Solved Boot Change Help

sl2222

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Member
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I've searched the forum and haven't seen anything like this.
I have a win 8 /win 7 system. the win 8 is the default boot os.
Unfortunately I installed win 8 with the win 7 drive in the system and the computer needs that win 7 drive in order to boot.

I've tried a bunch of things to get the win 8 drive fully setup to boot alone but can't seem to get it right.
I tried just booting up with the win 8 drive only in the computer and then run bootrec. I tried all the options in bootrec and all are successful except the important one. When I tell it to add the c: drive to the boot menu I get...
"The requested system device cannot be found'.

My goal is to get the system to boot to windows 8 all by itself and then add the drives I want after that.

Here's a copy of my bcdedit command and thanks for any help you can provide...

Partition K: is my win 7 drive and C: is Win 8

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.2.9200]
(c) 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=K:
path \bootmgr
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {globalsettings}
integrityservices Enable
default {current}
resumeobject {e54d3fe5-65b5-11e2-be86-806e6f6e6963}
displayorder {current}
{7bd163e5-1f4f-11e2-ab9c-6cf0490e4dd5}
{a4e048de-659f-11e2-a438-a889f0aa5baf}
{8fbbb7ef-223a-45e4-a98f-d0d79800647d}
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 3
displaybootmenu Yes
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Win 8 SSD
locale en-US
integrityservices Enable
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {e54d3fe5-65b5-11e2-be86-806e6f6e6963}
nx OptIn
pae Default
sos No
debug No
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {7bd163e5-1f4f-11e2-ab9c-6cf0490e4dd5}
device partition=K:
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Microsoft Windows 7 SSD
locale en-US
osdevice partition=K:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {a14291bf-1f4f-11e2-b373-806e6f6e6963}
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {a4e048de-659f-11e2-a438-a889f0aa5baf}
device unknown
path \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description Windows 8 Media Center on G
locale en-US
recoverysequence {a4e048df-659f-11e2-a438-a889f0aa5baf}
integrityservices Enable
recoveryenabled Yes
osdevice unknown
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {33990f34-658b-11e2-be8a-806e6f6e6963}
nx OptIn
pae Default
bootmenupolicy Standard
sos No
debug No
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {8fbbb7ef-223a-45e4-a98f-d0d79800647d}
A device attached to the system is not functioning.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Tried that and did it 3 times as I read somewhere that it only solves 1 problem at a time and might need to do it 3 times. But it just gets to the point where it says it can't repair.
A side question - If there is only 1 drive in the computer it doesn't matter which port on the motherboard u plug it into right? Also I left the data cables plugged in while trying this and just disconnected the power to those drives. That doesn't matter does it? Thanks

Welcome to EightForums.

Try doing a Automatic Repair from the DVD.

How to do a Automatic Repair:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2843-automatic-repair-run-windows-8-a.html
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.
Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times - Windows 7 Forums
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Remove the data cables.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I still get the system device not found.
I noticed in the disk management console that the win7 drive is marked as the 'system' and 'active' disk (MBR)
The win 8 is GPT and marked as...
(Boot, Page File, Crash Dump and Primary Partition.

I think I somehow need to get the bcd store on the win 8 drive. But I'm sure just copying the bcd folder over and trying to rebuild from there won't do either probably. I have to figure out how to make that disk the 'System' disk.
Can bcedit assign a value so that bootrec /rebuild would see the a "System Device" that it is now not recognized when that's the only drive hooked up?
I know there has to be a way to do this.

Remove the data cables.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
You can not dual boot with One OS installed in uEFI mode & one OS installed in Legacy mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I beg to differ but i'm doing that right now. Win 8 on 2 different drives (1 mbr and 1 gpt) and win 7.
All will boot fine but they r doing it initially from the win 7 drive that I want to get rid of.

Oh and I tried using easybcd's 'change boot drive' but it fails saying it needs a primary partition on my C: drive (GPT)
The C: disk shows the partitions correctly in the management console and the primary partition is listed. The drive shows as Boot, PageFile, Crash Dump and Primary Partition.
Unfortunately the disk marked "System" is the K: drive.

You can not dual boot with One OS installed in uEFI mode & one OS installed in Legacy mode.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
You not dual booting, you are initially booting each OS.

Below is a screenshot of Windows 8 & Windows 7 dual booting in uEFI mode, & Win XP initially booting in Legacy mode.

Win 8-7-XP-boot001.PNG

You can only dual if both OS are in the same mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Maybe I misunderstand what dual booting is.
I thought if you had the option at initial boot to choose whatever system you want to load... i.e win7, win 8, Linux etc. then it was a multi boot system.

At any rate I still have my problem of trying to have ONLY my win 8 ssd in the system and get it to boot. :(


HERE IS MY LISTING
Capture.PNG

You not dual booting, you are initially booting each OS.

Below is a screenshot of Windows 8 & Windows 7 dual booting in uEFI mode, & Win XP initially booting in Legacy mode.



You can only dual if both OS are in the same mode.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
As Disk 0, 1, & 2 are marked ACTIVE, I am taking that as three OS's installed, there can be added to the boot menu with EasyBCD,
as there are installed in Legacy Mode.

The OS on Disk 5, can not be added, as installed in uEFI mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Thanks for sticking with me theog. :)
I'm booted into disk 5 right now. It's already in the list.
When I turn the computer on I NOW have a list of entries like this...
1. win8ssd
2. win8onG
3.Win 7
4. Recovery

I can boot into any one of those successfully.

What am I missing from your comments? You say I can't add the gpt disk but I'm using it right now. And I really don't want to add anything else to the boot menu. I want to make the win 8 ssd (disk 5) the system disk. I don't care if any other drive is even in the system and as I said before I tried fixing the boot problem with all other drives removed but it failed that too.

sorry to be such a pain.

As Disk 0, 1, & 2 are marked ACTIVE, I am taking that as three OS's installed, there can be added to the boot menu with EasyBCD,
as there are installed in Legacy Mode.

The OS on Disk 5, can not be added, as installed in uEFI mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Thanks for sticking with me theog. :)
I'm booted into disk 5 right now. It's already in the list.
When I turn the computer on I NOW have a list of entries like this...
1. win8ssd
2. win8onG
3.Win 7
4. Recovery

I can boot into any one of those successfully.

What am I missing from your comments? You say I can't add the gpt disk but I'm using it right now. And I really don't want to add anything else to the boot menu. I want to make the win 8 ssd (disk 5) the system disk. I don't care if any other drive is even in the system and as I said before I tried fixing the boot problem with all other drives removed but it failed that too.

sorry to be such a pain.

As Disk 0, 1, & 2 are marked ACTIVE, I am taking that as three OS's installed, there can be added to the boot menu with EasyBCD,
as there are installed in Legacy Mode.

The OS on Disk 5, can not be added, as installed in uEFI mode.

If you only want the Windows 8 in uEFI mode, delete all unwant OS's partitions.
than
Physically disconnect the all HD Drives.
Make the Windows 8 SSD, disk0 & first HD boot in BIOS.Also connected to the first Sata port on the MOBO.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
OK, I can try that but let me ask something 1st. :)
If I just disconnect everything except the win 8 drive and make sure it is in slot 0 on the motherboard then do a bootrec fix u think it would work?
Now if that does work...when I plug the other drives in it should still boot to the win 8 drive even if I leave those other drives intact shouldn't it. Because it still will be reading the mbr that was created on disk 0, right?

If you only want the Windows 8 in uEFI mode, delete all unwant OS's partitions.
than
Physically disconnect the all HD Drives.
Make the Windows 8 SSD, disk0 & first HD boot in BIOS.Also connected to the first Sata port on the MOBO.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
If I just disconnect everything except the win 8 drive and make sure it is in slot 0 on the motherboard then do a bootrec fix u think it would work?
Why? you stated, the Windows 8 uEFI mode is booting.
I'm booted into disk 5 right now. It's already in the list.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
The system boot code is on the win 7 ssd. If I remove that drive the system won't boot.
I don't want my system to rely on both the drives in order to boot.
I can only get into win 8 thru the win 7 boot menu. I WANT to be able to fully boot from the win 8 ssd.
I NEED to make the win 8 drive the "System Drive". THAT's my problem.
I hope that clears my question up.

If I just disconnect everything except the win 8 drive and make sure it is in slot 0 on the motherboard then do a bootrec fix u think it would work?
Why? you stated, the Windows 8 uEFI mode is booting.
I'm booted into disk 5 right now. It's already in the list.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Thanks for sticking with me theog. :)
I'm booted into disk 5 right now. It's already in the list.
When I turn the computer on I NOW have a list of entries like this...
1. win8ssd
2. win8onG
3.Win 7
4. Recovery

I can boot into any one of those successfully.

What am I missing from your comments? You say I can't add the gpt disk but I'm using it right now. And I really don't want to add anything else to the boot menu. I want to make the win 8 ssd (disk 5) the system disk. I don't care if any other drive is even in the system and as I said before I tried fixing the boot problem with all other drives removed but it failed that too.

sorry to be such a pain.

As Disk 0, 1, & 2 are marked ACTIVE, I am taking that as three OS's installed, there can be added to the boot menu with EasyBCD,
as there are installed in Legacy Mode.

The OS on Disk 5, can not be added, as installed in uEFI mode.

If you only want the Windows 8 in uEFI mode, delete all unwant OS's partitions.
than
Physically disconnect the all HD Drives.
Make the Windows 8 SSD, disk0 & first HD boot in BIOS.Also connected to the first Sata port on the MOBO.

Than
How to do a Auto Repair:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2843-automatic-repair-run-windows-8-a.html
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.
Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times - Windows 7 Forums
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
it appears we're going around in circles. I tried all that. I'll keep plugging away and if I can discover how to fix this I'll report back.
Thanks for all the ideas.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
You can not do Repairs as you have three ACTIVE HDD's before the one you need to Repair.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I may look at acronis true image home 2013. It claims to work well with windows 8, uefi and gpt.

I certainly am not an expert at this mbr stuff as u can see but I do understand pc's and windows quite well. There HAS TO BE a way to make that disk the system boot disk with windows console showing (System) in the boot partition.
I'm hoping true imgae can maybe make an image and then restore it and make it bootable. I'll have to check.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I may look at acronis true image home 2013. It claims to work well with windows 8, uefi and gpt.

I certainly am not an expert at this mbr stuff as u can see but I do understand pc's and windows quite well. There HAS TO BE a way to make that disk the system boot disk with windows console showing (System) in the boot partition.
I'm hoping true imgae can maybe make an image and then restore it and make it bootable. I'll have to check.

Yes, post 12.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
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