Problems with windows bootloader in multiboot system

archp2008

New Member
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(I have been advised to make this post in this section (Installation and setup subforum.)
because this is not BSOD related and I have been told that there are members more specialised in this specific situation.)

I have (perhaps I should say had) a multi-boot system. Originally I installed my 6 Windows OS's and then installed my two favorite Linux distros. I like the ability to customize the Grub menu which Linux gives me. Unfortunately Grub did not detect all 6 of my Windows installations but one of the boot options it did detect took me back into my original Windows menu which showed all 6 of the Windows systems. So that's the setup which I have been using successfully for the past few months. (One boot menu which boots into another). Today my Windows boot menu has become unusable and probably corrupt. At first I had the problem that I was only able to boot into Windows 8.1 (no windows menu at all). Then I used EasyBCD which I had inside Windows 8.1 At first EasyBCD indicated an inability to load any boot file at all. Subsequently after rebooting into 8.1 a few times more I tried it again. It then showed a boot menu but with only Windows 8.1 listed. I subsequently was able to use the add operating system function to add all the other Windows systems again. I then clicked save to save the new configuration. Now I do see all six Windows systems at boot but neither of them, even Windows 8.1 will boot. Would you please tell me where I should start to get back into one of these six Windows operating systems so that I can possible use the EasyBCD repair function to access the others. I think I had EasyBCD installed inside each Windows OS At the moment I am dependent on Linux alone for Internet access. I trust this is clear. As nothing in Linux has changed, I assume I need to fix the problem from the Windows side of things. I do have that one option when I get into that blue Windows 8 style boot menu to "change options" I thought EasyBCD would have restored the Windows 7 style text boot menu but it did not. Other than that I have the various Windows installation disks and a Win7 repair disk as well as various full partition backups on an external hard drive. I have no idea what do do about a corrupt bcd file without being inside Windows, and I don't know much about EasyBCD. Would a refresh/reset of Win 8.1 from the install disk be a good way to start? I did get the message of "files missing" when I tried to do a system recovery drive while inside Windows 8.1 today, so there are issues with that OS. I can provide further details if needed. Thanks in advance for any assistance in this situation........
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Multiple
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Core2Quad
    Motherboard
    Asus PMB-VM
    Memory
    4gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ati4670
    Browser
    multiple
    Antivirus
    multiple
I since used command line controls bootrec /rebuildbcd whereupon I booted directly into Windows 7 without any menu. I opened EasyBCD inside Win7 and the boot menu is the same as always. Win 8.1 has shrunk in size since I tried the reset command from the DVD. I pray that there is at least one expert in these forums who can guide me out from this spot. Now that I am at least into one of the 6 Windows OS's I will not reboot until I get some response from someone. As I said earlier, I am not too familiar with all the do's and don'ts of EasyBCD. I-m afraid to touch it, especially the risks of clicking the save button. It is strange that when I ran the bootrec/scanos command from the Windows 8.1 dvd it said it found 0 (zero) Windows operating systems! I am thinking bootvirus. Will run antivirus check overnight....Today I notice that upon rebooting all the menu choices are there but only 3 or 4 of the 6 takes me into the named OS. The others just cycle back to the menu without trying to load anything... Please help!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Multiple
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Core2Quad
    Motherboard
    Asus PMB-VM
    Memory
    4gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    ati4670
    Browser
    multiple
    Antivirus
    multiple
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