Multi Boot Problems

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  1. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Pro (32 and 64 bits)
       #1

    Multi Boot Problems


    Not sure if this is the correct sub-section but I trust the admins will move it if necessary.
    I have an old Dell Optiplex 755 SFF which had installed Windows XP Pro, Windows 7 Pro (64 bits) and Windows 10 Pro (32 bits) used mainly for test purposes.
    I haven’t used it for a while but when I started it up this week it won’t boot into XP nor 7 but will into 10 Pro.

    All three OS are on separate partitions on an SSD. I have done sfc /scannow and a chkdsk and all report good.

    When I boot up I see the BIOS screen (can’t remember the exact name for it) and then I get the choice of which of the 3 OSs to boot to. But with 7 or XP it just gives me a few seconds of their start up screens and then goes back to the BIOS screen.

    I have tried using Boot Repair Disk (not sure whether to use 32 or 64 bit versions so used both) from yannubuntu and also Dual boot Repair and Visual BCD Editor from boyans.net but still get the same results.

    I booted up with a Windows 7 Pro (64) USB and when I got to “Unable to Start” I tried its Boot Repair menu 3 times but always get “Cant’ Repair-NoRootCause”

    Anyone got any ideas?

    - - - Updated - - -

    Just noticed something that may be very relevant.
    In Disk Management I see that the Win 10 partition is described as Healthy and Boot, but XP partition is Healthy and Active.
    I tried to change Win10 to Active but it reverted back to XP being the active one.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,111
    windows 10
       #2

    welcome to the forum can you post a screen shot from disk manager showing all the details so we can see
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Pro (32 and 64 bits)
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Not sure if this will work.

    - - - Updated - - -

    OMG Don't know how that second pic got there and can't find an easy way to delete it.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Multi Boot Problems-screenshot-2024-01-29-134901.png   Multi Boot Problems-screenshot-2024-03-02-215726.jpg  
    Last edited by davesurrey; 02 Mar 2024 at 17:08. Reason: incorrect pic
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 8,111
    windows 10
       #4

    You need to add the other windows to the win 10 boot manager try the video Windows 10 Boot Manager - YouTube

    or cmd prompt https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/wi...g-boot-entries
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Pro (32 and 64 bits)
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks Samuria but that YT video shows just one of the many things I've been trying which hasn't worked.
    And the MS article shows a Boot Manager which has Boot Loader sections similar to what I have. So not sure what else I need to add in my boot manager section.
    I cant get to the pc tonight but will post the exact boot manager text tomorrow.
    Thanks

    - - - Updated - - -

    Sorry for this absence but sometimes life gets in the way.
    Attached is the Boot Menu from “bcdedit”.
    Samuria has suggested that Boot Mneu might not have the other OSs listed but to me it seems they are.
    Where am I going wrong?
    Any multi-boot experts here?
    Multi Boot Problems Attached Files
      My Computer

  6.   My Computer


  7. Posts : 4,804
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       #7

    Use EasyBCD to easily multi-boot and add your other OS to the Boot loader Adding Entries
    EasysBCD is free but you need to register.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Pro (32 and 64 bits)
    Thread Starter
       #8

    @spunk
    As I mentioned above I have tried several apps like Easy BCD but I still get a Boot Manager Menu that shows (to me at least) all the windows boot loader versions …but fails to boot to 7 or XP.
    Please see the attachment I added above on post #5.
    So what should I set on EasyBCD to sort this out?

    @Samuria,
    Similarly I have seen plenty of articles about how to add or change boot menus but based on the attachment of my current Boot Manager Menu (my post #5) what do you suggest I add /change?
    Thanks
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 4,804
    Windows 11 Pro 64 Bit 22H2
       #9

    The Adding Entries link in post #7 explains how to use EasyBCD. You may need to run a Repair Install on Windows 7 and XP.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 16
    Windows 10 Pro (32 and 64 bits)
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Hi spunk,
    Yes I've previously done repairs to both XP and 7 plus chkdsk etc.
    At your suggestion I tried EasyBCD (BTW you don't need to register to do a download) and it gave me 2 more bootloader entries for XP and 7, both of which were incorrect as they gave the same identity as the 10 partition. Neither booted.
    Any more suggestions welcome before I am forced to do reinstalls.

    - - - Updated - - -

    I’m willing to give this one last go and see that EasyBCD has an “Easy RE recovery tool.”
    But although they say it supports Windows 11 down to XP, there are discrete versions of it (see Easy Recovery Essentials: Bootable Windows repair and recovery USB or CD).
    As they are not free (around $40 each) I don’t want to buy one each for Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 10.
    So does anyone know if I buy the Windows 10 version (to run on a working Win 10 PC) can it be used to recover multi-booted Win 7 and XP as well?
    Does anyone have first-hand experience with EasyRE?
    Thanks
      My Computer


 

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