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Original post : Repair Dual-boot (Multi-boot) Configuration: Guide for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 10.
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If you installed multiple Windows versions on the same PC, your dual-boot (or multi-boot) configuration may stop working. The most cause for a dual-boot or multi-boot configuration error (to stop working) is when you reinstall the older Windows version before the newer Windows version. For example, Windows Vista and Windows 7 were already installed as dual-boot and then Windows Vista was reinstalled again. At the second installation, Windows Vista overwrites the MBR and the new MBR isn't recognized by Windows 7. <strong>In this article, you can find various solutions to repair your dual-boot configuration.</strong> [toc] <h2>What is dual-boot/multi-boot</h2> Dual-booting or multi-booting means installing multiple Windows versions (or other operating systems) on the same computer and being able to choose which operating system you'd like to boot into. <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3112" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/02/dual_boot_windows_vista_ubuntu.jpg" alt="Dual Boot Options Menu on Windows Vista, Ubuntu" width="960" height="406" /> It's very common to see this kind of configuration on Windows computers: <ul> <li>Windows XP with Windows Vista</li> <li>Windows Vista with Windows 7</li> <li>Windows 8 with Windows 7</li> </ul> For more information on how to setup a dual-boot system, go to our <a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/easybcd/dual-boot/">guides from EasyBCD</a>. If you're dual-booting Windows 8 with Windows 7, the boot options menu will look like this: <img class="size-full wp-image-3113" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/02/dual-boot-options-menu-windows-7-8.jpg" alt="Dual Boot Options Menu on Windows 8, 7" width="980" height="600" /> <h2>Fix dual-boot configuration with Easy Recovery Essentials</h2> <strong>Easy Recovery Essentials can correct the errors of your computer's boot configuration.</strong> [easyre error="dual-boot errors" bootscreen="xp-vista-7-8-10"] <h2>Other solutions to repair dual-boot configurations</h2> <h3>Repair Windows XP on a dual-boot system</h3> [setupcd] If you have installed Windows XP along another Windows system (e.g. Windows Vista) on the same computer, follow these instructions to repair the Windows XP and fix the dual-boot configuration. <p class="warning">If you don't have the original installation disc, go to <a href="#Fix_dual-boot_configuration_with_Easy_Recovery_Essentials">Fix dual-boot configuration with Easy Recovery Essentials</a>.</p> <ol> <li>Insert the Windows XP installation disc and start the computer</li> <li>At the <em>Press any key to boot from CD</em> screen, press any key to boot from the CD</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd> to setup Windows. You will not re-install Windows XP, but repair the installation.Clicking <kbd>R</kbd> at this step will load Recovery Console, not the repair installation utility. Do not click <kbd>R</kbd>! [caption id="attachment_1993" align="alignnone" width="636"]<img class="size-full wp-image-1993" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/05/windows-xp-r-recovery-console.jpg" alt="Windows XP Press R for Recovery Console" width="636" height="380" /> Windows XP Press R for Recovery Console[/caption]</li> <li>Press the <kbd>F8</kbd> key to accept the license agreement</li> <li>Select your Windows XP installation from the disc and press <kbd>R</kbd>.</li> <li>If the repair option isn't available or the Windows XP installation isn't found, exit the setup. If you continue from this step you may overwrite your Windows XP system and delete all personal files!</li> </ol> <h3>Repair Windows Vista on a dual-boot system</h3> To repair Windows Vista's bootloader and fix the dual-boot configuration, you can use the bootrec utility that's available on the original Windows Vista installation disc (CD or DVD). <p class="warning">If you don't have the original installation disc, go to <a href="#Fix_dual-boot_configuration_with_Easy_Recovery_Essentials">Fix dual-boot configuration with Easy Recovery Essentials</a>.</p> <strong>Fix #1:</strong> Run bootrec [setupcd] <ol> <li>Insert the installation disc in the tray and boot from it</li> <li>At the <em>Welcome</em> screen, click on <strong>Repair your computer</strong> [caption id="attachment_2109" align="alignnone" width="393"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2109" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-vista-repair-your-computer.png" alt="Windows Vista Repair Your Computer Menu" width="393" height="277" /> Windows Vista Repair Your Computer Menu[/caption]</li> <li>Choose your operating system and click <strong>Next</strong></li> <li>At the <strong>System Recovery Options</strong> screen, click <strong>Command Prompt</strong> [caption id="attachment_2110" align="alignnone" width="340"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2110" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-vista-system-recovery-options.jpg" alt="Windows Vista System Recovery Options" width="340" height="255" /> Windows Vista System Recovery Options[/caption]</li> <li>Type: <pre>bootrec /FixMbr</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>bootrec /FixBoot</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>bootrec /RebuildBcd</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Remove the CD/DVD from the tray</li> <li>Type: <pre>exit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Restart your computer</li> </ol> <strong>Fix #2:</strong> Run diskpart, then bootrec [setupcd] If Fix #1 above doesn't work, you may need to set the partition which was Windows Vista installed as active first and then run bootrec. To do so, run diskpart: <ol> <li>Insert the Windows installation disc and boot from it</li> <li>Go to <strong>Command Prompt</strong> from <em>System Recovery Options</em> (same steps as Fix #1)</li> <li>Type: <pre>diskpart</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>list disk</pre> This command will list all disks available on your computer.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>select disk 0</pre> Replace <code>0</code> with the disk where your Windows Vista is installed on. If you have only 1 hard drive, it's <code>0</code>.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>list part</pre> This command will list the partition available on the select disk.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>select partition 0</pre> Replace <code>0</code> with the partition where Windows Vista is installed.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>active</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>exit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>diskpart is now closed. Run the bootrec commands, one by one, and press <kbd>Enter</kbd> after each: <pre>bootrec /fixmbr bootrec /rebuildbcd bootrec /fixboot</pre> </li> </ol> <h3>Repair Windows 7 on a dual-boot system</h3> In order to have Windows 7 back in your dual-boot options menu, use the bootsect utility to restore Windows 7's MBR. <p class="warning">If you don't have the original installation disc, go to <a href="#Fix_dual-boot_configuration_with_Easy_Recovery_Essentials">Fix dual-boot configuration with Easy Recovery Essentials</a>.</p> <ol> <li>Boot from the original Windows 7 installation DVD</li> <li>At the <em>System Recovery Options</em> screen, click <strong>Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>Type: <pre>diskpart</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>select disk 0</pre> Replace <code>0</code> with the disk available on the hard disk, where Windows 7 is installed on. To have the full list of disks from your computer, type <code>list disk</code>.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>list volume</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Look for the drive's letter of your optical drive (where the Windows 7 installation DVD is now running). This usually has "CD-ROM" mentioned in the Type column.</li> <li>Type: <pre>exit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>D:</pre> Where <code>D:</code> is the optical's drive letter.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>cd boot</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>dir</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>exit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Restart your computer</li> </ol> <h3>Repair Windows 8 or 8.1 on a dual-boot system</h3> Using the bootrec utility you can repair Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 on a dual-boot system and boot into your Windows. <p class="warning">If you don't have the original installation disc or original USB, go to <a href="#Fix_dual-boot_configuration_with_Easy_Recovery_Essentials">Fix dual-boot configuration with Easy Recovery Essentials</a>.</p> <strong>Fix #1:</strong> Use bcdboot [setupcd] Using bcdboot, attempt to fix your computer and have the boot menu back: <ol> <li>Insert the Windows 8 DVD or Windows 8.1 USB and restart your computer to boot from the media</li> <li>Go to <strong>Command Prompt</strong> (click Troubleshoot > Command Prompt)</li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdboot C:\windows</pre> Where <code>C:\</code> is the drive's letter where Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 is installed on.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Remove the DVD or USB</li> <li>Type: <pre>exit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Restart your computer</li> </ol> <strong>Fix #2:</strong> Use diskpart, then bootrec <ol> <li>Insert the Windows 8 DVD or Windows 8.1 USB</li> <li>Restart your computer and boot from the media</li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> at the <em>Welcome</em> screen [caption id="attachment_2111" align="alignnone" width="610"]<img class="size-full wp-image-2111" src="/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/06/windows-8-repair-your-computer-screen.png" alt="Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu" width="610" height="430" /> Windows 8 Repair Your Computer Menu[/caption]</li> <li>Go to <strong>Troubleshoot > Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>Type: <pre>diskpart</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>sel disk 0</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>list vol</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Determine which volume has FAT32 mentioned at the Fs column. This would be the UEFI/EFI partition with Windows 8/8.1</li> <li>Type: <pre>sel vol 2</pre> Where <code>2</code> is the volume with the FAT32 format.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>assign letter x:</pre> Where <code>x:</code> is the partition's letter. The letter must be unique.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>exit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>cd /d x:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\</pre> Where <code>x:</code> is the letter you used.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>bootrec /FixBoot</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>ren BCD BCD.backup</pre> This would create backup of the BCD.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdboot c:\Windows /l en-us /s x: /f ALL</pre> Where <code>c:\</code> is the drive's letter where Windows 8 is installed on.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Remove the DVD or USB</li> <li>Type: <pre>exit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Restart your computer</li> </ol> <h3>Repair Windows 10 on a dual-boot system</h3> Using the bootrec utility you can repair Windows 10 on a dual-boot system and boot into your Windows. <p class="warning">If you don't have the original installation disc or original USB, go to <a href="#Fix_dual-boot_configuration_with_Easy_Recovery_Essentials">Fix dual-boot configuration with Easy Recovery Essentials</a>.</p> <strong>Fix #1:</strong> Use bcdboot [setupcd] Using bcdboot, attempt to fix your computer and have the boot menu back: <ol> <li>Insert the Windows 10 media and restart your computer to boot from the media</li> <li>Go to <strong>Command Prompt</strong> (click Troubleshoot > Command Prompt)</li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdboot C:\windows</pre> Where <code>C:\</code> is the drive's letter where Windows 10 is installed on.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Remove the DVD or USB</li> <li>Type: <pre>exit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Restart your computer</li> </ol> <strong>Fix #2:</strong> Use diskpart, then bootrec <ol> <li>Insert the Windows 10 media</li> <li>Restart your computer and boot from the media</li> <li>Click <strong>Repair your computer</strong> at the <em>Welcome</em> screen<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5053" src="https://neosmart.net/wiki/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2014/12/Win10_setup.png" alt="Windows 10 Setup screen" width="603" height="419" /></li> <li>Go to <strong>Troubleshoot > Command Prompt</strong></li> <li>Type: <pre>diskpart</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>sel disk 0</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>list vol</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Determine which volume has FAT32 mentioned at the Fs column. This would be the UEFI/EFI partition with Windows 10</li> <li>Type: <pre>sel vol 2</pre> Where <code>2</code> is the volume with the FAT32 format.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>assign letter x:</pre> Where <code>x:</code> is the partition's letter. The letter must be unique.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>exit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>cd /d x:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\</pre> Where <code>x:</code> is the letter you used.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>bootrec /FixBoot</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>ren BCD BCD.backup</pre> This would create backup of the BCD.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Type: <pre>bcdboot c:\Windows /l en-us /s x: /f ALL</pre> Where <code>c:\</code> is the drive's letter where Windows 10 is installed on.</li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Remove the DVD or USB</li> <li>Type: <pre>exit</pre> </li> <li>Press <kbd>Enter</kbd></li> <li>Restart your computer</li> </ol> <h2>More Information</h2> <h3>Linked Entries</h3> <ul> <li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/bootrec/">bootrec</a></li> <li><a href="https://neosmart.net/wiki/diskpart/">diskpart</a></li> </ul> [partial name="partial_moreinfo" versions="xp,vista,7,8,10"]