Create windows install partition??

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:36 am

Hey, I just made a bootable windows install partition on my hd but none of the tutorials say how to make it a boot option from startup??? They all say to make it "active" but thats not an option, i want it to display for a few seconds asking if i want to boot from drive F for example or start the normal windows on drive C.

Anyone know how to do this??

Thanks so much!

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:18 am

What OS did you install?

As far as i know all the available OS's should appear upon start up unless the the most recently installed OS is an older OS than the original then it can be a boot loader problem.

I'm not great with computers but i have encountered a similar problem before.

Also only a primary partition can be made active and if that partition is inside an extended partition then your scundered.

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 2:29 pm

Noz03 wrote:

Hey, I just made a bootable windows install partition on my hd but none of the tutorials say how to make it a boot option from startup??? They all say to make it "active" but thats not an option, i want it to display for a few seconds asking if i want to boot from drive F for example or start the normal windows on drive C.

Anyone know how to do this??

Thanks so much!

What os did you have and what os did you put on the partition

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 2:50 pm

This is probably the easiest way to do it. And it's free Wink

http://neosmart.net/EasyBCD/

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 4:46 pm

I am guessing you have only made a partition so far, if you set the drive letter to F: stick the windows install disk in the drive, reboot your PC, Boot from DVD, install windows (Make sure to select the new F: drive (partition) not the one with the other OS on it).

both should show up when you finish the install and reboot.

open msconfig and select the boot tab you can select the default OS to boot. Wink

Which ever OS you boot will likely make the booted OS's drive the C: drive.

Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:10 pm

I haven't had much experience with bootable partitions, just a word of advice, make sure your main windows drive is C. It can cause problems installing some software if your operating system is on another drive letter.

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 9:49 am

Sorry I think I wasnt clear, the partition is for the windows installER, a kind of restore partition so that i can reinstall windows any time without cd or usb. Ive made the partition and it is already bootable, I just dont know how to boot from without making it the active partition. Any ideas?

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:48 pm

read this: http://www.howtogeek.com/wiki/Bcdedit

I will show you how to use Bcdedit via the CMD.

BCDEDIT - Boot Configuration Data Store Editor

The Bcdedit.exe command-line tool modifies the boot configuration data store.
The boot configuration data store contains boot configuration parameters and
controls how the operating system is booted. These parameters were previously
in the Boot.ini file (in BIOS-based operating systems) or in the nonvolatile
RAM entries (in Extensible Firmware Interface-based operating systems).

You can use Bcdedit.exe to add, delete, edit, and append entries in the boot
configuration data store.

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 1:59 pm

Noz03 wrote:

Sorry I think I wasnt clear, the partition is for the windows installER, a kind of restore partition so that i can reinstall windows any time without cd or usb. Ive made the partition and it is already bootable, I just dont know how to boot from without making it the active partition. Any ideas?

Yeah I gathered that by your screenshot. You got ya a homemade restore partition. Laughing

Never really tried to go about it that way. Anytime I get a laptop I wind up deleting the factory restore partition .

You had asked a question I think in your 1st post here, on a lets say taboo subject. I am going to pm you a good link. Now back to your current situation, I would make a bootable usb stick of your installer. Reinstall windows 7, using custom settings, then advanced options, delete all partitions ignore all the windows warnings ect. Then all the drive should be shown as unallocated space click that and windows will create another 100mb system partition then your good to go.

Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:13 pm

Your harddrive is last place you want a restore partition

Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 11:25 pm

Will a deep freezer work ok outdoors in chicago weather?
it will be in a unheated garage

Posted: Sun May 06, 2012 11:38 pm

saleemamalik wrote:

Will a deep freezer work ok outdoors in chicago weather?
it will be in a unheated garage

will my boot fit up your ass?

it is a size 12 steel toe