boot manager

tbernstein · 29 Dec 2009

I've installed 7 on a partition with XP already in situ as original OS on C:.
But when the boot manager comes up it won't let me choose the OS to use.
It will only allow me to select the default OS even though both appear on the boot menu screen. The cursor won't move away from the default OS (Which was 7 after I'd installed it).
I changed, ( in the windows 7 system settings) the default OS to XP. And then rebooted and it went into XP so that we can continue with the machine functioning as it was.
But I can't make it boot into Windows 7 and I can't now make 7 the default when I want to, since that option doesn't appear in the XP boot options list.
In effect I can't boot into 7 at all, now.
And even if I could, it wouldn't be much use unless we can choose the OS we need at boot time.
I made sure that the time to choose was sufficiently long. So it's not that causing the problem.
So, how do I make the Boot menu work as it should?

Adrian · 29 Dec 2009

Use your bios or F-8 function to select boot drive option.

jim0933 · 29 Dec 2009

Or you can download BCDedit from NeoSmart technologies: Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

Jim Pickering

tbernstein · 29 Dec 2009

Adrian said:

Use your bios or F-8 function to select boot drive option.

That'll choose between HD and DVD boot.
It doesn't give me the choice of OS.

tbernstein · 29 Dec 2009

jim0933 said:

Or you can download BCDedit from NeoSmart technologies: Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

Jim Pickering

Thanks, if I can't get this working I'll give that a whirl, but I really want to to make Windows behave as it should, if possible, rather than use a third party solution. That seems like cheating.
(OK, I know, I'm just a sad old computer geek who wants to make Windows behave itself

).

gregrocker · 29 Dec 2009

You installed Win7 in the same partition with XP?

Boot into Win7 DVD Repair console, click through to Recovery tools list and run Startup Repair 3 separate times, as it may need to rewrite the MBR.

From Win7, post back here a screenshot of your full Disk Management map and the listings on front panel of EasyBCD. Attachment 44357

Use Snipping tool in Start Menu, attaching file with paper clip in reply box.

Adrian · 29 Dec 2009

tbernstein said:

Adrian said:

Use your bios or F-8 function to select boot drive option.

That'll choose between HD and DVD boot.
It doesn't give me the choice of OS.

You put both OS on the same drive?
If you set up partitions you split the drive, I would put an OS on one and the other os on the other.

tbernstein · 29 Dec 2009

No. XP was on C: in the usual way.
7 on a new partition. Created specially for that purpose.
I follow the rules..
"Veteran computer geek"

gregrocker · 29 Dec 2009

Then let's see the Disk Mgmt and EasyBCD screenshots so we can advise you specifics.

Startup Repair if run 3 separate times from the booted Win7DVD repair console should start Win7 unless it isn't marked active, which is a real possibility in a Dual Boot.

So to determine this, suggest you download and burn to CD free Partition Wizard, boot it then rightclick Win7 partition to Modify>Set Active. Ok, Apply step.

If necessary reboot to enter BIOS Setup to make sure Win7 drive is first HD set to boot, after DVD drive.

Then boot back into the Win7 DVD repair console, click through to Recovery tools list and run Startup Repair 3 separate times, as it will attempt to repair and then rewrite the MBR to Win7. Startup Repair in Win7 automates all former bootrec and bootsect commands, but assumes a given fix will work until you come back for another.

Once Win7 is started, XP is added back using EasyBCD Add/Remove tab.

tbernstein · 29 Dec 2009

I have paragon somewhere.
But in the meantime.
If the Win 7 partition is active should it show up in the list of bootable drives as if it was a seperate drive if I do the F8 thing on boot?

I'm not often out of my depth these days. But I have no experience of dual boots.

.