Windows 7/8 not booting past startup screen. Some issue with IDE/AHCI mode??

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thunderbolt36

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I had to disassemble and reassemble my system completely. This seems to have reset all my settings in the BIOS.
Now when I am booting with either my Windows 7 /Windows 8 hard disks (two different HDDs) it is not moving past the Stating Windows screen in Windows 7. [Windows logo in WIndows 8]. It shows a black screen.

I tried booting into safe mode on the WIndows 7 HDD and was able to login in Safe Mode. And then when I restarted without making any changes, it again did not load.

I had setup my HDDs and BIOS few years back and no longer recall the settings in had there.
Now since the BIOS is reset, the Storage Configuration is in Enhanced-IDE mode.
I don't recall if it was in Enhanced-AHCI mode before when it was working.

I think the boot issues are because of this setting in BIOS. Since I tried booting with Linux Mint live USB disk and it loaded fine.

Is it safe for me change the Storage Config settings in BIOS to Enhanced-AHCI mode and then boot into Windows??

I am a bit confused since in few other threads it seemed to be mentioned that this will damage the data on the HDD.

Edit: My motherboard is ASUS P6X58D-E.
 
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That is strange....if you're able to boot into linux mint or ubuntu but then freeze, it shouldn't be your boot record. I don't know what to make of it to be honest. If this was my system, and I got desperate, I'd try updating bios in hope that this is something motherboard related but that is a solution I won't recommend to anyone, as failing a bios update can brick your motherboard so please don't do that.
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Sedivy

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Make sure that when you go into bios, you clearly select boot order priority if you're doing multiboot like you are.
It sounds like now it doesn't have a boot sequence to follow and doesn't know what to boot into.
I'm loathe to change the bios storage config as that can easily bork your entire windows installation and I'd rather leave that as the last resort.

I'd rather try fixing your boot record as it may have gotten corrupted as it's common in situations like yours and pretty easy to fix. Here's a link on how to try and rebuild it:
http://www.techspot.com/guides/630-windows-8-boot-fix/
You need either a windows dvd or a usb windows boot drive. Boot from it, go into repair and do the boot record fix using command prompt.
 
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thunderbolt36

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Right now I am just trying to boot with only one of the hard disks connected at a time and the boot order is selected in BIOS correctly.
It starts booting but stops/hangs after the initial starting windows screen. I am able to login using safe mode.

Since I do not have the boot disk/windows usb media right now, is there anything I can try in Safe Mode?

So, would I damage the data on the disk if I change the mode to Enhanced-AHCI in BIOS and then attempt to boot into Windows??
 
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Sedivy

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If you change the storage settings, and it's not what it should be, it could corrupt your data, yes, so I'm not a fan of the nuclear option unless you have all your data backed up (ie. don't mind reformatting and reinstalling everything should things go wrong). You could just wait for an answer from someone who can tell you more definitely what it should be in terms of settings and why.

There are ways to repair your boot record from within windows but I haven't tried them myself and so I'm not sure how well they work and how many issues you can run into and so I'm not recommending it but here's the link if you want to read about it:
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/dual-boot-repair-tool-bcd

As for not having boot disk, you don't need to rummage for the one you got with your system or that you bought. Just quickly make one if you have a usb stick 5-8 gb in size ideally (too big or too small will be a problem). Then download an iso of windows, make your usb bootable and copy the contents of the iso to it and you're set. Instructions:
https://betanews.com/2013/11/06/how-to-create-a-bootable-windows-8-1-usb-drive/
 
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thunderbolt36

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This is really worrying me now. I tried booting from my 3rd HDD which has Ubuntu & Linux Mint (dual booting). Only connected this Linux HDD with no other disks connected, as I mostly do.

Ubuntu will login, then the desktop is displayed and then becomes unresponsive.
Linux Mint boots fine till the login screen, after login only the mouse pointer is displayed on a black screen.

I tried booting with just a live Linux Mint USB drive. It works fine, connects to internet (so Wireless Card works fine), display works fine, and the Graphics Card is also detected properly on the Live OS.

Can anyone help me out here?

I am unable to get/create a Windows bootable disk right now to try out what Sedivy suggested above. Will try to get/prepare one this week. For now, I can create a bootable Linux Mint/Ubuntu USB disk.

I ran Memtest and no errors for 1 Pass, took around 30 mins.
 
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Sedivy

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That is strange....if you're able to boot into linux mint or ubuntu but then freeze, it shouldn't be your boot record. I don't know what to make of it to be honest. If this was my system, and I got desperate, I'd try updating bios in hope that this is something motherboard related but that is a solution I won't recommend to anyone, as failing a bios update can brick your motherboard so please don't do that.
 
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