Bootloader not showing up on dual-booting system (Windows 7 & Windows 8)

Mechonis · Apr 3, 2014

I recently built myself a gaming rig and had thought it would be a good idea to install Windows 7 & 8.1 (8.1 for the latest Direct X and 7 for ensured compatibility with my existing programs). Both OS are Pro 64bit versions.

I installed Windows 7 first and then installed Windows 8.1. Both operating systems are on separate 240GB Samsung Extreme II SSDs. After installing 8.1, the bootloader will not show up. I'm stuck with Windows 8.1! How do I get the bootloader to show up so that I have access to both OS?

techgeek · Apr 3, 2014

Download EasyBCD and add Windows 7 to the boot list. Fairly straight forward GUI.

Mechonis · Apr 3, 2014

I actually just did that, but something's wrong. I'm getting an error message whenever I try to boot Windows 7. I'm not sure how to repair that in a dual-boot set-up.

dodger46 · Apr 3, 2014

Mechonis :

You may have to physically disconnect the W8 Drive and troubleshoot the W7 install separately, use F8 to get you into CMD prompt...

techgeek · Apr 3, 2014

Mechonis :

What error are you seeing?

Mechonis · Apr 3, 2014

dodger46 :

I'll try that and see what happens.

Mechonis · Apr 3, 2014

OK, so I unplugged all but the Windows 7 drive and Windows 7 booted up fine. Now I'm really lost on what the issue is.

Mechonis · Apr 3, 2014

techgeek :

"Error: Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might have caused the issue after you install Windows Updates."

techgeek · Apr 3, 2014

When you added Windows 7 to the bootloader with EasyBCD, are you sure you were pointing it to the correct drive and partition?

Usually the first partition is a system recovery partition around a 100MB.

Mechonis · Apr 3, 2014

techgeek :

I just double checked and can confirm that the correct drive and partition are selected.

Additionally, I tried booting Windows 7 from the BIOS and it worked fine there too.

techgeek · Apr 3, 2014

Try this. Swap SATA cables between drives so that Windows 7 boots first. Then run EasyBCD from it and add Windows 8 and see if that works any better.

Mechonis · Apr 3, 2014

techgeek :

Same error occurs.

techgeek · Apr 3, 2014

That is odd, I've given this answer to pretty much the same question a half dozen times and its sorted out the problem everytime.

Mechonis · Apr 3, 2014

techgeek :

Look like I may be stuck using the BIOS to select my OS. Thank goodness Asus has a really nice BIOS! Still, this is less convenient than what I had hoped for.

Mechonis · Apr 20, 2014

Update: I recently had an issue with my graphics cards that ended up having me fix this issue anyway. While I was trying to sort out what was wrong with my GPU, I tried deleting Windows 7 and Windows 8 to do clean installs of each. This process didn't fix the GPU problem, turns our my practically new 780 Ti went belly up, but reinstalling both OS has fixed the bootloader issue. The mentioned GPU issue can be found here: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2105186/error-code-gtx-780ti.html

techgeek · Apr 23, 2014

Grad you got it all worked out, sorry it had to go to that extreme to get it sorted out though.

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Bootloader not showing up on dual-booting system (Windows 7 & Windows 8)

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