Can't get new disk to boot

Z

zavier

Weaksauce
2FA
Joined
Oct 7, 2006
Messages
76
My current desktop computer is a Dell XPS 631, with 4Gigs of RAM running dual boot - XP pro on Disk 1 and Windows 7 on Disk 2.

Initially this computer came loaded with XP Pro. Dell provided me with the XP DVD and the Vista DVD. I purchased an additional hard drive and installed Vista in it. A few years ago I purchased Windows 7. I deleted Vista and installed Win 7.

My problem now is that Disk 1 is having some issues. So I purchased another hard drive which I figured I could use for XP. I used Norton Ghost 12.0 to copy the drive which contains XP and copy it to my new hard drive. Reboot, and opened Win 7. I used EasyBCD to create a new boot for the copied XP. Now I can triple boot: Disk 1 XP (let's called original), Disk 2 Win 7 (default), and disk 3 XP (let's called it XP copy). If I open Computer Management in Win 7 it shows the boot loader on disk 2. There is a FAT 16 partition on disk 1 which is 55 Megs in size and only 8.56 Megs used.

So far every OS works properly. Now I turn off computer and unplug disk 1 and start computer. It won't start..."No boot loader available" it said.

Turn off computer, plugged in Disk 1 in, turn on computer and we back to normal.

At this point I am not sure what to do. Disk 1 will eventually fail and I need to be able to load Win 7 and XP again.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks
 
Look in your BIOS. There is probably an option to set the disk order. Make sure the disk you call disk 3 XP is listed before disk 2 win 7 while disk 1 is removed..

If changing the order lets you boot, remove the additional XP boot entry you added with bcdedit.
 
If you have more than one hard drive hooked up when you install the OS (which a lot of people do), sometimes the boot loader can be put on the drive you did not intend on it being on. I've even heard of this happening to people installing 7 off USB drives.

The solution is to only have 1 hard drive in the computer when you install the OS. For a temporary fix, boot to your 7 DVD, with the hard drive in that won't boot. Run the startup repair under advanced options from the 7 installer.
 
Thanks nessus
I rebooted and pressed F12. Got to Boot Device Menu. Options are currently set up as:
Hard Drive
Optical
System Set up
Diagnostics
Boot to Utility Partition
I hit hard drive and I saw all 3 disks. Disk 3 is set last. I highlighted disk 3 to try to move but it tried to load from Disk 3. It could not boot. It said "No boot device available"
 
bigdogchris... You said
"For a temporary fix, boot to your 7 DVD, with the hard drive in that won't boot. Run the startup repair under advanced options from the 7 installer."

Not sure what you want me to do. But the hard drive that won't boot is disk 2 and disk 3. Win 7 is on Disk 2.
So, what you are saying is disconnect disk 1 and 3 and run Win 7 DVD ?
 
zavier said:
My current desktop computer is a Dell XPS 631, with 4Gigs of RAM running dual boot - XP pro on Disk 1 and Windows 7 on Disk 2.

Initially this computer came loaded with XP Pro. Dell provided me with the XP DVD and the Vista DVD. I purchased an additional hard drive and installed Vista in it. A few years ago I purchased Windows 7. I deleted Vista and installed Win 7.

My problem now is that Disk 1 is having some issues. So I purchased another hard drive which I figured I could use for XP. I used Norton Ghost 12.0 to copy the drive which contains XP and copy it to my new hard drive. Reboot, and opened Win 7. I used EasyBCD to create a new boot for the copied XP. Now I can triple boot: Disk 1 XP (let's called original), Disk 2 Win 7 (default), and disk 3 XP (let's called it XP copy). If I open Computer Management in Win 7 it shows the boot loader on disk 2. There is a FAT 16 partition on disk 1 which is 55 Megs in size and only 8.56 Megs used.

So far every OS works properly. Now I turn off computer and unplug disk 1 and start computer. It won't start..."No boot loader available" it said.

Turn off computer, plugged in Disk 1 in, turn on computer and we back to normal.

At this point I am not sure what to do. Disk 1 will eventually fail and I need to be able to load Win 7 and XP again.
Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...


Hi, zavier,

From what you have described the Master Boot Record is on Disk 1.

I suggest you disconnect Disk 1 and follow the steps outlined in the Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times entry at "Win7 ABCs - Great list of Windows 7 tutorials by MVP Shawn Brink!" guide. The Advanced Boot Options entry may also be of interest, or not.

After you get the boot issue resolved you may find the Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP helpful.

Hope this helps.

Chuklr
 
zavier said:
bigdogchris... You said
"For a temporary fix, boot to your 7 DVD, with the hard drive in that won't boot. Run the startup repair under advanced options from the 7 installer."

Not sure what you want me to do. But the hard drive that won't boot is disk 2 and disk 3. Win 7 is on Disk 2.
So, what you are saying is disconnect disk 1 and 3 and run Win 7 DVD ?
Click to expand...
Yes, and that should fix disk 2. You can do the same for disk 3 (if that's Vista since I don't really know what's on your disk 3). Each disk would be fixed and working individually. After that, reconnect the other disk and edit your boot manager of the OS you want to be the primary one, to add the extra OSes.
 
zavier said:
Thanks nessus
I rebooted and pressed F12. Got to Boot Device Menu. Options are currently set up as:
Hard Drive
Optical
System Set up
Diagnostics
Boot to Utility Partition
I hit hard drive and I saw all 3 disks. Disk 3 is set last. I highlighted disk 3 to try to move but it tried to load from Disk 3. It could not boot. It said "No boot device available"
Click to expand...

Ithink you are at the wrong menu. This menu lets you choose a temporary boot device, not set it permanently. You will need t go nto your bios menu ... probably f2 or del. F12 is not the menu you want to make the chwlange at...this would be used it you wanted to boot once from another disk like w cd or usb flash drive.
 
Thank you all for replying.
Chuklr said: "the Master Boot Record is on Disk 1" and you were right. So, I followed your advice and I made Disk 2 (the one with Win 7) "Active" After rebooted nothing worked. I removed Disk 1 and rebooted with Win 7 disk. I could not find the startup repair under advanced options from the 7 installer. I had basically had no boot loader anymore.
After about an hour of work disk 1 is now out and everything is up and running like I wanted it.
Thanks again all for your help.
Zavier
 
zavier said:
Thank you all for replying.
Chuklr said: "the Master Boot Record is on Disk 1" and you were right. So, I followed your advice and I made Disk 2 (the one with Win 7) "Active" After rebooted nothing worked. I removed Disk 1 and rebooted with Win 7 disk. I could not find the startup repair under advanced options from the 7 installer. I had basically had no boot loader anymore.
After about an hour of work disk 1 is now out and everything is up and running like I wanted it.
Thanks again all for your help.
Zavier
Click to expand...

Hi, zavier,

Glad to hear you got it up and running!

Chuklr
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top