Multi-boot facility gone


  1. Posts : 19
    Windoxws 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #1

    Multi-boot facility gone


    I USED to have, on boot-up, the option of selecting either Windows 7 or an older system.
    Windows 7 was the Primary system, but I had XP French on a second drive, and XP English on a third.
    The C Drive with 7 on it suffered a sudden catastrophic failure, and I had to replace it with a new drive (Samsung SSD 850 PRO 512GB), but I obviously had to do a new install of 7, which lost me the multi-boot info stored on the old C drive.
    So the question is, can I recover the multi-boot function, or has it gone forever?
    Here's hoping.................
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 5,092
    Windows 7 32 bit
       #2

    I would try this freeware:
    Visual BCD Editor
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 19
    Windoxws 7 Ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks for that.
    Had a look and it's just gobbledegook to me.
    I would probably do a lot of damage trying to use it !
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 19
    Windoxws 7 Ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    After much reading on the 'net I purchased "Easy BCD".
    Ran it, did the necessary, and:
    I now have multi-boot back, BUT
    When I choose either of the XP installations, I get the following message:

    "Windows failed to start.
    To fix the problem
    1) Insert windows installation disc and restart
    2) Choose Language settings, the next
    3) Click repair your computer

    Now my question is, if I do this, is it going to try to repair W7 on my main drive, or will it find XP on one of the secondary drives?
    I have no wish to destroy my W7.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 19
    Windoxws 7 Ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #5

    As requested Terry:

    Windows Boot Manager
    --------------------
    identifier {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
    device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
    description Windows Boot Manager
    locale en-us
    inherit {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
    default {73bdb110-e080-11e5-b95b-bcaec554f4fb}
    resumeobject {73bdb10f-e080-11e5-b95b-bcaec554f4fb}
    displayorder {73bdb110-e080-11e5-b95b-bcaec554f4fb}
    {54f9ec67-e2b2-11e5-8bff-bcaec554f4fb}
    toolsdisplayorder {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
    timeout 30
    Windows Boot Loader
    -------------------
    identifier {73bdb110-e080-11e5-b95b-bcaec554f4fb}
    device partition=C:
    path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
    description Windows 7
    locale en-us
    inherit {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
    osdevice partition=C:
    systemroot \Windows
    resumeobject {73bdb10f-e080-11e5-b95b-bcaec554f4fb}
    nx OptIn
    bootstatuspolicy IgnoreAllFailures
    detecthal Yes
    Windows Boot Loader
    -------------------
    identifier {54f9ec67-e2b2-11e5-8bff-bcaec554f4fb}
    device partition=F:
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 19
    Windoxws 7 Ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Update.
    I removed the extra drives in Easy BCD, then added them again.
    Changed AHCI back to IDE, and now I have the boot list to choose from, AND I can open either of the two XP installations
    After that though things go downhill.
    Lots of "new hardware" messages, missing drivers, missing files etc.
    Booting from the XP disk to do a repair gives me a choice of three Windows installations to choose from, but it won't accept any of them
    What can I do next?
    Last edited by froggy2; 06 Mar 2016 at 14:22.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 19
    Windoxws 7 Ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #7

    bump, as they say.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #8

    Do you have a Win 7 disc you can try a startup repair from ?
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 19
    Windoxws 7 Ultimate 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Yeah, already tried that. No change.
      My Computer


 

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