Dual Boot Problem

[dataplus]

I recently bought Windows 7 home premium to install on my Vista desktop PC.
I decided to do a clean install by adding a second hard drive and went ahead with the installation
All went well and until the computer rebooted for the first time after I had removed the Windows 7 installation disk.
At this point I got a message that booting had failed and I should insert insert the system disk.
I checked the BIOS and found the boot order was CD followed by hard disk.
I re-inserted the Windows 7 disk and rebooted at which point I got the message "Press any key to boot from CD" . I did nothing and after 5 seconds or so up came a dual boot menu for Windows 7 or Vista
Both options booted successfully.
I have created a startup Windows 7 recovery disk which I now have to leave in my CD/DVD drive to boot the PC
I am totally baffled why this has occurred as I have never had booting problems with Vista

 

[torrentg]

It happened because you have to leave the installer DVD in the machine while it's installing.

So what you can do is set your HDD in bios that you want to boot from as the default boot device.

Then run a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

by holding the f8 key (or similar) to boot to the DVD.

(Do up to 3x may be necessary, but 1x should do it.)

 

[gregrocker]

If these fine suggestions fail, then I would run a repair install, which in Windows 7 is an Upgrade install run from the desktop.

All programs, files and settings will remain in place while the OS will be reinstalled.

YOu have to reactivate afterwards at Computer>Properties.

 

[dataplus]

Dual Boot Problems

Thanks Torrentg for your suggestions
I should point out I am not a novice having been in IT since the early 80's when Windows was not yet available.
In the frst place I did keep the install disk in the drive until completed. The problem then arose on the first subsequent start.
What puzzles me is why the PC doesn't boot to Vista if there is a problem with the Windows7 installation since theoretically this disk has not changed.
In response to your sugestions I did run System repair from the repair disk I made.
The program found no problem.
(but mysteriously on starting from the disk the Vista loading screen appeared fleetingly before the repair options menu appeared)
After trying this I left the recovery disk out but each boot ended with just a flashing cursor in the top left corner of an otherwise blank screen - no boot faillure messages.
If I press F8 whilst booting (Boot menu option on my ASUS board) I get a screen listing all my drives. Selecting my Windows7 drive then brings up the "real" boot menu screen I normally get when leaving the recovery disk in my CD drive.
NB This screen appears if I disregard the "Press any key to boot from the CD" message and wait 5 seconds.
Thanks also to gregrocker
I have not yet tried your suggestion. Do I need to insert the installation disk ie is this a complete reinstall of the program
Finally the only reason I wish to retain Vista is to run the OEM programs that came with the Mesh PC which willl not run on Windows7. The solution being to purchase Windows7 versions. This applies to other programs too. I am sure software firms rub their hands in glee when a new Windows version appears with its attendant incompatibilty problems

 

[Dave76]

I would suggest to run startup repair from your installation DVD, three times. Startup repair can only do one BCD command at a time and will usually take three times to repair your Boot Manager.

Click :ar: Startup Repair

I have not had any programs that ran with Vista, not run in Win7.
Try this Seven Forums tutorial, click :ar: How to Run a Program in Compatibility Mode in Windows 7

Let us know if you have any questions.

 

[gregrocker]

Since you can boot into Win7 I would run a repair install. It is an Upgrade run from the desktop, using the installer. It will reconfigure the boot properly when reinstalling the OS yet keep all your programs, files and settings in place.

The only reason it will not configure the dual boot correctly is if you have other drives pluigged in which somehow get marked active and hijack the boot. So unplug all other drives during this.

 

[dataplus]

Thanks for your further suggestions I will try them when work permits

re Gregrocker's suggestion all the Windows 7 help file pages indicate that reinstalling windows will require re installing ALL other programs and restoring data from backups. The suggested method by the help file is to go to recovery then advanced recovery.
Is there another way please

 

[Dave76]

You can try Startup Repair, three times or as Greg suggested run a Repair install see the tutorial.

Repair Install - to Fix Windows 7 - This will show you how to do a repair upgrade install to fix your currently installed Windows 7 and preserve your user accounts, data, programs, and system drivers.

Let us know if you have any other questions.

 

[dataplus]

Thanks to all of you guys
I carried out the repair install as shown in the tutorial. All went well until the very final restart every stage appeared to have been successful.(settings and programs transferred)
Then 7 started loaded windows and suddenly a message "Upgrade unsuccessful" appeared and the original setup was reinstalled automatically.
I was left with a file _nlog.txt on my desktop with multiple identical lines :-
2009/11/18 10:13: E:\_NIBCODE\_nibconfig.h - Line: 114 - NErr: 2
The only other change was a hidden directory $UPGRADE.~OS at root level
Of course the boot problem remains
This appears to be the end of the line as I don't feel a clean install would neccessarily cure the booting
I will have to live with the system restore disk in my CD drive whilst booting
Incidently replaceing this with either my Norton 2010 or Acronis Home 10 disK allows me to boot after cancelling the relevant program!!
Once again Many thanks
Dataplus

 

[dataplus]

Thanks to all of you guys
I carried out the repair install as shown in the tutorial. All went well until the very final restart every stage appeared to have been successful.(settings and programs transferred)
Then 7 started loaded windows and suddenly a message "Upgrade unsuccessful" appeared and the original setup was reinstalled automatically.
I was left with a file _nlog.txt on my desktop with multiple identical lines :-
2009/11/18 10:13: E:\_NIBCODE\_nibconfig.h - Line: 114 - NErr: 2
The only other change was a hidden directory $UPGRADE.~OS at root level
Of course the boot problem remains
This appears to be the end of the line as I don't feel a clean install would neccessarily cure the booting
I will have to live with the system restore disk in my CD drive whilst booting
Incidently replaceing this with either my Norton 2010 or Acronis Home 10 disK allows me to boot after cancelling the relevant program!!
Once again Many thanks
Dataplus
[Unfortunately Many hands can't always make 7 work]

 

[gregrocker]

A retail purchase includes MS excellent tech support. They will resolve any issue for cooperative customers, even elevating to research team if necessary. I have found their tech support to be worth more than I paid for their products in the past.

 

[dataplus]

Dear All
The problem is solved
As I couldn't understand why my Vista drive had lost its ability to boot I decided to have one last attempt at a solution.
I unplugged my 7 drive and rebooted.
Instead of the "Insert CD.." message I got "Bootmng is missing"
I inserted my Mesh Vista recovery disk which diagnosed the boot problem and applied a "fix"
Upon restart with nothing in the CD drive I booted into my dual boot menu successfully
All appears OK now both Vista and 7 load correctly
I still wonder why using the 7 upgrade option failed at the final hurdle but I can live with that as one of lifes mysteries
NB gregrocker I tried Microsoft support initially to resolve the problem and was informed that I would need to pay for it. The installation disk is a retail version which I bought from PCworld in the UK and the installation had been activated at that time. Is there a different policy for UK (non US) users??
Once again many thanks for all your efforts on my behalf

 

[gregrocker]

I don't understand why MS would fail to support a retail purchase. Was it through a manufacturer?

If you want to get the answer from MS I would post on Technet where the MVP's and MS techs hang out. I get their policy straight by asking there.

Their tech support is supposed to support any retail copy through to satisfaction, are funded hugely to achieve this and never cut corners. They need to know if someone is sloughing you off, as they are not allowed to do this unless you are persistently uncooperative.