Solved I don't want a boot menu...

[Piledriver]

Hi,

I will get Windows 7 and a new SSD tomorrow. Right now I have Windows Vista 64bit running on a Raid System. I want to make a clean Windows 7 install, but keep my Windows Vista partition for any case. I don't want a boot menu after installing Windows 7. If I want to start Windows Vista I just want to change the boot up order in the Bios. Is this possible without plugging off my Raid system while I install Windows 7?

What other options do I have? If I get the Boot menu, how easy is it to erase? Will installing Windows 7 and having the Raid plugged to the mainboard create automatically the boot menu and will I not be able anymore to boot directly into Vista by changing the boot order in the Bios.
Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Luckystar]

Hello Piledriver, welcome to the forums,

Try this tutorial, it may help.

I am not sure if what you want will be possible as both OS's would use the same boot loader and does'nt create seperate boot loaders per OS, even if you had Linux in there as well, again, it can (Not always) use the same bootloader.

Have a read through the tutorial and see what you can dig up.

Lucky

 

[gregrocker]

It may not be possible to Dual Boot via BIOS which is the cleanest method when there are multiple HD's. But you can try it:

Unplug the Vista HD's when you Install Win7, set the SSD as first to boot in BIOS setup, then after install power down to plug back in Vista and boot it using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key.

 

[Piledriver]

Hi Luckystar,

thanks for the reply, but where is the Link?

 

[Luckystar]

I do apoligise - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2676-bcdedit-how-use.html

There ya go.

@Greg - If you mean having an os on two seperate hdds on one PC, then it is possible, i have Windows running on two hdds currently on my rig and no problems.

Lucky

 

[Piledriver]

Hi,

OK looking at that, I think I will just leave the HDD's plugged in and then reduce the boot menu to 0 so it will directly start into Windows 7. Later if I need Vista I can change the time to 5 seconds or whatever.
Thanks again for all your help!

 

[gregrocker]

My point is that where OS's are on separate HD's, it is best to boot via BIOS and not a Windows-managed Dual Boot, so that the HD's remain independent and can come and go as you please.

The problem here is whether unplugging Vista during Win7 install - as is necessary to avoid having Win7 configure a Windows-managed Dual Boot - is even possible with a RAID array. You could only try it to see.

 

[Luckystar]

Hi,

OK looking at that, I think I will just leave the HDD's plugged in and then reduce the boot menu to 0 so it will directly start into Windows 7. Later if I need Vista I can change the time to 5 seconds or whatever.
Thanks again for all your help!

Absolutly no problem, glad to be of assistance.

My point is that where OS's are on separate HD's, it is best to boot via BIOS and not a Windows-managed Dual Boot, so that the HD's remain independent and can come and go as you please.

The problem here is whether unplugging Vista during Win7 install - as is necessary to avoid having Win7 configure a Windows-managed Dual Boot - is even possible with a RAID array. You could only try it to see.

????? I always assumed it was windows that created the boot loader anyway.

How is this done then, choosing OS's by using the BIOS instead of windows?

Lucky

 

[gregrocker]

Unplug the other OS HD when you install the new one.

After install, set the preferred OS HD as first HD to boot in BIOS, then boot the other OS using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key which every computer or mobo has:

Asus - F8
HP/Compaq - Esc
Sony - F2
Acer - F12
Gateway - F10
eMachnes - F10
Toshiba - F12
Dell - F12
IBM/Lenovo - the blue Thinkvantage button

This leaves the HD's independent to come and go as you please, whereas allowing Windows to configure a multi-boot interlocks the HD's unnecessarily when you have separate HD's which are able to boot via BIOS.

 

[Luckystar]

So basicly i am creating another boot loader for the seperate drive then?

Huh, never thought of that.

Thanks Greg +1

Lucky

 

[gregrocker]

Yes each OS HD will have its own bootloader, keeping it independent from the others.

We have come to recommend this strongly here because it avoids complicated procedures to extricate from a Windows-managed Dual Boot.

The HD's can come and go as you please.