WIN 7 and WIN 8 dual boot on separate HDs not seen

upsidedownjim

New Member
Messages
2
Hi,

I'm trying to dual boot Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit and Windows 8 Pro. I want to have each OS installed on separate Hard drives. I want the default OS to be Windows 7 (loads automatically) or goes to the boot manager screen and choose either Win 7 and Win 8.

I've been running Windows 7 on an SSD hard drive with a UEFI Boot.
I'm looking to install Windows 8 on a WD Caviar Black 1 TB drive.

Steps taken:

-Burnt Windows 8 to DVD to boot and install from.
-Re-ordered boot order to boot from DVD
-Windows 8 install starts
-Windows 8 drive screen - format the WD Caviar Black 1 TB to install Windows 8 on.
-ERROR Message appears - Can't find media location (I didn't write it down but will on next install I will update). Something like 0x00007B. The solution I found was to disconnect my Windows 7 drive (and all other hard drives).

(Issue: won't that affect the set up of the dual boot?)

-Disconnected Windows 7 drive and was able to install Windows 8.
-After successful install of Windows 8 I re-started my system expecting to see the dual boot menu options. However, Windows 8 loaded directly.
-Changed boot drive order to SSD (with Windows 7) then WD 1TB Drive (with Windows 8). However, Windows 7 then loaded directly.
-I rebooted into Windows 8 and went to the boot order menu in Settings > Control Panel > System > Startup and Restore > (might be a few other tabs). The drop down box shows Windows 8 but no Windows 7.

So, I'm sure I did something wrong on the install. Any thoughts?

If the SSD is a UEFI boot should the WD 1TB (Win 8 install drive) be the same? Is it critical to have the Windows 8 drive connected while installing Windows 8 to the other hard drive? If so, I will have to solve the error message I get after formatting the WD 1TB drive during the Win 8 install. (I know not having the specific error code doesn't help - will update tonight with that info).

Also, I have a 2TB drive that I think has a MBR partition. Would that affect things? Should I even have that? I'll confirm that too. Just hoping to possibly get the ball rolling with answers.

I've read numerous sites on how to do this but not on how to solve these issues.

Thanks for any help you can provide!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit & Win 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i703930
    Motherboard
    Asys P9X79 Pro
    Memory
    G.Skill Ripjaw Z Series 32GB (4x8GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTZ 770 Twin Frozr 3 2GB
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG
(Issue: won't that affect the set up of the dual boot?)
Yes -- since the installer won't see another Windows version, it won't set up "dual boot" -- as you discovered.

You might be able to do this manually by installing EasyBCD in Win8 and using the option to Add New Entry to the boot menu -- and add Win7 in the process.

But, I've not tried this with UEFI machine and others may have better suggestions.
 

My Computer

EasyBCD will only work with two UEFI OS or two Legacy OS.
 

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
Hi,

Thanks for the replies. To update...

I disconnected my other internal drives (4 WD internals). I only had connected the SSD with Windows 7 installed and the formatted WD 1TB that I intended to install Windows 8 on.

With this, I was able to install Windows 8 without the 0x00007B (approximate error code). So, I think another drive was interfering with the install causing that error.

I did not get a dual boot window when I turned on the computer. In the WIN8 "Startup and recovery" the drop down menu for boot preference did not show the Windows 7 OS. So, I installed the EasyBCD (thanks for the suggestion!). In EasyBCD I went to "Add New Entry" and added Windows 7 > Add Entry. Then I went to "Edit Boot Menu" and set Windows 7 as the default.

Note: Upgrading to Windows 8.1 got rid of the Windows 7 boot entry in EasyBCD.

[Edit: Spoke too soon]

When I re-booted I got the Windows 7 dual boot screen and selected Windows 7 it still booted into Windows 8. I then changed the drive boot order to be SSD (Win 7) > WD 1TB (Win 8) and it booted directly into Windows 7.

So, as theog pointed out - perhaps EasyBCD isn't working with the different BIOS settings. So, how do I set the WD 1TB drive to create a UEFI boot? I presume that is done before the Windows 8 install in the BIOS settings? Or is UEFI automatic for SSDs?

Sorry not sure how that works.

Thanks for any help you can provide!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit & Win 8 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel Core i703930
    Motherboard
    Asys P9X79 Pro
    Memory
    G.Skill Ripjaw Z Series 32GB (4x8GB)
    Graphics Card(s)
    MSI GeForce GTZ 770 Twin Frozr 3 2GB
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    AVG
Hi,

Thanks for the replies. To update...

I disconnected my other internal drives (4 WD internals). I only had connected the SSD with Windows 7 installed and the formatted WD 1TB that I intended to install Windows 8 on.

With this, I was able to install Windows 8 without the 0x00007B (approximate error code). So, I think another drive was interfering with the install causing that error.

I did not get a dual boot window when I turned on the computer. In the WIN8 "Startup and recovery" the drop down menu for boot preference did not show the Windows 7 OS. So, I installed the EasyBCD (thanks for the suggestion!). In EasyBCD I went to "Add New Entry" and added Windows 7 > Add Entry. Then I went to "Edit Boot Menu" and set Windows 7 as the default.

Note: Upgrading to Windows 8.1 got rid of the Windows 7 boot entry in EasyBCD.

[Edit: Spoke too soon]

When I re-booted I got the Windows 7 dual boot screen and selected Windows 7 it still booted into Windows 8. I then changed the drive boot order to be SSD (Win 7) > WD 1TB (Win 8) and it booted directly into Windows 7.

So, as theog pointed out - perhaps EasyBCD isn't working with the different BIOS settings. So, how do I set the WD 1TB drive to create a UEFI boot? I presume that is done before the Windows 8 install in the BIOS settings? Or is UEFI automatic for SSDs?

Sorry not sure how that works.

Thanks for any help you can provide!
Yes as discussed earlier you can have data drives that are MBR however in a UEFI system Both your OS Drives need to be GPT
Use Diskpart to set up your WD Black. You can do this from a command prompt once you start the Win 8.1 install With the F10 key.
Also much faster and easier with USB boot install" Rufus "is a good program to set up your Install USB Install
C:\> Diskpart
DISKPART> list disk
DISKPART> select disk (id)
DISKPART> online disk (if the disk is not online)
DISKPART> clean
DISKPART> convert gpt
DISKPART> create partition primary
DISKPART> select part 1
DISKPART> active (if this is the boot partition)
DISKPART> format fs=ntfs label=(name) quick
DISKPART> assign letter (letter)
DISKPART> list volume

Continue on with the win 8.1 install
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
As theog said, I think your biggest problem is the UEFI boot. I've been running a dual boot Win 7 (on WD 1TB drive) and Win 8 (on a Kingston SSD drive) since Windows 8 just about came out as RTM. One thing, this is on my older machine which is a ASUS P5B motherboard. UEFI isn't even an option. Also, the controller is set to IDE, not ACHI. This P5B is a 2006 model and has a bios last upgraded in 2009, so many new features aren't available.

As you discovered, installation was successful if I disconnected each drive in turn and then installed each OS separately. Then after reconnecting, I had to play with the CMOS boot order to get one or the other to come up.

But I found out if I ran the Windows 7 repair function (from my install media (usb drive) and let it fix my boot, it put the dual boot back in. Now when I COLD boot, it depends on which OS I ran last as to which boot menu I get. If I completely shutdown from Windows 7, I get the black Windows 7 dual boot screen. If I completely shutdown from Windows 8, I get the blue Windows 8 dual boot screen.

Because I have fast boot enabled (guessing here, didn't test it), if I REBOOT from EITHER OS, I get the black Windows 7 dual boot screen. It may be that the repair was run from a Windows 7 media.

These 2 boot scenarios are exactly opposite of what I expected. I expected the COLD BOOT to read the BIOS and use the first OS drive and always boot from it. I expected the REBOOT to boot to the same OS I just left. Some of my assumptions about why it boots to which OS from BOOT or REBOOT may be wrong, but I just didn't bother to investigate because it is working exactly how I need it to.

So if your are fine without UEFI, then it can be done. To be perfectly honest, Windows 8 on the SSD boots in about 15 seconds from the dual boot menu. It breathed new life into my old system so I could test Windows 8 without losing my Windows 7.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    Intel I-7 860
    Motherboard
    Asus P7B
    Memory
    8GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia 580
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer (Primary), Asus (secondary), Sony TV (third)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Kingston 128GB SSD Windows 8 Boot Drive
    WD Black 1 TB (2 ea)
    WD Red 3 TB
    WD Black 500GB
    Keyboard
    MS 1000
    Mouse
    MS Flip
    Internet Speed
    Verizon FIOS 35/35
    Browser
    IE 11, Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari
    Antivirus
    Windows 8 Defender (MS Security Essentials)
Yes as discussed earlier you can have data drives that are MBR however in a UEFI system Both your OS Drives need to be GPT
Use Diskpart to set up your WD Black. You can do this from a command prompt once you start the Win 8.1 install With the F10 key.
Also much faster and easier with USB boot install" Rufus "is a good program to set up your Install USB Install
C:\> Diskpart
DISKPART> list disk
DISKPART> select disk (id)
DISKPART> online disk (if the disk is not online)
DISKPART> clean
DISKPART> convert gpt
DISKPART> create partition primary
DISKPART> select part 1
DISKPART> active (if this is the boot partition)
DISKPART> format fs=ntfs label=(name) quick
DISKPART> assign letter (letter)
DISKPART> list volume

Continue on with the win 8.1 install

@ Clintlgm the right partitioning is as below.


diskpart
select disk 0
clean
convert gpt
create partition primary size=300 (change to 400)
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows RE tools"
set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"
assign letter="T"
create partition efi size=100
format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
assign letter="S"
create partition msr size=128
create partition primary
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows"
assign letter="W"

For Partitions.

UP8-1-009.PNG

For SET ID for Partition 1

UP8-1-010.PNG
 

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
Yes as discussed earlier you can have data drives that are MBR however in a UEFI system Both your OS Drives need to be GPT
Use Diskpart to set up your WD Black. You can do this from a command prompt once you start the Win 8.1 install With the F10 key.
Also much faster and easier with USB boot install" Rufus "is a good program to set up your Install USB Install
C:\> Diskpart
DISKPART> list disk
DISKPART> select disk (id)
DISKPART> online disk (if the disk is not online)
DISKPART> clean
DISKPART> convert gpt
DISKPART> create partition primary
DISKPART> select part 1
DISKPART> active (if this is the boot partition)
DISKPART> format fs=ntfs label=(name) quick
DISKPART> assign letter (letter)
DISKPART> list volume

Continue on with the win 8.1 install

@ Clintlgm the right partitioning is as below.


diskpart
select disk 0
clean
convert gpt
create partition primary size=300 (change to 400)
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows RE tools"
set id="de94bba4-06d1-4d40-a16a-bfd50179d6ac"
assign letter="T"
create partition efi size=100
format quick fs=fat32 label="System"
assign letter="S"
create partition msr size=128
create partition primary
format quick fs=ntfs label="Windows"
assign letter="W"

For Partitions.

View attachment 50730

For SET ID for Partition 1

View attachment 50731

Thanks Theog, I only had a copy from another thread, I usually just install to a formatted disk, window 8 install seem to create the other needed partitions
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
Connect both drives to the computer.
- SSD (Windows 7) > SATA port 0
- HDD (Windows 8) > SATA port 1

If you want to delete the MBR/GPT partition table entry, you must delete all the partitions until you only see Drive 0 Unallocated Space. edit: In this case, until you only see Drive 1 Unallocated Space.

Drive 0 Unallocated Space.png

Quote from this post: UEFI Boot Mode (installing using the GPT partition style) and Legacy BIOS Boot Mode (installing using the MBR partition style). -> link

Normally, you should be able to delete all the partitions on the Where do you want to install Windows? screen.

Note: But if you cannot delete all the partitions on the Where do you want to install Windows? screen.

- Boot the computer using the Windows 7/8/10 installation media.
- On the first screen, press SHIFT+F10 to bring up the command prompt.
- Run the following commands at the command prompt.

diskpart
list disk (this will give you a listing of the disks on your system)
select disk # (select the disk you want to clean, for example select disk 0)
clean (running the clean command will delete all partitions on the disk)
exit

Even if you are going to use the GPT (GUID Partition Table), you do not need to run the convert gpt command, since you are not creating the partitions at a command prompt.

- Close the command prompt window and continue your Windows installation as usual.

Diskpart.png
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
Hi,

Thanks for the replies. To update...

I disconnected my other internal drives (4 WD internals). I only had connected the SSD with Windows 7 installed and the formatted WD 1TB that I intended to install Windows 8 on.

With this, I was able to install Windows 8 without the 0x00007B (approximate error code). So, I think another drive was interfering with the install causing that error.

I did not get a dual boot window when I turned on the computer. In the WIN8 "Startup and recovery" the drop down menu for boot preference did not show the Windows 7 OS. So, I installed the EasyBCD (thanks for the suggestion!). In EasyBCD I went to "Add New Entry" and added Windows 7 > Add Entry. Then I went to "Edit Boot Menu" and set Windows 7 as the default.

Note: Upgrading to Windows 8.1 got rid of the Windows 7 boot entry in EasyBCD.

[Edit: Spoke too soon]

When I re-booted I got the Windows 7 dual boot screen and selected Windows 7 it still booted into Windows 8. I then changed the drive boot order to be SSD (Win 7) > WD 1TB (Win 8) and it booted directly into Windows 7.

So, as theog pointed out - perhaps EasyBCD isn't working with the different BIOS settings. So, how do I set the WD 1TB drive to create a UEFI boot? I presume that is done before the Windows 8 install in the BIOS settings? Or is UEFI automatic for SSDs?

Sorry not sure how that works.

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Ok Here is my story. When Windows 8 came out I bought the cheap upgrade for $40. I have 2 workstations using Asus P7P55D-E Pro Mother boards Win 7 64 bit SP1 as the old guy stated these board do not have an option for UEFI.
So I had just picked up a Samsung 830 Pro 256 GB for under a $100.
I added in the SSD to the 1port of my Marvel 2 ports of SATA 3.
I used Diskpart to Clean, convert to MBR and formatted to NTFS
I installed window 8 to that SSD
on boot up I would get the Blue window 8 dual boot screen
After a couple of months I decided there was no way windows 8 was for me.
I clean installed Windows 7 Pro SP1 on that SSD

So now we got Windows 8.11 I clean installed to my Asus G75 notebook installed classic shell a couple of GPEDIT and no more start screen. I can get used to this.

OK, so I jumped on a Samsung 850 Pro SSD,
The old LiteonIt SSD from my notebook goes into my Workstation that I use to play on.
Installed Win 8.11 pro MC on the liteonit
Same thing Classic Shell gpedit to get rid of the start screen.
Everything is wonderful all my software is running on 8.11
Boot is to Blue screen dual boot.

Well since I am no using 2 SSD on my onboard Marvel SATA 3 port, Neither of these SSD seem to be running optimally, You know about twice as fast my old WD Blacks still much slower than what they are capable of.


I researched it and found a Marvel 4 port SATA PCIe card, this card is supposed run SSD at capable speeds!! OK I'm going for this
the card is a IOCREST documentation sucks pretty much. So I put it in and guess what. No boot. I took it out and no boot. I spent a day or so trying to get either of my OS to boot. At one time my windows 8 boot gave me a NTLRD missing error message.
Hmmmm ok I use this Workstation to handle my personal business and need to get into Quicken to pay some bills.
Attempt to clean install win 7 , win 7 can not find my SSD

Diskpart
Clean
convert to mbr
format ntfs
Clean install windows 7 to one of my 6 SATA 2 ports
Install the software for the Marvel Card
Disabled the 2 Marvel SATA 3 port in my BIOS

Finally figured out this card has its own BIOS

Moved my 2 WD Black to the new card 1 at a time
installed my Liteonit SSD on this new card
Diskpart
Clean

Currently awaiting on IOCrest to verify whether this card has a software compatible with Windows 8.11

Not really sure if the conflict was the older Marvel controller or a serious conflict with windows 8.11

If I had UEFI available I would use it. We all complained for years that BIOS was out dated and not flexible enough. The good people gave us UEFI all the new units are coming out UEFI. We need to just get used to it and learn how to use it that all.
I don't feel that way about Metro however!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro MC
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus G75VW / Z97 Pro
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3610QM / I7-4790K
    Motherboard
    Z97 Pro
    Memory
    16 GB Hyundai HTM315156CFR8C-PB PC3-12800
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (GF114M)
    Sound Card
    VIA 6.0.10.1600
    Screen Resolution
    1080
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 850 Pro 256, Samsung 850 Pro 1TB
    Internet Speed
    30 down 3 up
    Browser
    Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    NIS and Malwarebytes
Back
Top