win8 No OS selection screen after installing Win8 alongside Win7

[ScorpioRGc1]

Yesterday, I installed the 90-day trial of Windows 8 RTM that MSDN has been giving out to app developers. I partitioned my SSD that has an install of Windows 7. The OS itself works fine, but here's the kicker: my computer will always boot straight to either Windows 7 or Windows 8 without a dual-boot OS selection screen. I can change the boot OS by manipulating active partitions in Drive Manager, but even that isn't 100% foolproof (not to mention cumbersome). I tried re-installing Windows 8 as well as a boot repair with the Win8 startup disk, but no luck (the Win8 disk actually said there was nothing to fix).

I've had a lot of dual-boot setups over the years, but I've never seen this happen. Is there any way to fix things so that the Win8 boot loader is actually used?

[PsYcHoKiLLa]

Boot into Windows 8, then invoke the run dialog and type in "msconfig", then check to see if both operating systems are listed under the Boot tab, if not I think you might be able to run the Windows 8 setup again then go to the part that helps fix boot, then it should be able to scan for all installed operating systems and should re-enable the menu.

[Lee G. Veteran]

To configure your dual boot settings you can use EasyBCD.

[Dawg]

You missed it... It comes up after the the windows 8 logo loading screen

[Brandon H Supervisor]

To configure your dual boot settings you can use EasyBCD.

love this tool, it has been a life saver to me a few times

[Manarift]

If the OS's are on two different drives then you can switch to them with the boot selector from the bios

[ScorpioRGc1]

If the OS's are on two different drives then you can switch to them with the boot selector from the bios

Nah, they're on he same drive, just two different partitions.

Boot into Windows 8, then invoke the run dialog and type in "msconfig", then check to see if both operating systems are listed under the Boot tab, if not I think you might be able to run the Windows 8 setup again then go to the part that helps fix boot, then it should be able to scan for all installed operating systems and should re-enable the menu.

I didn't check under the boot tab, but I have tried both re-installing Win8 and trying a startup repair with the Win8 install disk, but neither worked. :(

I guess I'll have to try EasyBCD, but how well does it work with the new Win8 boot loader?

[Manarift]

Nah, they're on he same drive, just two different partitions.

I didn't check under the boot tab, but I have tried both re-installing Win8 and trying a startup repair with the Win8 install disk, but neither worked. :(

I guess I'll have to try EasyBCD, but how well does it work with the new Win8 boot loader?

if they were on two different hdd then it be easier but same partition kinda kills what i was about to suggest

[ScorpioRGc1]

I tried the new OS refresh option on the Win8 install disk, and that actually gave me the boot loader option this time. It didn't have Windows 7 on it (just two entires for Windows 8), but EasyBCD fixed that. Trouble was, I still often got bootloader issues half the time, so I ended up just deleting the Win8 install for now. I did manage to test a few things, and that was the sole purpose of me installing the trial. I did get convinced to upgrade despite my dual-boot woes; I just won't be keeping Win7 installed after October when Windows 8 gets released.

Anyways, thanks for the help, guys!

[Jygoro]

If you have the fast startup option enabled in Windows 8 you won't see any boot menu, it will just boot into windows 8 in 10 seconds.

If you disable this in Power Options then you should get the usual boot menu but Windows 8 will take more time to boot.

[sonusingh27]

Yesterday, I installed the 90-day trial of Windows 8 RTM that MSDN has been giving out to app developers. I partitioned my SSD that has an install of Windows 7. The OS itself works fine, but here's the kicker: my computer will always boot straight to either Windows 7 or Windows 8 without a dual-boot OS selection screen. I can change the boot OS by manipulating active partitions in Drive Manager, but even that isn't 100% foolproof (not to mention cumbersome). I tried re-installing Windows 8 as well as a boot repair with the Win8 startup disk, but no luck (the Win8 disk actually said there was nothing to fix).

I've had a lot of dual-boot setups over the years, but I've never seen this happen. Is there any way to fix things so that the Win8 boot loader is actually used?

I'm having the same issue, but I have two drives and an OS on each. Windows 7 on the HDD and Windows 8 on the SSD.

It does not find the Windows 7 OS. I could use EasyBCD but that doesn't use the new Windows 8 boot menu.

I tried bootrec /scanos but it still did not find it.

Anyone know of any solutions?