Changing boot order from XP partition to Windows 7 parition

[JuliathePCGP]

Hi,

I have a Acer laptop which had a corrupt Windows installation, so I couldn't boot from the hard drive.

The user doesn't have recovery discs and the Alt F10 Recovery option wasn't available, even though the hidden recovery partition is there PQSERVICE.

In order to get to the files, a copy of Windows XP Pro was installed, but it won't activate - that that isn't a problem for me as I will remove it before the 30 days.

I was given a recovery disc set designed for another computer, but - although it didn't work - the next time I booted the laptop it ran the eRecovery program and restored Windows 7 onto it, which is fantastic !!

My problem is that the system is still booting to Windows XP which is on the D partition, and not to Windows 7 which is on the E partition. There is another partition called C called "SYSTEM" but it contains nothing apart from a hidden Program files folder !

How do I tell the computer to boot from the recovered E partition so I can use Windows 7 and create the Recovery discs needed ? Then I can remove the Windows XP installation that I don't want or need.

Thank you very much in anticipation of your help to resolve this problem.

Regards,
Julia Evans

 

[DrB0b]

Well...... what should have been done:

Either - use a Linux Live CD to boot and recover data or remove the HDD from the PC and backup to another computer then try to boot from a recovery disc.

When you remove XP either with a XP or Windows 7 boot disc and remove the partition with XP on it, you will still have 7 labeled as E which can cause problems. What you will need to do is either start from scratch, wiping the drive and reinstalling after backing up or you can try removing XP and running the eRecovery again which should rename the Drive Letter to C.

"You don't know what you got, till its gone..
80's hair band Cinderella or ode to data backups???

 

[JuliathePCGP]

Thanks for replying, but I'm afraid it didn't answer my query which was about how to access my Windows 7 partition after running eRecovery.

The eRecovery wouldn't load at the outset (before I installed XP) - I don't know why, but it appeared on screen only recently.

Thankfully, it was easy to resolve, as a member of another forum to which I posted this query recommended using "Easy BCD".

With this, I was able to quickly and easily add Windows 7 to the Boot Manager - and as soon as I rebooted the laptop, Windows 7 is starting up fine, and I can format the partition on which XP resided and use it for data storage.

I couldn't have followed your suggestion as the laptop didn't have recovery disks with it - and eRecovery from disk wasn't working at the outset, even though the partition was present (both of which I mentioned in my posting).

Even if I had a Windows 7 Home Premium disc to hand, I couldn't use it to install as the licence key underneath the laptop has worn away - and besides I'd still have to download drivers for all the items.

Regards,
Julia

 

[BadBigBen]

have a look below:

Dual-boot Repair tool - automatic one-click repair for dual or multi boot systems based on Windows 7/Vista.

Accompanying Dual-boot Repair tool is part of Visual BCD package and needs .NET Framework 2.0 and Windows XP as minimum.

It can repair the MBR, partition boot records (PBR's), Windows BCD store and the disk structure by simple selections and clicks. The tool offers automatic one-click dual-boot repair for non-booting Windows 7/Vista in the scenario of a dual or multi boot system with Windows 7/Vista/XP (and other non-Windows operating systems).

Visual BCD Editor for Windows 7/Vista

http://www.boyans.net/

or use

EasyBCD 2.1.2

http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

EasyBCD Documentation Home

http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/EasyBCD+Documentation+Home

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"