Cannot boot my second OS after re-install of primary OS

[Hobartian]

I am dual booting Windows 8.1 on my PC. The primary system is installed on an SSD 118gb drive and my second system is installed on a WD 1TB drive.

After a period of use my primary system became corrupted and I decided to reinstall the operating system. To enable me do a fresh install I went to my second system and using Disk Management I formatted the partition that the primary system was installed on. I then rebooted my computer with a Windows 8.1 install disk in the DVD drive and the installation process commenced. After preliminary loading was completed I chose the advanced option and the formated SSD drive for the new system to be installed on.


However, the installation would not complete apparently due to the SSD drive still having the 'System Reserved' partition on the disk. When I deleted that partition and formated the whole drive the installation of Windows 8.1 completed.


The problem is that by deleting the 'System Reserved' partition to allow the new installation I have lost the Boot Configuration Data pertaining to the operating system on my second hard drive. Everything on that drive is intact and I presume it would be bootable if the Boot Manager had the relative information.


I have previously spend a lot of time setting up the second system and do not want to lose it.


I am hoping that someone can explain how I can get the Boot Manager to find the second system and give me the option of booting it. I am not an IT technician just an enthusiastic amateur.

 

[alphanumeric]

Have a look at this, BCDEdit Command-Line Options. I don't know the commands you would use but there are some here who do. Hopefully one of them see's this thread. It's weird that it didn't see the other install and add it automatically?

 

[Superfly]

In addition to alpha's suggestion.

For legacy installs you could use EasyBCD :https://neosmart.net/Download/Register/1

... and for UEFI: EasyUEFI: Edit UEFI Boot Entries In Windows 8.1

 

[genet]

I am hoping that someone can explain how I can get the Boot Manager to find the second system and give me the option of booting it.

> OPTION ONE <

- Boot the computer using the Windows 7/8/8.1 installation media.
- On the first screen, press SHIFT+F10 to bring up command prompt.
- Run the following command at the command prompt.

bootrec /rebuildbcd

The bootrec /rebuildbcd command will search for Windows installations not included in the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) and then ask you if you'd like to add one or more to it.



> OPTION TWO <

- Boot the computer using the Windows 7/8/8.1 installation media.
- On the first screen, press SHIFT+F10 to bring up command prompt.
- Run the following commands at the command prompt.

diskpart
list volume NOTE: Note the volume letter where the Windows OS is installed.
exit

bcdboot X:\windows NOTE: Replace "X" with the volume letter of the Windows OS partition.

For example, bcdboot d:\windows (see screenshot below).

 

[whs]

In addition to alpha's suggestion.

For legacy installs you could use EasyBCD :https://neosmart.net/Download/Register/1

... and for UEFI: EasyUEFI: Edit UEFI Boot Entries In Windows 8.1

Good suggestion. And I just found this link in it that I shall try on my little Asus laptop that has a retarded BIOS.