help re-creating dual-boot


kjlkjadfasdfasd

Well-known member
Local time
4:24 AM
Posts
23
OS
Windows 10 Pro
I had a power outage that left my PC unbootable. It was a dual-boot 'Windows 11'/'Windows 11 test.' Each one was hidden from the other (no drive letter when the other was active) and my D: is shared with both. The 100GB partition is the test one.

I was able to get into the important one by booting from a USB that had Macrium on it & running the option to fix boot issues. The built-in Windows boot repair didn't work. But Macrium did not see the test installation. So then I ran a program called EasyBCD, gave the test installation a drive letter and added it as an option. Then I removed the drive letter. And that worked, but only once. On the next boot I was able to go into the test installation, but when I rebooted out of it, I was back where I started with an unbootable PC that Windows couldn't fix. I am now back in my primary again thanks to Macrium's boot fix option.

So I have a few questions I'd really appreciate some guidance with:
1) how do I add that second installation back so that I have 3 boot options -- primary, Macrium, test -- that will keep on working? I have primary & Macrium now. Would restoring the EFI System partition from a couple of days ago resolve this or totally trash things?

2) Once I do have things working, how can I back up the boot configuration? EasyBCD has a backup option, but when you first run it pops up a warning about using UEFI, so I'm not sure how reliable it would be.

3) Is it safe to delete these multiple Recovery partitions? Is it possible to have one Recovery partition that works for both installations? I'm honestly not really sure what they even do unless it's the useless 'Troubleshooting' options you get when your PC won't boot. I'm pretty certain I've never had any of the Recovery options work.

drives.png

Thanks!
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11 21H2

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    built myself
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 10700K
    Motherboard
    MSI Z490-A Pro
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    built myself
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 6800K
    Motherboard
    Asus X99-E
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    no TPM
Am I missing something obvious by asking if you have Macrium why can't you restore an image from before the problem and it should all be ok
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18 R1
    CPU
    13th Gen Core i9 13900HX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 @4800MHz 2x16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce RTX 4090HX 16GB
    Sound Card
    Nvidia HD / Realtek ALC3254
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18" QHD+
    Screen Resolution
    25660 X 1600
    Hard Drives
    C: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    D: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    Case
    Dark Metallic Moon
    Keyboard
    Alienware M Series per-key AlienFX RGB
    Mouse
    Alienware AW610M
    Browser
    Chrome and Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
    Other Info
    Killer E3000 Ethernet Controller
    Killer Killer AX1690 Wi-Fi Network Adaptor Wi-Fi 6E
    Bluetooth 5.2
    Alienware Z01G Graphic Amplifier
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware Area 51m R2
    CPU
    10th Gen i-9 10900 K
    Memory
    32Gb Dual Channel DDR4 @ 8843MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia RTX 2080 Super
    Sound Card
    Nvidia
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Hard Drive C: Samsung 2TB SSD PM981a NVMe
    Hard Drive D:Samsung 2TB SSD 970 EVO Plus
    Mouse
    Alienware 610M
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Norton
Am I missing something obvious by asking if you have Macrium why can't you restore an image from before the problem and it should all be ok

I could, but I'd rather not since it's a hassle and it's only the boot configuration that got screwed up, all data is intact. I needed it up quickly this AM because of work. I know from experience it will take at least 2 hours to restore.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    built myself
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 10700K
    Motherboard
    MSI Z490-A Pro
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    built myself
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 6800K
    Motherboard
    Asus X99-E
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    no TPM
I could, but I'd rather not since it's a hassle and it's only the boot configuration that got screwed up, all data is intact. I needed it up quickly this AM because of work. I know from experience it will take at least 2 hours to restore.
Can you use your rescue disk to restore your boot configuration question? 6
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 23H2 22631.2861
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP Envy TE01-1xxx
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-10700 CPU @ 2.90GHz 2.90 GHz
    Motherboard
    16.0GB Dual-Channel Unknown @ 1463MHz (21-21-21-47)
    Memory
    16384 MBytes
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Monitor 1 - Acer 27" Monitor 2 - Acer 27"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    WDC PC SN530 SDBPNPZ-512G-1006 (SSD)
    Seagate ST1000DM003-1SB102
    Seagate BUP Slim SCSI Disk Device (SSD)
    PSU
    HP
    Case
    HP
    Cooling
    Standard
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Internet Speed
    500 mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    That's all Folks!
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 (10th gen) 10700
    Motherboard
    Intel
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Built-in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer 27" & Samsung 24"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x
    Hard Drives
    SSD (512 GB)
    HDD (1 TB)
    Seagate
    PSU
    Intel i7 10th Generation
    Case
    HP
    Cooling
    HP/Intel?
    Mouse
    Logitech M705
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wave K350
    Internet Speed
    50 mbps
    Browser
    Firefox 90.2
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    Headphone/Microphone Combo
    SuperSpeed USB Type-A (4 on front)
    HP 3-in-One Card Readr
    SuperSpeed USB Type-C
    DVD Writer
Are you trying to add the unlettered 100gb partition labelled as Windows 11 Pro to the boot menu ?

assign it a letter in diskmgmt, e.g. E

then from an admin cmd prompt type:

bcdboot e:\windows
(then press enter)

you can remove the letter afterwards if you must.

or you could use the device path instead of having a letter as the alias, but can't tell what it is from diskmgmt screenie.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    i5-8400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    2x8gb 3200mhz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    benq gw2480
    PSU
    bequiet pure power 11 400CM
    Cooling
    cryorig m9i
  • Operating System
    win7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    pentium g5400
    Motherboard
    gigabyte b365m ds3h
    Memory
    1x8gb 2400
    PSU
    xfx pro 450
Are you trying to add the unlettered 100gb partition labelled as Windows 11 Pro to the boot menu ?

assign it a letter in diskmgmt, e.g. E

then from an admin cmd prompt type:

bcdboot e:\windows
(then press enter)

you can remove the letter afterwards if you must.

or you could use the device path instead of having a letter as the alias, but can't tell what it is from diskmgmt screenie.
This is the correct solution.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
I think the full command should be in your case cd e:\windows\system32
bcdboot e:\windows /s S: /f UEFI

(in diskpart command allocate letter s to the 100M or whatever size you have made it to the EFI partition -- boot any windows install / macrium etc with option to get into command line)

Add the same command for any other windows systems on that disk (or other disks).

you can delete surplus boot entries via bcdedit.

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
I think the full command should be in your case cd e:\windows\system32
bcdboot e:\windows /s S: /f UEFI

(in diskpart command allocate letter s to the 100M or whatever size you have made it to the EFI partition -- boot any windows install / macrium etc with option to get into command line)

Add the same command for any other windows systems on that disk (or other disks).

you can delete surplus boot entries via bcdedit.

Cheers
jimbo

Nah - so long as OP boots into Windows, assigns a drive letter, then simple command as per @SIW2 is all that is needed.

Your command is when booting in winpe mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
Nah - so long as OP boots into Windows, assigns a drive letter, then simple command as per @SIW2 is all that is needed.

Your command is when booting in winpe mode.
cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows XP,7,10,11 Linux Arch Linux
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    2 X Intel i7
Are you trying to add the unlettered 100gb partition labelled as Windows 11 Pro to the boot menu ?

assign it a letter in diskmgmt, e.g. E

then from an admin cmd prompt type:

bcdboot e:\windows
(then press enter)

you can remove the letter afterwards if you must.

or you could use the device path instead of having a letter as the alias, but can't tell what it is from diskmgmt screenie.

I tried this, and I ended up with the exact same result as when I added a letter and let Macrium boot fix do it -- I could boot into the test installation once, but then I got an unbootable machine afterwards. I just nuked the test installation. It wasn't important.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    built myself
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 10700K
    Motherboard
    MSI Z490-A Pro
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    built myself
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 6800K
    Motherboard
    Asus X99-E
    Graphics card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    no TPM
I tried this, and I ended up with the exact same result as when I added a letter and let Macrium boot fix do it -- I could boot into the test installation once, but then I got an unbootable machine afterwards. I just nuked the test installation. It wasn't important.
It sounds like your test installation got corrupted.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Homebuilt
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Crosshair VII Hero (WiFi)
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Education
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron 7773
    CPU
    Intel i7-8550U
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Geforce MX150
    Sound Card
    Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17"
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Toshiba 512GB NVMe SSD
    SK Hynix 512GB SATA SSD
    Internet Speed
    Fast!

Latest Support Threads

Back
Top Bottom