win 7 dual boot with linux win 7 wont boot

[hwally]

I"m in the process of resurrecting an old Dell XPS 5th GEN. I installed a new hard drive with windows 7 on it but couldn't get it to boot. It froze just after Windows is starting came on the screen. I removed the hard drive from a working computer that has a dual boot, Win 7 and Linux. The Dell still won't boot Windows, it freezes just after announces Windows is starting. I restarted it and tried booting to Linux and it boots Linux just fine. I installed the new drive I bought for the Dell on my other machine and it boots Windows 7 just fine. Both computers are 64 bit and so are the operating systems. Any ideas or suggestions? Thank You.

 

[AddRAM]

What size is the hard drive ?

 

[hwally]

Both hard drives are 500 gb.

 

[MeshMode]

You try safe mode?

 

[hwally]

I just tried safe mode no luck. Bye the way, thank you for your time and expertise.

 

[MeshMode]

No blue screens? or reboots? It just freezes?

 

[MeshMode]

Its probably storage controller drivers. If i understand your post correctly you pulled this drive from another system and just popped it in? So this isnt a fresh windows installation?

 

[hwally]

No blue screen or reboots.
I first installed a new hard drive with a fresh install of windows 7 and had the same symptoms: boots, gets to windows, is starting then freezes. I then removed the drive and installed a hard drive with dual operating systems, windows 7 and Linux, from a working computer. It freezes when I try to boot Windows and boots right up when I choose Linux. I installed the new hard drive with the fresh install of Windows in my working computer and it boots right up. It seems as though it might be a problem with the bios of the second computer.

 

[MeshMode]

Update the bios and reset everything in the bios to default. Check the sata controller's operating mode whether its raid, ATA, etc. Usually when it locks up at that point its storage controller but more often then not if the storage controller is the cause it will blue screen and give you an error code that ends in 7b. "I first installed a new hard drive with a fresh install of windows 7" did you run the actual installation with the drive inserted in the problematic system or was the OS already on the drive? The way you phrase that sentence, you make it sound as though the drive already had the win7 install on the drive. Also are we talking desktop or laptop?

 

[hwally]

Bios reset to default and updated. The SATA controller is set to RAID Autodetect / AHCI. I haven't gotten a blue screen it just freezes. The operating system was installed on the hard drive before I inserted it into the problematic system. I have an official version of windows I purchased and it is activated. Both systems are desktops. Thank you for the help and interest.

 

[MeshMode]

put the hard drive in the system that boots, boot to windows, download and install the storage controller drivers for the xps system then try putting the drive back in the xps system to see if it boots successfully. If there are any expansion cards inside you might wanna remove 'em.

 

[Shabakthanai]

If when you start your computer and the boot screen is presented and Windows is the first Operating System offered, while the Linux is offered in the Second position, you have a computer where Linux was the first Operating Stystem installed. If that is the case, Windows boot loader will not have been installed properly.

Windows is particular. It must be installed first to accept a dual-boot. It sounds like you already had Linux installed prior to installing Windows. That is why Linux works and Windows does not.

To fix the problem, you must start from scratch again. Format the drive you want to use and install the Windows OS first. Once installed, try it. I am sure it will boot properly.

Once Windows is installed, install the Linux application you want in the dual-boot configuration.

Now when you restart your computer you will have a screen open that offers choice between the two Operating Systems. The Linux application will be first on the list, and open automatically if you don't make a choice to open the Windows OS, but by selecting the Windows OS, it will open.

One other thing. I do not know the older computer you are making work again, but you also must check the Windows and Linux machine requirements to make sure that the Operating Systems you want installed fall within the capabilities of the older machine. I don't think this is your problem, but it may be.

I read your post carefully and glanced at all the replies. And if I have stated your situation accurately, the newly formatted and installed dual-boot should work just fine. Of course, if I have misunderstood, my solution may not correct the problem. If that is the case, it sounds like the Windows application has been corrupted and probably needs to be re-installed. If that is the case and the repair option is not available, you will have to follow my instruction anyway and format the drive and install Windows first and Linux second. I am not sure which boot loader is the problem, but with Windows OS installed first, the boot problem should be solved.

 

[MeshMode]

Yes a format / fresh installation will always give the best results. I have successfully gotten a win7 install from one system to another to work, but i had to capture a wim and inject drivers. Either way good luck bruh. Let us know what the results are. Peace

 

[Shabakthanai]

Yes a format / fresh installation will always give the best results. I have successfully gotten a win7 install from one system to another to work, but i had to capture a wim and inject drivers. Either way good luck bruh. Let us know what the results are. Peace

Just thought new thinking might help you. I am glad you were successful. Cudos, friend

 

[hwally]

On the hard drive with the dual boot I installed windows first, then Linux. This hard drive was in a working computer and had no problems. The other hard drive with just windows works fine in the working computer. I'm having problems with the older Dell. I went to the Dell site to see about some driver updates and discovered that most of the drivers were designed to work with Windows XP and hadn't been updated since 2005. The Linux OS I'm using will work with older hardware. I think it's a problem of compatibility. Just for fun I'm going to try installing XP to see if it will boot. I'll let you know.