Boot Issue between two Windows 11 drives

Lautermilch · Sep 17, 2024

I work from home. The company recently hired a IT support company and I don't want them on my personal data. So I formatted a spare drive, installed Windows 11 with no problem and have the needed software installed.

The problem is boot. The pattern is it allows me to selection from two drives, I pick personal or work, it goes to Dell screen, then reboots, and then I can go to the Windows I want. I have done a little reading and it appears it might be a mismatch on the drives. Any software that would show the info that might be causing this?

NavyLCDR · Sep 17, 2024

Sounds like the normal UEFI dual boot process to me. Need to see a full disk management screenshot:

How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management

How to Post a Screenshot of Disk Management at Ten Forums

www.tenforums.com

Lautermilch · Sep 18, 2024

Thanks for the post.
Disk 0/ Drive X is my storage drive for images. I am a photographer for fun.
Disk 1/ F: - is the new drive for the work install of Windows 11. I can easily format that drive and rebuild if that is the fix.
Disk 2 is my long time Dell drive that I would not want to format.

Winuser · Sep 18, 2024

I think this is normal. Back when I was dual booting two version of Windows, my computer would reboot every time a wanted to switch from the Windows build I last used. If I wasn't switching builds the computer would boot straight into Windows.

suatcini54 · Sep 18, 2024

Hi.

Open Sysdm.cpl using Run dialog box. Click Advanced tab. Click Settings in Startup and Recovery section.

A new window will open. You should click the dropdown box to see the installed OSes.

Do you see two OSes here ? If you have them, then you can use this drop-down box to boot to the OS the next time you restart your PC. The OS selected here will be your default OS.

Hope this helps.

Dronix · Sep 18, 2024

Lautermilch said:
Any software that would show the info that might be causing this?

You can also try EasyBCD. Very visual. And the transition to booting the desired operating system can be arranged via iReboot.

NavyLCDR · Sep 18, 2024

Lautermilch said:
Thanks for the post.
Disk 0/ Drive X is my storage drive for images. I am a photographer for fun.
Disk 1/ F: - is the new drive for the work install of Windows 11. I can easily format that drive and rebuild if that is the fix.
Disk 2 is my long time Dell drive that I would not want to format.

View attachment 109029

You have a standard dual boot setup with a single drive as bootable (disk 2). The behavior you are experiencing is completely normal for UEFI with this setup. The only way to change it would be to make disk 1 also bootable, but then you would have to get into the boot override menu when starting up the computer to select the alternate disk to boot from.

TechnoMage2021 · Sep 18, 2024

Duh! I'm afraid that I don't understand the problem.

I never have such a problem, even though I have three OS drives and one Backup drive, all installed and actively plugged into my Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3, motherboard. (12 years old)
I have Win-11, 23H2, Win-11, 24H2, and Win-10/Pro/32, which I can select with the F-12 key on boot.
If I just do a normal boot up, the BIOS dictates that Win-11, 23H2 will boot up by default.

My BIOS is set to address all drives as MBR. (aka, Legacy) I don't, and won't, use UEFI on any of my PC's, for total compatibility.
I can format a new SSD on this PC, install Windows, and then take the drive to any of my other PC's, install it, and it will boot up the PC, settle in, install some hardware drivers and then run like it was installed there.

It seems to this old tech, that most of the problems I see reported here, are Self Induced. Sometimes called, Shooting ones self in the foot!

Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?
TM

Winuser · Sep 18, 2024

When I was dual booting whatever Windows version I was using when I shutdown was the default OS that booted. If I wanted to switch over the computer would restart then boot into the other version. Except for taking a little longer to boot, I don't see the problem.

Dronix · Sep 18, 2024

Winuser said:
If I wanted to switch over the computer would restart then boot into the other version. Except for taking a little longer to boot, I don't see the problem.

And if you use iReboot, everything boots quickly, depending on the selected operating system, right past the Boot Menu.

Winuser · Sep 18, 2024

Dronix said:
And if you use iReboot, everything boots quickly, depending on the selected operating system, right past the Boot Menu.

I was wondering if there was a third party solution. The way I'm thinking is that one would have to be able to select the OS before the boot menu of the last OS used loaded.

Winuser · Sep 18, 2024

@Dronix, even though I no longer dual boot I went to the iReboot home page and if I'm understanding it correctly one has to choose before shutting down or restarting the computer. If I was to go back to dual booting I would prefer a program that loaded first that allowed me to choose what OS I wanted without the need to restart. It may be perfect for @Lautermilch use though. Thanks for suggesting it.

Dronix · Sep 18, 2024

Winuser said:
@Dronix, even though I no longer dual boot I went to the iReboot home page and if I'm understanding it correctly one has to choose before shutting down or restarting the computer. If I was to go back to dual booting I would prefer a program that loaded first that allowed me to choose what OS I wanted without the need to restart. It may be perfect for @Lautermilch use though. Thanks for suggesting it.

Indeed, before shutting down, you need to make a choice in EasyBCD of the operating system from which you would like to boot after turning off the computer. If you just want to reboot to another operating system when you are in one, iReboot is enough. I made a little video here. Look. Video - iReboot

Scott · Sep 18, 2024

There's no need for a 3rd party application.
The Standard (blue) boot menu pre-loads
the default OS. The computer needs to reboot if you choose a different OS.

The Legacy boot menu is displayed before the OS boot process begins and boots to whatever you choose without needing a reboot.
You lose your pretty blue squares though.

bcdedit /set {current} menubootpolicy legacy

TechnoMage2021 · Sep 19, 2024

F-12 solves all the boot questions for me.
I have three OS's on my PC, all in separate SSD's.
My Every Day OS boots automatically, but if I want a different OS, I just F-12 at the Logo screen. What's so difficult about that?

Some folks, seem to enjoy making something difficult out of something so simple! ???