Dual boot system windows 7 and windows 8

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dfrie

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Jun 17, 2013
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I have two separate hard drives. I am getting messages "hard disk - S.M.A.R.T. status bad. Back up and Replace." I can no longer access windows 7 at start up. I can still access the files sometimes through Windows 8. Their is a loud growling coming from the hdd with Windows 7 on it. I have ordered a new hard drive to replace the bad one. Windows 7 hdd has the MBR on it. If that hdd completely fails will I still be able to access Windows 8? Can I transfer the MBR to the Windows 8 hdd? When I reinstall Windows 7 how will that effect Windows 8?
 
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dfrie

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Jun 17, 2013
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10,510
That hdd is well past the warranty I have backed up what I could and ordered a new hard drive. I'm not sure how to reinstall Windiws 7 to boot correctly with windows 8. I'm afraid if I loose the MBR I will have to reinstall Windows 8 as well.
 
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baladin

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Nov 27, 2011
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You might as well unplug the faulty disk now. Then see if you can boot Windows 8, probably not, so you start from the Windows 8 DVD and select "repair". I haven't done this myself, so I can't tell you EXACTLY where to click, but it's not too difficult and should only take a minute or so.
If you haven't got a Windows 8 install DVD, you can download an ISO and make a bootable USB stick. That is not illegal. You don't need to re-install Windows 8.
 
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boyans

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May 29, 2011
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When you have two hard disks the system boots by default to first disk.
So first disk must contain Windows 7/8 boot files:
1. MBR
2. active partition with NT6 boot sector, boot manager and \Boot folder.

In case of UEFI firmware there is no boot code in MBR - boot manager for Windows 7/8 must be on EFI System partition (ESP).

Repairing boot files is done quickly and reliable with 2 commands:
bootsect /nt60 ALL /mbr
bcdboot drive_letter:\windows - where drive_letter should be Windows 8 drive in dual-boot scenario
 
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dfrie

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Jun 17, 2013
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I did use these commands "bootsect /nt60 ALL /mbr
bcdboot drive letter:\windows" I then disconnected the window 7 drive and it would not boot. It said "the boot configuration for your pc is missing or contains errors". I tried to do a repair with the Windows 8 disk and it said the boot configuration was missing restart and choose windows 7. So it did transfer something. Of course I did have the option to reinstall Windows 8 and loose everything, but that is what I was hoping not to have to do. I reconnected the failing Windows 7 drive changed the boot sequence in Bios to the Windows 8 drive and again it would not load. I put it back the way it was and it gives me the option Windows 7 or Windows 8 of course if I choose 7 it does nothing if I choose 8 Windows will load but it takes a long time. The new hdd comes tomorrow. I guess I will try installing Windows 7 and see what happens. The windows 7 drive has the 100 MB NTFS System Reserved Partition the windows 8 drive does not. I am guessing I need that. When I install Windows 7 on the new drive should I disconnect the windows 8 drive?
 
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dfrie

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Jun 17, 2013
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10,510
Well I messed up. At least it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to. I installed 7 on the new drive. the boot option for windows 8 was on the old 7 drive. The only way I could get 8 to load at all was to disconnect windows 7 drive, boot into 8 cd do a repair to add boot files. I do not have the screen to choose which OS so the only I can get that option is press F8 at startup and choose which drive I want to load that is OK. But I have lost the safe mode - command prompt option with F8 because I left the windows 8 drive connected when I installed windows 7. I want to thank everyone for your help.
 
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