Dual booting Windows 10 with 8.1

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

  1. Rickk
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Dual booting Windows 10 with 8.1


    Hi I have installed Windows 8.1 on a separate drive. Windows 10 (20h2) already installed on my Dell desktop. 8.1 was installed independent of 10 (drive disconnected) so the boot loader choices was not picked up
    I have two questions :
    1. Do or should I disable fast boot and secure boot in Bios?
    2. I am using easy bcd to set up the dual boot option screen. Which bootloader should I use as default 10 or 8
    1?
    Any and all advise appreciated
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  3. Macboatmaster
    Posts : 1,617
    11, 10, 8.1 and 7 all Professional versions, and Linux Mint
       New #2

    Can you boot into 10.
    If so follow this please, check when booted into 10 what drive letter is shown for the 8.1 - the windows 10 will be C more than likely
    open admin cmd prompt
    bcdedit /export c:\oldstore
    bcdedit /createstore c:\emptystore
    bcdedit /import c:\emptystore /clean
    bcdboot c:\windows

    that presumes that in 10 the drive is shown as C
    remember that on a dual boot when you boot in 10 the drive letter is shown as C for instance and windows 8.1 is on another drive letter, but then when you boot into 8.1 - that is shown as C and 10 is on a different letter

    For instance on this computer 10 when I am booted into it, is C and 7 is D
    but when in 7 the letters change
    So in 10 open This Computer and check what letter is shown for 8.1
    you then add the cmd

    bcdboot D:\Windows /d /addlast
    or as I said whatever letter is 8.1 is whilst booted into 10

    Then exit out of cmd prompt and reboot

    You do not need to disable fast and or secure boot for this operation.

    If you wish to use EasyBCD although I prefer the method above then follow this
    Newer versions of Windows
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  4. Megahertz
    Posts : 7,329
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       New #3

    Rickk said:
    Hi I have installed Windows 8.1 on a separate drive. Windows 10 (20h2) already installed on my Dell desktop. 8.1 was installed independent of 10 (drive disconnected) so the boot loader choices was not picked up
    I have two questions :
    1. Do or should I disable fast boot and secure boot in Bios?
    No need as they are in separate drives.
    2. I am using easy bcd to set up the dual boot option screen. Which boot loader should I use as default 10 or 8.
    I would set the main drive in BIOS priority drive. To boot the other drive, launch boot menu (F?) and choose the one you want to boot. This is how my computer is set.
    In Red


    Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you.
    System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  6. Rickk
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    Thank you kindly for your detailed reply. I got it up and running. While in Windows 10 8.1 was listed as F drive. Only issue I have now is occasionally I do not get the menu screen and it boots straight to Windows 8.1. When that happens and I wanted to go to Windows 10, I press shift, than restart which brings me to the troubleshooting options, select different operating system select 10 and off it goes.
    If you would have the time , can you explain a little bit about your first series of bcd commands you have me do? I am not that familiar with bcd edit, but would like to learn. I beleive the bcdboot D:\Windows /d /addlastis what adds the choice to the boot list. Again thank you for your time. It's greatly appreciated.
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  7. CountMike
    Posts : 19,536
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       New #5

    Rickk said:
    Thank you kindly for your detailed reply. I got it up and running. While in Windows 10 8.1 was listed as F drive. Only issue I have now is occasionally I do not get the menu screen and it boots straight to Windows 8.1. When that happens and I wanted to go to Windows 10, I press shift, than restart which brings me to the troubleshooting options, select different operating system select 10 and off it goes.
    If you would have the time , can you explain a little bit about your first series of bcd commands you have me do? I am not that familiar with bcd edit, but would like to learn. I beleive the bcdboot D:\Windows /d /addlastis what adds the choice to the boot list. Again thank you for your time. It's greatly appreciated.
    You can also set EasyBCD from both windows on both disks. That way (as I suspect) if BIOS can't make it's mind which disk to boot from...
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  8. Macboatmaster
    Posts : 1,617
    11, 10, 8.1 and 7 all Professional versions, and Linux Mint
       New #6

    Rickk said:
    Thank you kindly for your detailed reply. I got it up and running. While in Windows 10 8.1 was listed as F drive. Only issue I have now is occasionally I do not get the menu screen and it boots straight to Windows 8.1. When that happens and I wanted to go to Windows 10, I press shift, than restart which brings me to the troubleshooting options, select different operating system select 10 and off it goes.
    If you would have the time , can you explain a little bit about your first series of bcd commands you have me do? I am not that familiar with bcd edit, but would like to learn. I beleive the bcdboot D:\Windows /d /addlastis what adds the choice to the boot list. Again thank you for your time. It's greatly appreciated.
    Cheers
    Pleased to have helped
    Yes the cmd I sent and the one you have highlighted in red is the cmd that adds the windows 8.1 boot to the boot configuration data.

    Go to msconfig in 10 and change the boot order to make 10 the default
    on left facing arrow select 10. On down facing arrow - default
    apply and OK
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Dual booting Windows 10 with 8.1-msconfig.jpg  
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  9. zbook
    Posts : 43,455
    windows 10 professional version 1607 build 14393.969 64 bit
       New #7

    These tutorials have steps for choosing the boot order (msconfig / command line):


    Change Boot Entry Display Order in Boot Menu at Startup in Windows
    Choose Default Operating System to Load at Startup in Windows 10



    Dual Boot Windows 10 with Windows 7 or Windows 8
    How to Delete Boot Loader Entry on Boot Menu at Startup in Windows
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  10. Megahertz
    Posts : 7,329
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       New #8

    Please edit your profile with ALL your hardware specs. It will help us to help you.
    System Specs - Fill in at Ten Forums

    Why aren't you launching the boot menu during post?
    On BIOS, do you have Fast boot enabled? If you do set to Disable so you can launch boot menu.
      My Computers
    Quote Quote

  12. Rickk
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Hi

    On this machine a Dell 8910 desktop, I don't have the Bios option for fast boot. The only option for fast boot is in Windows 10. As I mentioned most of the time the boot manager choice does appear.

    To clarify I want 8.1 to be the default boot with 10 optional, which I have it set up from the Windows 10 config. My menu choice screen in the black 8.1 type screen. Using easybcd to view the config it show's the same on both versions.

    Thanks again for all your help
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

  13. Macboatmaster
    Posts : 1,617
    11, 10, 8.1 and 7 all Professional versions, and Linux Mint
       New #10

    In that case on msconfig make 8.1 the default boot and increase the timeout if necessary to give you chance to select 10 or 8.1

    see option 3
    msconfig
    and make permanent
    Change Time to Display Operating Systems at Startup in Windows 10
      My Computer
    Quote Quote

 

  Related Discussions
I have a machine with the following specs: i5 3570K 8GB DDR3 1600 Z77 Pro4-M HD7950 1x1TB WD Blue (D:\ and F:\ Windows 7 x64) 1x250GB Seagate Surveillance HDD (C:\) (Windows 10 x64) Windows 7 is installed on the 1TB drive, and Windows 10...
I have Windows 10 installed on HD1 (Samsung) and working will. I had a second HD2 (WD) with Win7 installed for a dual boot operation. For some reason, I could never successfully boot into Win7. Out of frustration I decided to format the Win7...
dual booting windows 7 and 10
in Installation and Upgrade

Hello, Apologies if this is in the wrong area, I am new to this site so please move this if appropriate. I have recently just upgraded to a new laptop, due to my old laptop (4 years old, running windows 7) has been giving me overheating issues...
Dual Booting with Windows 8.1
in Installation and Upgrade

Hi, I have the ESD for Windows 10 built 10240 . I need to clean install it on a different drive and dual boot it with Windows 8.1. Can I simply boot with the 10 ISO (in UEFI boot) and clean install it on a different drive? Would I then be...
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

 © Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:58.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums