Convert dual installation into dual boot?

[shmu]

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.

 

[AllanP]

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.

 

[shmu]

Linux

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

 

[CountMike]

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.

 

[shmu]

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?

 

[CountMike]

"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.

 

[shmu]

hey, that was pretty easy. thanks!

 

[CountMike]

No problem, that program is good for making multiboot with other OSs too.

 

[shmu]

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.)