need to make win7 my boot drive

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by goodie, Jul 30, 2009.

  1. goodie

    goodie MDL Novice

    Jul 29, 2009
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    #1 goodie, Jul 30, 2009
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2009
    i want to make win7 my boot drive but all the boot info is on another drive (vista install)
    i cannot boot from my win7 drive unless i boot to my vista drive first?
    can i create a boot drive for my win 7 without format & re-install?
    thanks
     
  2. goodie

    goodie MDL Novice

    Jul 29, 2009
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    #2 goodie, Jul 30, 2009 (OP)
    anyone got any ideas?:confused:
     
  3. HSChronic

    HSChronic MDL Expert

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    #3 HSChronic, Jul 30, 2009
    use easyBCD or one of the free GUI based BCD editors.
     
  4. secr9tos

    secr9tos MDL Addicted

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    #4 secr9tos, Jul 30, 2009
    you mean that you boot into win7 with vista bootldr?
     
  5. goodie

    goodie MDL Novice

    Jul 29, 2009
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    #5 goodie, Jul 30, 2009 (OP)
    my vista drive was my main, only OS drive,
    then i installed 7 on another drive (dual boot)
    i want to format vista drive & just have 7 (boot drive)
    but windows wont boot from 7 drive only, i have to set vista drive as primary then select win7 from OS selection list
     
  6. secr9tos

    secr9tos MDL Addicted

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    #6 secr9tos, Jul 30, 2009
    did you try to set the win7 partition as "active" and than (re)install win7 bootldr via Win7 Install disk?
     
  7. sky_001

    sky_001 MDL Novice

    Jul 30, 2009
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    #7 sky_001, Jul 30, 2009
    I think this is a good way .
    You can try .
     
  8. goodie

    goodie MDL Novice

    Jul 29, 2009
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    #8 goodie, Jul 30, 2009 (OP)
    in disk management
    (C: ) (win 7)
    HEALTHY (BOOT, PAGE FILE, CRASH DUMP, PRIMARY PARTITION)
    (D: ) (VISTA)
    HEALTHY (SYSTEM, ACTIVE, PRIMARY PARTITION)
    this is what i've got, dont want to mess up my 7 install.
    what do i do?
     
  9. secr9tos

    secr9tos MDL Addicted

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    #9 secr9tos, Jul 30, 2009
    Right click on Win7 and select "Mark Partition As Active".

    P.S. you may need to (re)install the Win7 bootldr.
     
  10. picfan

    picfan MDL Novice

    Feb 20, 2009
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    #10 picfan, Jul 30, 2009
    Use win7 cd boot to winre，try fixboot.hope it useful
     
  11. goodie

    goodie MDL Novice

    Jul 29, 2009
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    #11 goodie, Jul 30, 2009 (OP)
    OK,
    made 7 drive active.
    when i try to boot i get
    "BOOTMGR IS MISSING"
    CTRL ALT DELETE TO RESTART
    what do i need to do now to make it bootable?
    noob instructions please! :)
     
  12. secr9tos

    secr9tos MDL Addicted

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    #12 secr9tos, Jul 30, 2009
    put your Win7 Installdisk into your DVD-Drive.
    When Setup starts click on "Repair this Computer" or similar...
    By the time you reach the recovery tools open CMD.
    type in: bootrec /FixMbr ( hit enter ) bootrec /FixBoot ( hit enter )

    OR

    click on "Startup Repair"
     
  13. goodie

    goodie MDL Novice

    Jul 29, 2009
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    #13 goodie, Jul 30, 2009 (OP)
    thanks all,
    i just went for it, tried fixmbr & fixboot but still no BOOTMGR.
    tried startup repair & that sorted it. :)
     
  14. secr9tos

    secr9tos MDL Addicted

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    #14 secr9tos, Jul 30, 2009
    glad to hear that it works now...

    I'll get a cup of coffee now..:D