Windows 8 installation trouble

whs

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I had this nice scheme how to install Win 8 on my Sony Vaio laptop - unfortunately it is not working.

The Vaio has a single SSD disk with Win 7 on it. In additition I have an external eSata disk on which I installed Win 8 which worked well.

Because I did not want a double boot situation, I made the permanent boot order

CD reader
eSata disk
SSD

With this setup I had hoped it would load Win8 from the eSata when present and would skip directly to the Win7 SSD when the eSata was switched off hoping also it would put the Win8 bootmgr on the eSata where I had predefined a 50GB active primary partition.

Not so. First time it booted, I got the screen where I could select Win7 or Win8. That told me that I had a double boot situation. And when I switched the eSata off, it would go into a repair screen saying that a device was missing.

That was not at all what I wanted because it would have required to have the eSata constantly attached - even if I only want to run Win7 which is 95% of the time.

To fix that latter problem I restored my 100MB Win7 partition from an image and now Win7 loads normally without the eSata. But now I have no way to get at my Win8 when the eSata is attached. First I thought it was an MBR problem on the eSata. But even after I fixed that with Partition Wizard, it does not work.

To put insult to injury there is a strange BIOS setup in the Vaio. There is no way you can set the BIOS to boot from a specific device - you can only make a permanent setting as I have done above.

So I am stuck right now. I could, of course, take the SSD out during the Win8 installation on the eSata. But I try to avoid taking out the screwdriver. Does anybody have a better idea??
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
Hi there
I'm not sure how the boot manager works -- also if the external disk is missing it sounds strange that the primary W7 boot fails with "Device missing".

Your best mechanism might be to leave W7 as is working normally from the SSD and install W8 as a Virtual Machine. Depending on what you want to do with W8 a VM might be the best solution -- you power on the VM when you need it by just starting a piece of FREE software --vmware player from vmware (my preferred option) or Vbox.

Another possible solution would be to use partition manager to set the SSD as "Hidden" and the esata as the "Active" partition.
now install W8 on the esata drive. test booting it. Use a Bootable Partition manager -- you can create one on a USB / CD -- google for links to free p[artition managers.

now using partition manager set the SSD as the active partition, and set the esat to just a normal Primary partition and unplug the esata.

Otherwise I leave the Boot solution to more experienced people than me to help you out.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
I think that you need to remove the SSD for this to work, even then you could still run into problems as the boot order may automatically change when the esata device is disconnected. The only way around this would be to use the keyboard, I am guessing F8 on every boot to designate the boot device.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 and Windows Developer Dual efi boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
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    Intel Core i7-2600K
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    Asus P8P67
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    16 GB G Skill F3-10666 CL9D-4GBRL
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    ATI Radeon HD 6870
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    ATI Radeon HDMI / Realtek ALC892
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x 22" standard monitors / LG32LC56 to watch films
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x1080
    Hard Drives
    2 x OCZ Vertex2 120GB in RAID 0
    3 x Samsung103SJ
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    1 x Hitachi5K320-160
    PSU
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    Hama M3110 / Logitech M305
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    Other Info
    I have also used Fedora, Suse, Ubuntu Linux
    And all other Windows from 95 to date except ME
Hi there
not sure the OP's Sony Vaio has the F8 option to request the boot device. Sony laptops while great seem to have very limited BIOS / boot menu options.

cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
hi WHS,

if it was me, i would install WIn7 on the SSD without the ESATA, then on the second partition Win8 and yes a dual boot option, but what is wrong with that.

Unless your internal SSD is too small for 2 partitions. Or maybe i misunderstand you

Jeff

Jeff
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WINDOWS 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    INTEL CORE I--3770K LGA1155
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77-V
    Memory
    KINGSTON 2400 MHZ KHX24C11K4 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    INTEL HD GRAFICS 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philip BDL3245€ 32 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    2 SAMSUNG 840 PRO RAID 0 ON BOARD 2 x 128 GB
    Keyboard
    LOGITEC MX™ 5500
    Mouse
    LOGITEC MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    120 Mbps
Thanks guys for all the good advice. Here is my take:

1. Installing Win8 on the SSD (virtual or in a partition) is not an option. It is only a 90GB SSD and with the user data already on it I do not have a lot of space.

2. Somehow that W8 bootmgr must have connected to the W7 bootmgr. What is strange though that W7 would not boot when the eSata was disconnected. So the question is what is chicken and what is egg.

3. If nothing else works, I will get my screwdriver out and remove the SSD during the installation. But I am still trying to find a way to avoid it.

And Jimbo is right. The Vaio is a nice laptop but the BIOS is really retarded. Btw; another problem I have with it that I cannot run any live Linux program off a CD. It does not recognize my cursor. The cursor is just stuck. And I have tried with 3 different live CDs that all work on my other systems. I am trying to find an answer from Sony - else I will RMA this thing. For more than $1100, it ought to work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I have learnt something since my last post and that is both Boot managers are installed I believe Windows 8 Boot manager would be the default one. Try connecting the esata then booting up to Windows 7, then do msconfig and change the boot OS to WIN 7 reboot the PC and then try it again without the esata connected if I am right the Win 7 boot manager will now load and you will be able to boot into 7
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 and Windows Developer Dual efi boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-2600K
    Motherboard
    Asus P8P67
    Memory
    16 GB G Skill F3-10666 CL9D-4GBRL
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    ATI Radeon HDMI / Realtek ALC892
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x 22" standard monitors / LG32LC56 to watch films
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x1080
    Hard Drives
    2 x OCZ Vertex2 120GB in RAID 0
    3 x Samsung103SJ
    1 x Samsung103UJ
    1 x WD3200BEVT
    1 x Hitachi5K320-160
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 750W
    Case
    Antec 300
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P SE2 and 5 120mm Case fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000
    Mouse
    Hama M3110 / Logitech M305
    Internet Speed
    16000
    Other Info
    I have also used Fedora, Suse, Ubuntu Linux
    And all other Windows from 95 to date except ME
Thanks Brian. I will try that next time I setup my Vaio. Right now it is in the drawer.

I think you are right. There must be two bootmanagers. And they seem to be linked up. Very strange.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 and Windows Developer Dual efi boot
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brew
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-2600K
    Motherboard
    Asus P8P67
    Memory
    16 GB G Skill F3-10666 CL9D-4GBRL
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 6870
    Sound Card
    ATI Radeon HDMI / Realtek ALC892
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x 22" standard monitors / LG32LC56 to watch films
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x1080
    Hard Drives
    2 x OCZ Vertex2 120GB in RAID 0
    3 x Samsung103SJ
    1 x Samsung103UJ
    1 x WD3200BEVT
    1 x Hitachi5K320-160
    PSU
    Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 750W
    Case
    Antec 300
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-U12P SE2 and 5 120mm Case fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000
    Mouse
    Hama M3110 / Logitech M305
    Internet Speed
    16000
    Other Info
    I have also used Fedora, Suse, Ubuntu Linux
    And all other Windows from 95 to date except ME
2. Somehow that W8 bootmgr must have connected to the W7 bootmgr. What is strange though that W7 would not boot when the eSata was disconnected. So the question is what is chicken and what is egg.

WHS,


Not somehow, but why is the question. Windows, if already having a OS on any drive, will use the bootmgr on the drive having a bootmgr installed. So installing a second OS, you will still need the other drive. i feel the bootmgr should be installed on both drives, so removing a drive then fhe other dive can still boot. That way you would always have a bootmgr on any drive.

As long as you use one disk you are fine......but that does not help much.

So why is Microsoft not doing this?


Jeff
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WINDOWS 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    INTEL CORE I--3770K LGA1155
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77-V
    Memory
    KINGSTON 2400 MHZ KHX24C11K4 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    INTEL HD GRAFICS 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philip BDL3245€ 32 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    2 SAMSUNG 840 PRO RAID 0 ON BOARD 2 x 128 GB
    Keyboard
    LOGITEC MX™ 5500
    Mouse
    LOGITEC MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    120 Mbps
Good question. I would expected it to either use the bootmgr of Win7 and add Win8 there or establish a new bootmgr for Win8 on the eSata. What struck me though is that it needed the eSata to boot Win7 from the SSD. I wonder what the connection is.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Vista and Win7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    2xHP, 2xGateway, 1xDell, 1xSony
    Hard Drives
    5 SSDs and 12 HDs
I have the same problem, installed Win7 on a internal SSD, in order to be able to install Win8 on my Revo 3 X2, so now i Always need the internal SSD to boot.

Wish i could change that.

Jeff
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    WINDOWS 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    INTEL CORE I--3770K LGA1155
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77-V
    Memory
    KINGSTON 2400 MHZ KHX24C11K4 16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    INTEL HD GRAFICS 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Philip BDL3245€ 32 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    2 SAMSUNG 840 PRO RAID 0 ON BOARD 2 x 128 GB
    Keyboard
    LOGITEC MX™ 5500
    Mouse
    LOGITEC MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    120 Mbps
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