Installing Windows 8.1 on 2nd HD makes it a multi-boot?

rasmasyean

New Member
Messages
23
How exactly does this work?

In the past I installed Windows 8.1 with Windows 7 on an old HD.
I forgot exactly what I did, but it turned into a multi-boot prompting startup.
Then I found out later on when I removed one of the HD's, it can no longer boot.

Recently, I did a Windows 8.1 with another Windows 8.1 on the first HD and it had the mutli-boot thing.
So I reinstalled it with the old HD removed.
So when I boot the new HD with the old HD reconnected, it works as intended.
When I boot the old HD, it gives me THREE Windows 8.1 options to select.

How did this happen, as I didn't even have the old HD connected when I installed the OS. Does it detect a new OS and modify itself while you're booting it?

Is there a way to correct it? i.e. turn it into a single-boot HD?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
For a multi-boot install you need to install the older Operation System onto it's own disk or partition, this installs the boot files along with the actual system files.

You then install the second Operating system (which must be the same as or newer than the original), onto it's own disk or partition. The installer should recognise the original OS and offer to update this. If you choose not to update the OS but to install a new copy the installer Will add the OS files to the partition or drive specified, and also Modify the original Boot files on the original partition to offer the dual boot.

If you at a later time decide to remove the original Partition or drive then the later install will no longer work as it cannot find the boot files.

In this instance you can run a boot repair from the OS install media to re-install the boot files to the correct partition or disk, This often needs to be run a number of times (three or more) to fully repair the issue
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x64 x2 Windows 10 Enterprise x64, Ubuntu
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Real World Computing
    CPU
    AMD FX8350 8 Core @4GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus M5A78L-M USB3
    Memory
    32GB [4x8GB] DDR3 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus nVidia GTX750TI-OC-2GD5 (2GB DDR5)
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xoner DG + SPDIF to 5.1 System + HDMI
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer G276HL 27", (DVi) + Samsung 39" HDTV (HDMI)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 @60Hz + 1920 x 1080 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Internal
    Crucial 256GB SSD,
    WDC WD30EZRX-00D8PB0 3TB,
    Toshiba HDWD130 3TB
    Seagate ST2000DM001-1CH1 2TB,

    External (USB3)
    Seagate Backup+ Hub BK SCSI Disk 8TB
    2.5/3.5 Hot Swap Cradle, USB3 + eSata (client HDDs)

    NAS
    Seagate ST4000DM000
    PSU
    Aerocool Templarius Imperator 750W 80+ Silver
    Case
    AeroCool X-Warrior Devil Red Tower
    Cooling
    Stock CPU, Rear 120mm, Front 2x120mm, Side 2x120mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K710 & K270
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless M710 M185 & M570 Trackball
    Internet Speed
    37Mb/s Down - 9.5Mb/s Up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    BitDefender Total Security 2017
    Other Info
    Also run...

    Desktop - 6Core 8GB - Windows 10 Enterprise x64,
    Laptop - Quad 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64
    Netbook - Ubuntu
    2 x Nexus 7 Android tablets
    Samsung 10.2" tablet
    Sony Z3 Android Smartphone
    HTC One Android Smartphone
OIC, I guess that explains a lot. Thanks.

Curious, can you run a "boot repair" to transfer a bootable HD between different computers? Will it automatically update all the drivers/settings to make the OS work on different hardware? What if you have identical hardware in the different computers.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
This type of thing is possible, it's easier with Windows 10 than it is with Windows 8.x but I would not recommend it as there is usually some item that causes issues, and of course it's also difficult to pin down. The time taken to troubleshoot this type of transfer is normally far longer than that to install a fresh OS onto the new system and a completely empty drive.

As for identical hardware, this is a rare thing to see in it's pure form. I used to specify batches of PCs from the likes of Dell, HP etc and there would often be different hardware at the driver level in supposedly identical systems. they were minor changes but enough to cause issues when imaging was used to speed up deployment
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro x64 x2 Windows 10 Enterprise x64, Ubuntu
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Real World Computing
    CPU
    AMD FX8350 8 Core @4GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus M5A78L-M USB3
    Memory
    32GB [4x8GB] DDR3 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Asus nVidia GTX750TI-OC-2GD5 (2GB DDR5)
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xoner DG + SPDIF to 5.1 System + HDMI
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer G276HL 27", (DVi) + Samsung 39" HDTV (HDMI)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 @60Hz + 1920 x 1080 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    Internal
    Crucial 256GB SSD,
    WDC WD30EZRX-00D8PB0 3TB,
    Toshiba HDWD130 3TB
    Seagate ST2000DM001-1CH1 2TB,

    External (USB3)
    Seagate Backup+ Hub BK SCSI Disk 8TB
    2.5/3.5 Hot Swap Cradle, USB3 + eSata (client HDDs)

    NAS
    Seagate ST4000DM000
    PSU
    Aerocool Templarius Imperator 750W 80+ Silver
    Case
    AeroCool X-Warrior Devil Red Tower
    Cooling
    Stock CPU, Rear 120mm, Front 2x120mm, Side 2x120mm
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless K710 & K270
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless M710 M185 & M570 Trackball
    Internet Speed
    37Mb/s Down - 9.5Mb/s Up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    BitDefender Total Security 2017
    Other Info
    Also run...

    Desktop - 6Core 8GB - Windows 10 Enterprise x64,
    Laptop - Quad 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64
    Netbook - Ubuntu
    2 x Nexus 7 Android tablets
    Samsung 10.2" tablet
    Sony Z3 Android Smartphone
    HTC One Android Smartphone
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