Some help with dual booting

The Executioner

New Member
Messages
6
Hi,

I bought an HP with Windows 8.1 installed. I put in a second hard drive, unplugged the drive with Windows 8 installed, and installed Windows 7 on that drive, then plugged back in the Windows 8 drive.

I installed EasyBCD in Windows 8 and did my best to remove all the non-essential drives, and left Windows 7 & 8, with Windows 7 at the primary boot. I also disabled a few things in the BIOS which I've read on other posts, enabled legacy, etc.

Sometimes I will get the GUI boot manager with Windows 7 & Windows 8 listed. If I choose Windows 7, it goes to the black & white boot manager, with only Window 8.1 listed. Other times it goes straight to the black & white boot manager, with only Windows 8.1 listed.

How can I get it such that both OS are listed, and, I can boot into one or the other? A couple of times I messed around with some boot settings and other things and was able to boot into Windows 7.

But, I just want a boot manager to list both OS and allow me to boot into either one.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
The directions for how a system boots are in the BCD store. To be able to see those directions, we need to get a copy we can read. You may start an Administrative Command Prompt Window and type in (or copy and paste) the command below. Then attach or zip and attach the resulting text file put on your desktop by using the paperclip on the Go Advanced replies.

bcdedit /enum all > %userprofile%\Desktop\bcdlist.txt
 

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
The directions for how a system boots are in the BCD store. To be able to see those directions, we need to get a copy we can read. You may start an Administrative Command Prompt Window and type in (or copy and paste) the command below. Then attach or zip and attach the resulting text file put on your desktop by using the paperclip on the Go Advanced replies.

bcdedit /enum all > %userprofile%\Desktop\bcdlist.txt


Thank you very much for your reply. I am attaching (I hope) the file you have requested. If not, let me know please and I'll try yet again.

Regards.
 

Attachments

  • bcdlist.txt
    5.6 KB · Views: 70

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
What it looks like is you seem to have the USB Floppy/CD listed first in the Firmware Boot Manager. Not sure exactly how that happened, but is that device still connected?

Since you have two entries in Firmware Applications for that same device, and one is the version shown first in the fwbootmgr, I would suggest you delete that entry from the BCD Store, but not quite yet.

You do not show a Boot Loader for Windows 7, so possibly the entry for the USB floppy is being used to boot Windows 7. You do not needto enable Legacy in the Bios when you install Windows 7. The SP1 version will install fine in UEFI, but will not support the Windows 8 secure boot so you have to enable the CSM to allow it to boot. In your current situation, you will need to leave the Bios setting the way it is since Windows 7 is probably installed as Legacy.

I do see a firmware application for Windows 7 so perhaps EasyBCD has set this up in a way I don't recognize. You do show a setting to display a Boot Menu, so perhaps that is why you are getting a boot menu with only one OS shown.

A picture of your Disk Management window might help, but if you run EasyBCD from Windows 8.1, it might be able to set up the boot, or using a bootrec /rebuildBCD command from the Command Prompt in the Recovery Options might add Windows 7 to your Boot Menu.

The important thing right now is if you choose the Windows Boot Manger as the boot device, it will boot you into Windows 8? We may need to clean out some of the clutter depending on what the Disk Management picture shows.
 

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
What it looks like is you seem to have the USB Floppy/CD listed first in the Firmware Boot Manager. Not sure exactly how that happened, but is that device still connected?

Since you have two entries in Firmware Applications for that same device, and one is the version shown first in the fwbootmgr, I would suggest you delete that entry from the BCD Store, but not quite yet.

You do not show a Boot Loader for Windows 7, so possibly the entry for the USB floppy is being used to boot Windows 7. You do not needto enable Legacy in the Bios when you install Windows 7. The SP1 version will install fine in UEFI, but will not support the Windows 8 secure boot so you have to enable the CSM to allow it to boot. In your current situation, you will need to leave the Bios setting the way it is since Windows 7 is probably installed as Legacy.

I do see a firmware application for Windows 7 so perhaps EasyBCD has set this up in a way I don't recognize. You do show a setting to display a Boot Menu, so perhaps that is why you are getting a boot menu with only one OS shown.

A picture of your Disk Management window might help, but if you run EasyBCD from Windows 8.1, it might be able to set up the boot, or using a bootrec /rebuildBCD command from the Command Prompt in the Recovery Options might add Windows 7 to your Boot Menu.

The important thing right now is if you choose the Windows Boot Manger as the boot device, it will boot you into Windows 8? We may need to clean out some of the clutter depending on what the Disk Management picture shows.


Thank you again for your input. I am attaching a copy of my Disk Management screen per your request. I hope it helps.

Also, I did not find any options for CSM in the BIOS. Additionally, EasyBCD was installed under Windows 8.

Thank you.
 

Attachments

  • disk_management.jpg
    disk_management.jpg
    111 KB · Views: 63

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
We know you did install Windows 7 as a Legacy install. If you are using a 32 bit version, as in the DVD drive, you have to install it that way.

Is the USB Floppy/CD device still connected, and what is it?

If you use the Boot Device Menu and select either a Windows Boot Manager, or the 500 GB hard drive, I assume it boots into that OS normally?

What does EasyBCD show when you try to add the Windows 7 boot with it. I haven't used that utility in a while, but there may be an option to add the Windows 7 OS.

If EasyBCD won't work, do you have the ability to boot into the Windows 8 Recovery options and the Command Prompt?

Your Recovery Image partition shows with a D: and as OEM. Is that the way it was originally or did you use something like EaseUS to change some partitions? The fact it shows twice may be a Disk Management situation, but notice, only one shows as NTFS.
 

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
We know you did install Windows 7 as a Legacy install. If you are using a 32 bit version, as in the DVD drive, you have to install it that way.

Is the USB Floppy/CD device still connected, and what is it?

If you use the Boot Device Menu and select either a Windows Boot Manager, or the 500 GB hard drive, I assume it boots into that OS normally?

What does EasyBCD show when you try to add the Windows 7 boot with it. I haven't used that utility in a while, but there may be an option to add the Windows 7 OS.

If EasyBCD won't work, do you have the ability to boot into the Windows 8 Recovery options and the Command Prompt?

Your Recovery Image partition shows with a D: and as OEM. Is that the way it was originally or did you use something like EaseUS to change some partitions? The fact it shows twice may be a Disk Management situation, but notice, only one shows as NTFS.


Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I'll try and answer the best I can.

I unplugged the Windows 8 drive. Then, when booting, I hit F9 and told it to boot of of the legacy CD. Although there is only 1 CD/DVD, so maybe it was the way the computer was seeing it?

I then installed Windows 7 on the second drive. The new drive was assigned letter G:.

In EasyBCD, I told it Windows 8, C:, and Windows 7, G:. This was a manual change, and I basically removed everything else.

IF the graphical boot manager loads, I see a Windows 7 & Windows 8. But, either choice brings me to the black & white boot manager with Windows 8 only.......sometimes messing with the keys I only get the black & white boot manager, again, with only Windows 8.

Does this help at all? If not, I can try to be more detailed.

Thanks!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
I really need an answer as to what the USB Floppy/CD is and whether it is connected or not... It is not normal for the device to be listed first in the Firmware Boot Manager. If you are running some type of Windows to Go system with an external drive being involved, please explain.

Firmware Boot Manager
---------------------
identifier {fwbootmgr}
displayorder {c55adadf-524d-11e4-826c-202564d76696}
{bootmgr}
{default}
{c55adae0-524d-11e4-826c-202564d76696}
{f8519d3e-524e-11e4-826d-806e6f6e6963}
{f8519d3f-524e-11e4-826d-806e6f6e6963}
{f8519d40-524e-11e4-826d-806e6f6e6963}
timeout 2

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {c55adadf-524d-11e4-826c-202564d76696}
description USB Floppy/CD

I will check to see if I can find out how the configuration is supposed to look using a Legacy install. But right now, the Windows 7 entry when booting the way you did to get the BCD listing does not show an install correctly.
 

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
I may be quiet for a while trying to determine if I can find a way to get your configuration to work.

I set up the system as you did, with a Legacy Windows 7 install on a second HDD. I then used the Bootrec /rebuildbcd to add the Windows 7 to the Windows 8 BCD Store, after I had booted into Windows 8.

Everything looked fine, but when booting to Windows 7 it says the drive is not accessible and will not boot. I can boot to either install if I choose that install in the Bios. But once it goes through the normal boot, it will not boot into Windows 7 without the error even after the system is rebooted to do so. I am guessing the BCD Store is not set up to direct the boot to the boot manager on the Windows 7 drive.

So I am going to see if I can find a way to get the Windows 7 boot menu option to point to a Boot Manager instead of a Boot Loader, but I don't have much hope I have the knowledge to do that.
 

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
I may be quiet for a while trying to determine if I can find a way to get your configuration to work.

I set up the system as you did, with a Legacy Windows 7 install on a second HDD. I then used the Bootrec /rebuildbcd to add the Windows 7 to the Windows 8 BCD Store, after I had booted into Windows 8.

Everything looked fine, but when booting to Windows 7 it says the drive is not accessible and will not boot. I can boot to either install if I choose that install in the Bios. But once it goes through the normal boot, it will not boot into Windows 7 without the error even after the system is rebooted to do so. I am guessing the BCD Store is not set up to direct the boot to the boot manager on the Windows 7 drive.

So I am going to see if I can find a way to get the Windows 7 boot menu option to point to a Boot Manager instead of a Boot Loader, but I don't have much hope I have the knowledge to do that.

Thanks for the reply. Sorry if I did not answer your question.

>>> I really need an answer as to what the USB Floppy/CD is and whether it is connected or not

That is basically the CD/DVD that came with the computer. SATA device. I put it as the first boot device in the BIOS when trying to install Windows 7 on the second drive. I was under the impression that, like other windows, it would boot from it, but it did not. I had to hit F9 and select some Legacy CD device. I just never re-ordered the devices.........do you think this is the cause?

Regards
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
In reference to the USB Floppy, those are not normally SATA devices, but USB devices.

Right now, I think the USB Floppy/CD or CD/DVD drive is involved somehow. Have you taken the Media out of the drive to see what happens?

Since I am seeing the problem right now with the Legacy install, I will work on that. Right now I so not know how your system needs to be set up.

Too bad you don't have a x64 version of Windows 7 so you could install it as UEFI. I wonder if you downloaded the x64 version if your license key would work with it... hard to say.
 

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
Sorry, but I am going to have to give up on getting this to work. So I will repeat the earlier suggestions of either booting to each install from the Bios or Boot Device Menu, or obtain an x64 copy of Windows 7 SP1 and install as UEFI...
 

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
I may be quiet for a while trying to determine if I can find a way to get your configuration to work.

I set up the system as you did, with a Legacy Windows 7 install on a second HDD. I then used the Bootrec /rebuildbcd to add the Windows 7 to the Windows 8 BCD Store, after I had booted into Windows 8.

Everything looked fine, but when booting to Windows 7 it says the drive is not accessible and will not boot. I can boot to either install if I choose that install in the Bios. But once it goes through the normal boot, it will not boot into Windows 7 without the error even after the system is rebooted to do so. I am guessing the BCD Store is not set up to direct the boot to the boot manager on the Windows 7 drive.

So I am going to see if I can find a way to get the Windows 7 boot menu option to point to a Boot Manager instead of a Boot Loader, but I don't have much hope I have the knowledge to do that.


Hi there,

Just checking in to see if there are any updates on this........

Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
You must have missed my last post... I see no way to set up a Boot Menu with UEFI and Legacy installs. Even EasyBCD could not do it.

In my last post I suggested you pick the install you want to boot to in the bios, or get the x64 version of Windows 7 SP1 to install that if you want a boot menu.

Someone else may have a way, or there may be a tutorial on this site that explains how to get what you want.

Sorry
 

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
In reference to the USB Floppy, those are not normally SATA devices, but USB devices.

Right now, I think the USB Floppy/CD or CD/DVD drive is involved somehow. Have you taken the Media out of the drive to see what happens?

Since I am seeing the problem right now with the Legacy install, I will work on that. Right now I so not know how your system needs to be set up.

Too bad you don't have a x64 version of Windows 7 so you could install it as UEFI. I wonder if you downloaded the x64 version if your license key would work with it... hard to say.

All three of the window 7 pro retail boxes had both 32 bit and 64 bit version I could load either one with the product Key, Be sure to download the version you have only 64 Bit instead of the 32 bit pro is you have a pro key Home premium, which ever your license key is for.


Download from here

How to install win 7 UEFI
 

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
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