Solved HELP: Re-establish my Win 7 and Win 8 dual boot

rbarr110

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So I took the plunge and did a WIN 8 install on a hard drive in my current Win 7 machine, each OS on their own hard drive.


Well my Win 7 drive went belly up, which somehow ended up screwing up the boot files for both Win 7 and 8 and I lost my dual boot functionality.


I want to have Win 7 again on its own drive, but I cannot figure out how to get the handy built in Win 8 dual boot option that was setup on the initial Win 8 install.


The only way I can figure out to get it back would be to re-create the original setup. Do a Win 7 install, put the 8 cd in and "upgrade" and install Win 8 again on the other drive, which automatically did the dual boot option for me.


Does anyone know how or if I can setup up the Win 8 dual boot again without doing TWO complete installs again? (I dont want to use a 3rd party program)


Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 and 7

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'm not certain of this, but on my PC, I did much the same thing and it looks like Win8 updated the boot loader stuff in the win7 partition, not in the Win8 partition -- which, if you then remove or trash Win7, will stop Win8 from booting.

So, even if you repair the bootloader stuff in Win7, I don't think that will fix win8 -- but I could be wrong on this.
 

My Computer

Physically disconnect the Windows 8 HD.
Make the Windows 7 HD, disk0 & first HD boot in BIOS.Also connected to the first Sata port on the MOBO.

Do a Startup Repair:
Startup Repair - Windows 7 Forums
Note: You may need to do startup repair 3 to 4 times.
Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times - Windows 7 Forums

When Windows is booting OK, Reconnect the Windows 8 HD, as Disk1.

I just want to make sure I was clear, and that your answer is what I need. Currently Win 8 works I was able to repair it, but the other hardrive is dead and a new one on its way. Once I have win 7 on the new hard drive I want I want to be able to get this screen back on power up ...
Windows_8_dual-boot_menu_610x460.png


I will HAVE to do a full clean Win 7 install again on the replacement hard drive, and I dont think the dual boot option will be there, is there a utility in Win 8 to get it back? I do believe that Win 8 did change the Win 7 boot loader files, and without running something in Win 8, I dont think the Win 7 or 8 hard drive will load this screen since 7 will be a "newer" install then the 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 and 7

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 and 7
OK - Still can not get the dual boot back. This is what I have done to this point.

Have a hardrive with Win 7 installed. Removed all harddrives, installed new drive and installed Win 8. Reconeected all harddrives, with the Win 8 HD installed Sata 1 and Win 7 harddrive Sata 2.

WHen I reboot, it always goes to Win 8 no dual boot screen. I tried doing a "refresh" win 8, and when it restarted it showed the dual boot screen but both options were Win 8. I selected the top one, and the dual boot screen never came back.

Anything I can do to get it back with Win 8 and Win 7?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 and 7

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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