triple boot XP, Win7 and Win 10- issue with EasyBCD


  1. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Home 32 Bit, windows XP home, Windows 10 Home 32 bit
       #1

    triple boot XP, Win7 and Win 10- issue with EasyBCD


    Hi. I am not sure where my problem started, so I will give a description of my entire project. I will try to be concise and brief.

    I have a dual boot XP/Win7 system. I was given a free upgrade to Win10 through Win7, and I wanted to try it out without loosing my Win7 system (I don't want to lose access to certain applications-same reason I am keeping XP). At the same time, I want to upgrade to a larger HDD.

    I install new HDD and use Macrum Reflect to clone my XP drive and Win7 drive to the new HDD. I then upgrade to Win10 on the original HDD, and then clone that to a third partition on the new HDD. I had an issue with a "Windows Not Genuine" message, for which I downloaded and used Paragon Rescue Kit to re-arrange drive letters so (on the new HDD), XP is C:, W7 is D:, and W10 is E:. All are primary and bootable. From here on, I disconnect the original HDD and work solely off of the new one.

    When I boot the PC, I only have XP and W7 as boot options. For this, I am trying to use EasyBCD, where I am running in to my current problem. "The boot configuration data store cannot be opened. The file has been externally altered so the opened file is no longer valid".

    Any one of the steps in my process could be the issue. I have found instructions on how to avoid this issue with fresh installs, but I don't want to lose files and programs, so cloning is the best option.

    My primary question is, how can I get all three OS options in my boot menu? I would appreciate any advice you have, be it moving forward from here, or starting over and doing something differently.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #2

    Hi and welcome to SevenForums,
    I'd say if you upgraded this win-7 to win-10 the 7 key is no longer any good = it has been upgraded.

    To dual boot you'd have to buy win-10 and leave your 7 alone = do not upgrade it to 10.

    Unless I've missed something ?

    There was a fish tell that stated a person can use both but these os's would have to be on separate hdd's
    I personally would not risk a 7 key on the above statement.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 13,576
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #3

    You can`t upgrade to 10 and keep 7, you have to buy and clean install 10 on the new drive, as Mike stated.

    That`s what I would do.

    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit - Newegg.com
      My Computer


 

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