Windows Boot Manager

[micjmac]

I have two HDDs installed in my setup (both with Windows 7, 64 bit). It doesn't matter what my BIOS boot priority is for my HDDs because the Windows 7 Boot Manager prompts me at each startup to select which HDD I want to boot from. Is there a way to eliminate this process? I have my BIOS set to boot from my main HDD, not my back-up. The two options that the Windows 7 Boot Manager offers at start up are labeled each as "Windows 7." At the very least, it would be helpful if I could rename these labels and/or move my main HDD to the top of the list. The screen looks something like this:

Windows Boot Manager: Please select which OS you would like to boot from...

Windows 7 (this option is my back-up HDD but it doesn't say that)
Windows 7 (this option is my main HDD but it doesn't specify that)



Boot from Safe Mode
Use last successfull boot
(some other random options)

 

[Dwarf]

Have a look at this Tutorial http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2676-bcdedit-how-use.html

If you're not sure how to proceed, attach a screenshot showing the current arrangement (indicate which version you would like as default), and we'll take it from there.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello micjmac, welcome to Seven Forums!





If you wanted to have them boot independently of each other you would have to disconnect one HDD and do a startup repair to the other HDD/OS as many as 3 separate times with system restarts between the repairs to write the Windows boot files to that OS; then you would need to do the same process to the second HDD/OS, then you could use the one time boot menu to choose which OS / HDD you wanted to boot at startup.

I have used the tutorial that Dwarf posted and it's very effective to re-name them at the Windows startup boot menu; here's a tip: do the OS you're in so you can use the {current} to your advantage, then boot to the other and do that one, you'll see what I mean.

 

[gregrocker]

As I understand it you want to boot via BIOS boot order or one-time BIOS Boot menu, which is the cleanest way to boot with multiple HD's as it keeps the HD's independent.

Unfortunately Windows has already configured the Windows-managed Dual Boot menu which needs to be removed on the Edit Boot Menu tab on EasyBCD 2.0

Now either should boot via BIOS, with the preferred one set as first HD to boot in BIOS setup, then use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to boot the other OS HD.

If one still fails to boot, then you need to restore it's System Active MBR by marking it Active, unplug the other HD, set it as first HD to boot in BIOS setup (after DVD drive), then boot Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots until it starts - refer to Startup Repair tutorial in BFK's post above.

Partition - Mark as Active - Windows 7 Forums.URL