.
Now at boot it produces the message: NTLDR is missing, Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to restart


That is interesting because NTLDR is used to start XP, not W7.


Only when I boot with the W7 installation DVD in the drive, it boots correctly into the Boot Manager and gives me a choice of W7 (default) or XP.


I have gone searching for solutions, and here are the remedies that I have tried so far:


1. the W7 partition was not set as Active, so I set it as active. No change.
In Computer Management the W7 partition is now shown as Healthy, Boot, Page File, Active, Crash Dump, Primary Partition. The XP32 partition is shown as Healthy Primary Partition.


2. I booted from the install DVD, went into Repair, and selected the Repair Boot Config. The installer, however, could find no problems with the setup. I did this 3 times as someone wrote that was necessary. No change.


3. In the Bios, I had the boot order set as Removable, CD/DVD, Hard Disk. Someone said that they had success in solving this by making the Hard Disk the first boot device. So I changed the order to Hard Disk, CD/DVD, Removable. But it did not work. It just went straight into the NTLDR error. So I changed the order back.
Also in the Bios, the SSD is set as the first Hard Disk. There are 3 other hard disks in the machine, two with a partition with an older version of windows (1 XP, 1 W2K).


4. I reconfigured the drive letters so that the W7 partition is drive C: (it had been F: before), and the XP partition on the SSD as D:. No change.
(Interestingly, when I am in the Recovery Menu when I boot from CD/DVD, it still shows this disk as F:)
In diskpart it now shows the W7 partition, which is volume 7, as “Boot” under the column Info.


5. I renamed the boot config file, and forced Windows to rebuild it. That it did, but it did not solve the problem. (I forget the commands used, it was a late night last night!) No change.


6. I downloaded and installed EasyBCD 2.2. I carefully tried various things with it, possibly not correctly, but I have not been able to solve the problem.



Here is the current BCDEDIT output:
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=H:
path \bootmgr
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
default {current}
displayorder {current}
{8fd2bac1-ed36-11e3-8c88-d3965a4805c6}
timeout 30


Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Windows 7 Home Premium
locale en-US
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {650fb233-eceb-11e3-a0d7-806e6f6e6963}


Real-mode Boot Sector
---------------------
identifier {8fd2bac1-ed36-11e3-8c88-d3965a4805c6}
device partition=C:
path \NST\ntldr
description Microsoft Windows XP




If someone has another idea or something to try with BCDEDIT or EasyBCD I'm all ears. I don't want to go further installing application software etc until I get this to boot correctly.


Thank you in advance.

When you installed Windows 7 did you boot from the DVD to install?

dlc41 said:

When you installed Windows 7 did you boot from the DVD to install?

Yes

That's your problem. Here is a link to Microsoft instruction on install Dual Boot Windows.

Install more than one operating system (multiboot) - Windows Help

dlc41 said:

That's your problem. Here is a link to Microsoft instruction on install Dual Boot Windows.

Install more than one operating system (multiboot) - Windows Help

That's interesting - elsewhere I found exactly the opposite instruction, which is why I did it that way. There it said perform the install from within XP if you want to do an upgrade; boot from the DVD if you want to do a clean install into a new partition.

Now that it is installed, surely there is an edit of the BCD that would make it boot properly?

Best thing I know of is EasyBCD. Here's the link. Non-commercial is free.

https://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

dlc41 said:

Best thing I know of is EasyBCD. Here's the link. Non-commercial is free.

https://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

Thanks - I had noticed this software, installed and tried it - see above.

But can anyone tell me specifically exactly what I should do with it in this situation?

You would not want to run the installer from XP as it would lock out the C drive letter from Win7 use.

Something about the disk configuration which might not be evident in the labels you reported is awry, so please post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image.

Something has kept the Win7 installer from updating the System boot files on XP partition which is what is done on same-disk dual boot XP/7. You're missing the System Flag entirely which means it won't write the boot files to either partition, or make either bootable without the DVD.

We've always been able to resolve this before by sorting the configuration as necessary so that marking Active + 3 repairs will finally write boot files to 7 and make it bootable, then if necessary add XP using EasyBCD from 7.

A real mess. The entire System is attempting to boot from the System partition labeled Win2K which is not possible if it really is that ancient OS. All other HDs should always be unplugged during an OS install so that each is made independently bootable. You can create a Windows boot menu afterwards if you don't want to boot via the BIOS.

To get the Dual Boot working on the SSD unplug all other HDs. Swap Disk0 cable to SSD so it is in first position set first to boot. Now with Win7 partition marked Active run 3 Startup Repairs until it starts and holds System flag

Install EasyBCD to 7 to add XP. http://neosmart.net/Download/Register/1

To avoid possible problems I would plug back in each HD one at a time, move its data off to wipe with Diskpart Clean command then repartition in Disk Mgmt. Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

The raw partition means it's ruined. Try wipe and repartition w full format then Disk Check and test the drive with maker's diagnostics.

Only System partitions should be marked Active.

You can extend C:Win7 in Disk Mgmt to gain precious space. You can also move your User folders off onto HD when it gets tight. User Folders - Change Default Location