Solved Add Boot Option After Win 8 Install?

sl2222

Member
Member
Messages
106
I've seen all the tips on setting up a dual boot while installing Win 8 with an existing win 7 installation but I can't find any way to add a boot option AFTER installing win 8.
I have an image of win 7 that I want to put on another hard drive and then be able to dual boot either 8 or 7.
I tried using easybcd and it appeared to save the entry but it wasn't there when I booted up.
On a side note I also can't seem to change the timeout value before it boots. It always reverts to 30 seconds. Any ideas? I tried msconfig with the same results.

I do have an added boot menu for a recovery via Farstone recovery. It added it to the win 8 boot menu so it must be possible to add the win 7 somehow.

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Is your Windows 8 installation on UEFI/GPT ?

I have already experienced situations (even on BIOS/MBR) that you have to restart Windows 8 so changes to BCD are permanent.
Windows 8 has to be shut down completely, which means fast startup (new in Win8) must be disabled !
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    XP, Win7, Win8_Eval
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Notebook
    CPU
    Intel
And what OS you are booted into will make a difference. If EasyBCD is not sticking, you may be booting to another BCD Store.

Edit: I will have to do some more research in the command.

I currently just use the Boot Device Menu to switch between OSes...
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
It is installed with mbr. I will power off fully and report back. thanks

Is your Windows 8 installation on UEFI/GPT ?

I have already experienced situations (even on BIOS/MBR) that you have to restart Windows 8 so changes to BCD are permanent.
Windows 8 has to be shut down completely, which means fast startup (new in Win8) must be disabled !
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
tried full power down (even unplugged it) with no change.
easybcd shows save as successful but the new entry does not show up. It's still the win 8 GUI menu and I need to get back to the win 7 text interface I think.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
I booted into recovery and used bootrec to rebuild the mbr and it found the installation and I was successful in adding it to the menu.
Thanks guys for the ideas!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Back
Top