Windows 10: Windows 10 & Windows 7 Dual Boot - Can it be done

You want the Edit Boot Menu tab/button:
Changing the Menu Options

 

In Windows 10 from an administrative command prompt type bcdboot c:\windows and press return. I know this will make Windows 10 the default. I am not sure if it will restore the GUI boot menu.

 

Windows 10 is already the default but not first in the Boot Manager display order. Do not believe it will resolve the GUI Boot.

 

Have installed EasyBCD and launched it. Whoa, I got a warning that not all features are available because it has detected EFI on my PC. From the View Menu it has no knowledge of my Windows 7 installation.

 

Here is what EasyBCD View shows and what BCDedit /enum shows from a Command Prompt.

EasyBCD
=======

There is one entry in the Windows bootloader.
Path: C:\Users\Nolly\Documents\EasyBCD Backup (2017-02-24).bcd

Default: Windows 10
Timeout: 3 seconds
EasyBCD Boot Device: C:\

Entry #1
Name: Windows 10
BCD ID: {default}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \WINDOWS\system32\winload.efi

Command Prompt
==============

C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit /enum

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
path \EFI\MICROSOFT\BOOT\BOOTMGFW.EFI
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-us
inherit {globalsettings}
default {current}
resumeobject {7edf735f-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
displayorder {7edf7360-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
{current}
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 5

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {7edf7360-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
device partition=D:
path \Windows\system32\winload.efi
description Windows 7
locale en-us
inherit {bootloadersettings}
osdevice partition=D:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {7edf735f-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
nx OptIn
detecthal Yes

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.efi
description Windows 10
locale en-us
inherit {bootloadersettings}
isolatedcontext Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {6d77cf38-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
nx OptIn
bootmenupolicy Standard

 

You'll have to manually load the BCD file the computer is actually using in order to edit it. Will check that out when I get home.

 

What I have done is to install EasyBCD on my Windows 7 partition and run it. I still get the warning about my PC using EFI mode (no surprise). From View I could see both boot entries. Using Edit I moved the Windows 10 entry above the Windows 7 entry. Also ticked the Metro box as I believe this should provide what I have been calling the GUI Boot.

This has solved the first issue in that Windows 10, is now, not only the default boot option but is first in the display order. It has not resolved the Boot Manager Menu which is still showing text rather than icons. Had the same issue last year with EasyBCD and my old Laptop.

 

From Windows 10 I now have.

EasyBCD
=======

There is one entry in the Windows bootloader.
Path: C:\Users\Nolly\Documents\EasyBCD Backup (2017-02-24).bcd

Default: Windows 10
Timeout: 3 seconds
EasyBCD Boot Device: C:\

Entry #1
Name: Windows 10
BCD ID: {default}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \WINDOWS\system32\winload.efi

So, still no knowledge of Windows 7. Look at those that I have emboldened. The date is from 5 days ago! The boot timeout has been set to 5 seconds so why is EasyBCD showing 3 seconds.

Command Prompt
==============

C:\Windows\system32>BCDedit /enum

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier {bootmgr}
device partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
path \EFI\MICROSOFT\BOOT\BOOTMGFW.EFI
description Windows Boot Manager
locale en-US
inherit {globalsettings}
default {current}
resumeobject {7edf735f-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
displayorder {9c1ac511-3173-11e6-b87b-f832e4a0980c}
{dfa64c7b-5975-11e7-ab1f-3052cb386402}
{7edf7364-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
{7edf7365-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
{7edf7366-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
{current}
{7edf7360-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
toolsdisplayorder {memdiag}
timeout 5

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {9c1ac511-3173-11e6-b87b-f832e4a0980c}
description Hard Drive
custom:250000c2 1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {dfa64c7b-5975-11e7-ab1f-3052cb386402}
description CD/DVD Drive
custom:250000c2 1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {7edf7364-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
description UEFI:CD/DVD Drive
custom:250000c2 1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {7edf7365-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
description UEFI:Removable Device
custom:250000c2 1

Firmware Application (101fffff)
-------------------------------
identifier {7edf7366-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
description UEFI:Network Device
custom:250000c2 1

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {current}
device partition=C:
path \Windows\system32\winload.efi
description Windows 10
locale en-us
inherit {bootloadersettings}
isolatedcontext Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
osdevice partition=C:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {6d77cf38-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
nx OptIn
bootmenupolicy Standard
quietboot Yes

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier {7edf7360-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
device partition=D:
path \Windows\system32\winload.efi
description Windows 7
locale en-us
inherit {bootloadersettings}
osdevice partition=D:
systemroot \Windows
resumeobject {7edf735f-5b7c-11e7-ab38-3052cb386402}
nx OptIn
bootmenupolicy Standard
detecthal Yes

This has some very strange entries including two BootLoader entries. Also look at all those IDs (if that is what they are) that are showing in the Windows Boot Loader display order!

 

You need to have a drive letter assigned to the EFI System Partition. We did Z: drive in my earlier instructions, so I am going to use Z: drive. In EasyBCD you want to click File -> Select BCD Store. Then open Z:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot and the BCD file there.

 

Did that and I saw the Windows 7 entry. Did an exit from EasyBCD and then launched it again and the Windows 7 entry has disappeared! Do I need to save it, if so how?. Must hit the sack but will be back tomorrow.

 

Yeah the same thing happened to me. I found the answer. And it's fairly easy. The only requirement is that your hard drive must not have any unallocated space on it when you start. If it doesn't then just add a dummy partition to whatever free space is there to get the drive 100% partitioned with no free space. Now, on my computer, I am booted into Windows 10. C: drive is Windows 10. G: drive is Windows 7. In the commands that follow, change the drive letters accordingly - but G: is probably the only one you might have to change. Also, my EFI system partition is Partition number 2. Again, you want to select the EFI System Partition, so change the number 2 if you have to. First delete the EFI System Partition using MiniTool Partition Wizard Free:





Click apply. Now the only unallocated space on the hard drive should be the space that was the EFI System Partition. Now, open a Command Prompt (Admin) and run the following commands (the commands are in bold):

Code: Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.15063] (c) 2017 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. C:\Windows\system32>diskpart Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.15063.0 Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. On computer: MAIN-DESKTOP DISKPART> list disk Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt -------- ------------- ------- ------- --- --- Disk 0 Online 232 GB 100 MB * Disk 1 Online 931 GB 1536 MB * DISKPART> select disk 0 Disk 0 is now the selected disk. DISKPART> list part Partition ### Type Size Offset ------------- ---------------- ------- ------- Partition 1 Recovery 450 MB 1024 KB Partition 3 Reserved 16 MB 551 MB Partition 4 Primary 172 GB 567 MB Partition 5 Primary 60 GB 172 GB DISKPART> create part EFI DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition. DISKPART> list part Partition ### Type Size Offset ------------- ---------------- ------- ------- Partition 1 Recovery 450 MB 1024 KB * Partition 2 System 100 MB 451 MB Partition 3 Reserved 16 MB 551 MB Partition 4 Primary 172 GB 567 MB Partition 5 Primary 60 GB 172 GB DISKPART> format fs=fat32 quick 100 percent completed DiskPart successfully formatted the volume. DISKPART> assign letter=z DiskPart successfully assigned the drive letter or mount point. DISKPART> exit Leaving DiskPart... C:\Windows\system32>bootsect /nt60 Z: /force Target volumes will be updated with BOOTMGR compatible bootcode. Z: (\\?\Volume{1096fa0a-2137-40f6-ac37-694bb2df904e}) Successfully updated FAT32 filesystem bootcode. Bootcode was successfully updated on all targeted volumes. C:\Windows\system32>bcdboot G:\Windows /s z: /f UEFI Boot files successfully created. C:\Windows\system32>bcdboot C:\Windows Boot files successfully created. C:\Windows\system32>exit[/quote] Cross your fingers and toes and restart your computer.

If you want to change the timeout, the command is:
bcdedit /timeout 5

 

Should the line in bold in your quoted text read as follows:

If it does then just add a dummy partition to whatever unallocated space is there to get the drive 100% partitioned with no free space.

My disk has no unallocated space but does have free space in all but one partition. You would of course expect to see free space In your Windows 10 & 7 partitions.

See my partition disk as it is now. Windows 10 is the C: partition and Windows 7 is the D: partition.





Need to disappear for a while. Be back later.

 

You are good to go. You have no unallocated space until you delete the first partition which is your EFI system partition. The only concern is when you recreate the EFI System Partition with "create part EFI" in diskpart - you want it to be in the correct empty space, so you want the only empty space on the hard drive to be where the EFI System partition was before you deleted it. In my example, after you recreate the EFI System Partition and then do list part, I suspect your system partition will be partition number 1 and it should have the asterisk next to it. When you recreate the EFI system partition it will automatically get the focus for the next command formatting it.

Obviously, your first bcdboot command will need to have D:\Windows in it instead of my G:\Windows.

I ended up with a nice, pretty graphical boot menu with Windows 10 on top and the default after running the commands in the example.

 

I'm back. Concluded, when I was sufficiently awake, that all systems were go. Carried out the instructions and et voil . I can do a 'cold boot' or a 'warm boot' and I have Windows 10 displaying first and it is the default boot option but the icing on the cake is that I now have GUI so there are two icons.

EasyBCD still only shows the Windows 10 entry when booted from Windows 10.

Thanks yet again.

 

You're most welcome. It was a great learning experience for myself as well! I'm "retiring" in November this year and would love to get a job in computer repair, if I could make enough money at it to take care of the family.