I set up a dual boot with Windows 7 and 8 and it is extremely slow up until the Windows 7 and 8 appear. From that point on both load quickly. Also under the Windows 7 icon it says "recovered". Otherwise eveerything seems to be functioning normally. Any thoughts
thanks
First try disabling fast start up given dual boot: Fast Startup - Turn On or Off in Windows 8. Post back with your results. More might be required. No need to think about changing BIO mode.
Thanks znod. I tried it both ways doesn't seem to have any effect. Is there something going on with Windows 7? My selection is Windows 8 or Windows 7 (recovered). Is it recovering each time ?
When I reboot the windows icon appears and it then takes about 35-40 seconds before I have the choice or it automatically loads Windows 8.
thanks
You are very welcome. Try running automatic repair (up to three times) from Win8: Automatic Repair - Run in Windows 8. Hopefully, your startup will be repaired, and startup will work normally.
I tried running it from the instillation disk, it ran through once and ending with "Automatic Repair couldn't repair your PC". I tried it 2x more and it immediately ended in the same message.
You may need to use BCDEdit (not necessarily the best source of BCDEdit info) or the like. I am not great with such programs so I'll defer to others. Hope you get it sorted soon.
If I knew better how to use BCDEdit (or the like), then that would be my preferred first approach--because I am not sure that reinstalling 8 necessarily would solve the problem. But, I do think that there is a pretty good chance that reinstalling would fix. If not too much trouble, then you could seriously consider reinstalling. Be aware that you are pretty likely to have to use the refresh approach described in the following tutorial to activate after doing a reinstall: Clean Install with Windows 8 Upgrade. Having Win7 already on a partition may lower the likelihood. As implied in the first tutorial linked, you should be able to follow Clean Install - Windows 8 in reinstalling except for possibly having to use the refresh procedure.
Not sure it would matter much at this point, but I assume you installed Win7 first in doing your dual boot. If not, then that may be where your problem comes from. Some having installed Win7 second have been able to correct their problems using BCDEdit--apparently pretty easily sometimes.
I initially set up this dual boot with Windows 7 and 8 by installing a new Samsung 840 500gb SSD and creating 2 equal sized partitions. Using EaseUS I cloned my current Windows 7 installation from my Intel 240 SSD to one partition then installed Windows 8 on the other. I disconnected the Intel SSD and attempted the boot from the Samsung 840. Windows 7 would not load so I used the original installation to repair the bootloader.
Now using EaseUS I could wipe the Samsung 840, plug back my Intel SSD and start again.
So which should I do first install Windows 8 then Windows 7 or does it matter?
Should I try the Windows 8 refresh before I do all this?
Refresh might do the job just as reinstalling 8 might. Seems to me that doing either should not make things worse. Whatever you do, including refresh, be sure your files are backed up off computer. Of couse, as you suggest, reinstalling both should get things right. Install Win7 first and on partiton/drive 0. See Dual Boot Installation - Windows 8 and Windows 7 or Vista.
Well unfortunately there-install didn't improve things still very slow to load. Maybe some one out there has other possible fixes. thanks znod for you thoughts.
I had an issue with the printer causing the boot to take forever. Pull out any extra USB cables except keyboard and mouse.
If this cures it, you need to install the correct driver for the printer.