Convert dual installation into dual boot?

shmu

New Member
Power User
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I cloned my existing Windows installation (8.1 pro, 32 bit) onto my new SSD.
I got everything up and running, and I still have my old Windows installation on one of the partitions of my HDD.
Can I turn this setup into a dual boot?
I think this could be useful, in case the new installation gets borked, or in order to run an effective malware scan on the SSD, etc.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I cloned my existing Windows installation (8.1 pro, 32 bit) onto my new SSD.
I got everything up and running, and I still have my old Windows installation on one of the partitions of my HDD.
Can I turn this setup into a dual boot?
I think this could be useful, in case the new installation gets borked, or in order to run an effective malware scan on the SSD, etc.
I'm impressed you were able to clone onto an SSD. I can't seem to get my friends SSD drive to even be recognized at boot. Here's the link to our porblem: http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/37081-install-windows-8-ssd.html
Now to yours; I'm sure there is a way to do what you hope to achieve, but wonder if you've considered a Linux install to dual boot to, say Limux Mint16; just a thought.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home build
Linux

I am totally new to Linux. what do I stand to gain by adding a Linux installation?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
I cloned my existing Windows installation (8.1 pro, 32 bit) onto my new SSD.
I got everything up and running, and I still have my old Windows installation on one of the partitions of my HDD.
Can I turn this setup into a dual boot?
I think this could be useful, in case the new installation gets borked, or in order to run an effective malware scan on the SSD, etc.
You can use "EasyBCD 2.2" program to ad the second installation to the Boot Menu, just give it a slightly different name so you can distinguish which one you are going to boot to. Give it about 5 seconds before it automatically boots to default system.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
it looks like a nice tool.
it tells me: There is one entry in the Windows bootloader.
how do I add the other installation to the boot menu?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
"Ad New Entry " and point it to the partition or disk in question. After that, in "Edit boot Menu" you can set default system and time to choose on boot. Make sure you set some time, if "0" you will not be able to choose, it will just boot to default one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
No problem, that program is good for making multiboot with other OSs too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home made
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen7 2700x
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime x470 Pro
    Memory
    16GB Kingston 3600
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus strix 570 OC 4gb
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 960 evo 250GB
    Silicon Power V70 240GB SSD
    WD 1 TB Blue
    WD 2 TB Blue
    Bunch of backup HDDs.
    PSU
    Sharkoon, Silent Storm 660W
    Case
    Raidmax
    Cooling
    CCM Nepton 140xl
    Internet Speed
    40/2 Mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    WD
Actually, even after creating the dual boot with EasyBCD, I still had problems booting from the second partition.
This was my successful workaround:
Install a version of windows, from CD or flash drive, onto the desired partition, using the custom installation option.
now clone your favorite windows installation onto that partition. (you only need to clone the main partition, not the small data partition.)
run windows rescue disk from CD or flash drive
get it here:
http://maximumpcguides.com/windows-7/create-a-windows-7-system-repair-disc/
this will fix the boot.
now you have two identical windows installations on your computer!
they even have the same name, except that the new one is called "recovered".
(to save yourself confusion, go to windows explorer, to my computer (my pc), right click the "recovered" partition, and give it a new name.)

 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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