Dundertaker

Thanks for the reply there I am using Local Admin Account on both partitions

Thanks for your reply. -- I have not yet installed EasyBCD on Win8.1 yet and not keen on installing it. EasyBCD is on all the Win 7 partitions and will not attempt to add the W811 and W812 in it until you have replied. I stopped after the Re-installing in MBR-CMS mode. -- Yes that is correct there. I thought that the 350mb reserved partition was a must. I did read something about it somewhere that if a disk was unallocated it will create the 350mb reserved partition. I have understood it wrong. If I have formatted the W812 via the ISO in desktop>sources folder>setup would Windows "still" ..automatically assigned to "itself", again the drive letter C...? -- That was what I wanted. It was a long time since I have formatted a disk. I even forgot I how I removed the System reserve there so that any of the Win 7 partitions are able to boot independently. I tried that and they do boot independently. I also want that in the Win8.1 partitions, that they have the capability to boot independently. -- Will take note of that and prepare for it. Will Re-installing in MBR-CMS mode suffice..? Or will we go back to GPT? Doing that re-installing again, will the Win 7 partitions not be affected? I mean loose it's capability to boot independently..? -- Okay that is ultimately also what I want to make all partitions boot independently. Incidentally I erased the 4th Win7 partition as it was used for trial software only t is vacant now. Thanks for the time you spend helping me out. Really appreciate the help here

Windows 8.1 default partition "Do not have enough privileges"...etc I have two Windows 8.1 partitions on single hard disk. I noticed that in the default Win 8.1 partition (let's call it W811), the desktop icons get the shield shortcut as compared to the second Win 8.1 partition (W812) which has none. See image below. I also get some issues running programs/files/folders in W811 partition. It constantly reminds me that I do not have admin privileges so I have to resort to use "Take Ownership" and later using the Properties>Compatibility>Run this program as Administrator. See image below. Why am am I getting this in the default partition and why am I not getting this behavior in the second partition..? In the second partition I seem to can run all of my programs without getting alerted by that I do not have enough privileges. Why only on that first partition I formatted with Win 8.1..? I have always turned off UAC in Windows 7 because it was a bother to me especially when working. In the office(Standard User) I would get annoyed when I install a program I am at ease with for use on my assigned desktop. I don't like what they give me so I use mine. So they gave me admin privileges. At home, for security I use HIPS and Behavioral Blockers/Anti-executable and encryption on files/folders. I'm a HIPS guy (been using Comodo HIPS for a very long time in Windows 7 and I am at ease with it's added punch controlling what I needed controlled). Now in Win 8.1 I also disabled UAC. Instead I am using Behavioral Blocker/Anti-executable of Avast IS 2016 + NVT ERP (W811 default partition) and Emsisoft IS Behavioral Blocker in the second partition W812. Did not install Comodo as it gave me BSOD's. I read somewhere that Windows 8/8.1 by default does this or something like that. I do not quite understand this but definitely it is done for security purposes. Have some materials about it but I only got confused... Can you guys enlighten me on this please. What is the best compromise on this one..? In this desktop (home) the purpose of my dual-booting is one partition for work and the other for everyday use(gaming when I get bored). The wife sometimes uses this desktop but it's not my work partition. I will create a 3rd partition just for her soon. (The kids have their own systems to destroy). Will I just leave it at that and just select whatever I need to run as admin via the "Properties>Compatibility>Run this program as Administrator" for programs and "Take Ownership" on files/folders, or, will I just "enable the built-in Elevated Administrator Account in Windows"...? There might be some drawbacks if I enable the built-in Elevated Administrator Account (--maybe unsafe to some extent) read somewhere that it isn't safe to leave it at that for along period of time and is advised to be password protected. Please help Thanks all

Back here for the continuation of my issues. Thanks for all the support. Unplugged the Windows 7 partition and the storage drive for backups. Formatted the former Win8.1 hard disk and started from scratch this time using with partition scheme -- MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI-CSM instead of "GPT partition for UEFI computers". This is done to check if there will be no issues with the Windows 7 hard disk which is MBR in nature. Did a clean install with only one hard disk plugged-in. As mentioned, erased the hard disk(1TB) using Minitool boot disk and left it as unallocated. Installed Win 8.1 via the Rufus created usb (with partition scheme -- MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI-CSM). Booted the Minitool boot disk to shrink the main partition(first) and create an "unallocated" space for the second partition. The second partition I formatted with the same Rufus usb. (BIOS set to boot to Rufus usb). Formating went fine and fast (just as the first partition). When both partitions are booting fine and after I have installed all "initial" programs I use(including security suites), I re-created 3 more partitions for file/data storage/internal backups. Recovered the data for those storage partitions via ATI 2014. Please see the images attached of the Minitool Partition Wizard image and of the Disk Management of the default Win 8.1 partition. Please see also the diskpart>list volume image of the default Win 8.1 partition (W811) versus the second Win8.1 partition (W812). There is a slight difference there. In the default Win 8.1 partition (W811) Volume 5 ST1TQY_A is marked as (G:) while on the second Win8.1 partition it is marked (D:). Is that normal or we need to correct this before I plug-in the Windows 7 hard disk..? How may we correct this if needed..? What maybe the necessary things that I need to do/check and backup prior doing so..? Will wait for your replies Thanks

jaclaz @jaclaz, I selected that "Hard drive" in the Windows bootloader and it booted to the default W811_1. -- That may seem to be what's happening here ...Seems I need to "refresh" of a do a clean install or try another method here...I'll get back to you in a couple of days. I just need to finish some work and then I'll take on it again. Thanks for the help. Will be back here to follow up.

-- I believe it's normal BOOTMGR. Can't boot from one OS (say, Win 7) to the other (Win8.1) (vice versa). But it boots fine (Windows 7 --all partitions) same speed and no issues at all. Back last year when I attempted to dual-boot Windows 8.1 and Win 7, I did not do a clean install. I just vacated a partition in the Windows 7 hard disk, allocated one, and formatted Windows 8.1 by "Windows 8.1 ISO on desktop>sources folder>setup.exe". Issue is that the boot speed was sicking. Here when I started with a clean install, I mean no other disk was present at that time, all was fine, boot speed was okay, even the BSOD I experienced before was gone (well that I surmised the culprit was Comodo firewall -- so I used a security suite Avast IS 2016 (W811_1) and Emsisoft IS on the W812). The issues with booting only came out when I plugged-in the Win 7 hard disk. EasyBCD/iReboot was useless in Win 8.1. In Win 7 eventhough you can add the two Win 8.1 partitions (W811_1 and W812) you cant boot to it and you'll get a "no boot manager something"...The reason why I boot to both OS via the Bios Boot Option 1 setting. If I will change the drive letters assignments, what should it be based on the images/assignments I posted..? Thank for your help jaclaz, I know this is somewhat out of this world and your efforts really are much appreciated. Am really just out of ideas(as mentioned I am out of my league) here.

Hello jaclaz, Thank you for the reply. Please the diskpart images as attached. Image below was taken from a WinPE disk. I too cannot see the MSR (128 Mb in size) partition there in te Diskpart>list volume....all that I see is the broadbad usb modem there which 128mb (coincidence maybe..). So I unplugged tha and check it out again. The same observation. Cannot see the MSR (128 Mb in size) partition. That should be in the vicinity of those "hidden" Volumes 9 and 10 right...? Please see the image below of my BIOS. To be able to boot to Windows 7, I go to the BIOS and set in Boot Option 1 the hard drive that has the Windows 7 partitions which is P1:WDC_WD3200AAJS_07M0A0. When I want to boot to Windows 8.1 I set the Boot potion 1 to the Windows Loader. Currently I do that to be able to dual-boot as I have no other way of booting. Now when I started formatting Windows 8.1 Pro, I started with a lone hard drive (because I am scared that I will damage a setup etc.) That lone hard drive which was marked P0:ST1TQYxxxxxxx I placed at SATA Port 1. I started fresh (clean install) and deleted all partitions in tha disk and relegated it as unallocated space so I could get the 350mb System Reserved. But apparently I did not get that. I got the 300mb NTFS(Recovery Partition) and the FAT32 Unlabelled EFI System Partition 100mb and that invisible 128mb GPT Reserved Partition. After I formatted the first Windows 8.1 partition --W811_1(C:), I shrunk it to 80gb and alloted space for other partitions. Thus having, W811_1(C:)W812(F:)_A(H:) --storage_B(I:) --storage_S(J:) --storage_I(K:) --storage To format the second Windows 8.1 partiton --W812, I did it via the Windows 8.1 ISO sources folder on the desktop. I ran the setup.exe from the sources folder and pionted to the W812 partition. Afterwards, after I have installed some necessary programs etc, I recovered my data onto the following drives. (Note _I(K:) is empty at the moment. A(H:) --storage_B(I:) --storage_S(J:) --storage The Windows 7 hard drive I did not do anything except to plug it in after I felt that all is well with my Windows 8.1 partitions. The setup needs some fixing but I do not know where to start and to fix it efficiently. Thanks again

Hello jaclaz --Yes DEFINITELY I AGREE! Been reading some notes I got from the net earlier and if I may I want to continue on this endeavor. I'd like to thank you first for going out of your way on this. Really am very grateful for this THANK YOU! Back to basic it is! Currently uploading some images. I will edit this post and supply the continuation a little later. Just a sec. Uploaded the images! Thanks very much for helping me out. Really am out of my league here. Please allow me a couple of more questions first on the Windows bootloader(before I go and ask about dual-booting the 2 different hard drives with Win7 and Win8 again). I have gotten some images and some data so I can provide you more information here. Attached is the bcdedit image taken from W811_1 which I marked as default in "msconfig". Please kindly check if my markings are correct and corresponds correctly with what is reflected in the Windows bootloader image. (1) Are my understanding of the entries and it's designation to File Explorer correct..? See image below also. The Windows 8.1 On volume 4 is the W811_1The Windows 8.1 On volume 5 is the W812I do not know why there is a "Hard Drive" and a "CD/DVD Drive". (2) Is it because there is a marked UEFI-TSSTcorp CDDVDW drive in the boot options menu....? Kindly see image below. I seem to also remember that my Kingston Multiboot USB which houses my backup and utilities tools was marked as UEFI Kingston something. (3) Is that the reason why I am getting the additional "Hard drive" and "CD/DVD Drive" in the Windows bootloader...? (4) How can I get rid of those two additional entries in BCDedit safely...? I was to use "msconfig" but the "Hard Drive" and a "CD/DVD Drive" are not there. Searching the net I have read somewhere that I can remove entries in the Windows bootloader via BCDedit also. Please do kindly check the quoted texts below. bcdedit / delete {identifier} Based on the text above, if I wanna delete the "Hard Drive" in the Windows bootloader, I would type, For the CD/DVD Drive, Are they correct...? If I do that, where will I do that..? In any of the Windows 8.1 partition or is it always the best or must to do this in the "default partition" which is W811_1..? (5) Looking closely I see that the identifier for "CD/DVD Drive" and "partition=F:" is the same. See image below. Having the same identifier "{5fc5af6c-d691-11e5-8010-9fd401e3aa54}", I am worried that if I delete the "CD/DVD Drive" I will also delete the "partition=F:" because I will type (6) Will I be able to boot again using the UEFI-TSSTcorp CDDVDW drive if I delete that entry in the Windows bootloader..? Currently I need the functionality of being able to boot to cd/dvd as I have issues with my Kingston Multiboot usb(which doesn't work at the moment even if I select it as the first boot option in Boot Options #1). (7) Is it possible to rename the entries listed in the Windows bootloader..? I ask because it's confusing having to read very carefully the text below the "Windows 8.1" it's small and for faster identification I need to mark it as what it is reflected in explorer as follows: Windows 8.1 On volume 4 as W811_1 Windows 8.1 On volume 5 as W812 Currently have no idea as to how I can rename them.. (8) Also when I was in Windows 7, that same UEFI Kingston USB I use for deploying either Macrium Reflect Workstation / ATI 2014 or my other WinPE tools. In Windows 8.1 when I plugged that in and set that in Boot Options#1 it will not boot to it. I remenber that there was a note saying that there was no hard disk or something and that I need to load it or press escape to continue (sorry I did not write it down). So to acccess my tools like Macrium or Acronis I use the WinPE DVD I created. They boot fine and I can use either of the tools when I load the WinPE DVD disc in the UEFI-TSSTcorp CDDVDW drive and set it to boot. I do not understand why my multiboot usb will not run in Windows 8.1...Any ideas..? (9) It seems the best way to add the Windows 7 entries to the Windows 8.1 bootloader is via BCDedit rather than using EasyBCD (which is useless now as I have issues with it in Windows 8.1). Booting to the Windows 7 default partition I ran a command prompt as admin and checked the Windows 7 default partition bcdedit data. I saw that both Windows 8.1 partitions have the same identifiers with "partition=F:"(in the Windows 7 default partition bcdedit). See image below. Is that a good thing there..? 2 partitions in Windows 7 (partition=D: and partition=E:) having the same identifiers..? Well I am not worried about the bcdedit in Widows 7 because I have deleted entries in EasyBCD before. I can delete the two partitions, "partition=G:" and "partition=H:" and that would not affect the Windows bootlaoder in Windows 8.1. And EasyBCD is functioning as it should for Windows 7. (10)How can I add the Windows 7 partitions in BCDedit..? I do not see the entries in the Win 8.1 bcdedit. Kindly see the Disk Management imagefrom Windows 8.1 default partition (W811_1) below. (11) I have saved the bcd file in the default Windows 8.1 partition (W811_1) C:\ -- SAVEDBCD. If something untoward happens I should be able to recover boot options from that file correct..? How can I recover that file, say, something went very wrong and I could not boot at all? Can I retrieve that via usb? I mean save that file in a usb and plug it in (leave it there for a moment while doing this BCDedit endeavor)..? What may be the best way to recover from that save file..? Sorry for the tons of questions Really have to understand it well (and as mentioned am not a tech guy). Learning vai asking questions only (some reading and then confirming). Being a member in forums gives me that added knowledge out of my comfort zone. More power to MSFN and of course the members who go out of their way to help newbies like me!! Thanks again

Hello jaclaz, Thanks for the reply. Well before I read your reply. I went and plugged-in the Windows 7 Ultimate hard disk (as Disk2 --The Win 8.1 disk is Disk1). I installed EasyBCD ver2.3 on the default Win 8.1 partition and then added the 4 Win 7 partitions. I also installed iReboot which I use in Windows 7(so can boot directly to either of the 4 partitions in Windows 7). When I restarted I still got the blue boot screen of Windows 8.1 there was no Windows 7 partitions there. There was no other partitions either in the options tab where it says boot to another partition --something like that--- it would only let me choose the second Windows 8.1 partition. Using iReboot also from Windows 8.1 tray did not do any good as all I got was that round waiting which seems to go on forever. So I went to the bios and placed the Disk 2 as boot device(not Windows loader which I use in Windows 8.1). I was able to boot to Win 7. Upgraded EasyBCD ver2.2- ver2.3. Added the two Windows 8.1 partitions and then proceeded to boot to Windows 8.1. There was an error screen 0x000--- e something...(sorry I wasn't able to get the details yesterday). EasyBCD did not work at all (also iReboot). They work perfectly fine in Windows 7. Now way of booting to Windows 8.1 from Win 7. No way of booting to Windows 7 from Windows 8.1 Will I uninstall EasyBCD...? I fear that if I did I will bork something... Seems I need to do "built-in" BCDedit...which I do not know. -- That FAT32 partition I have that. See image below. -- Yes you are correct there. I wanna get rid of that. But as of the moment I have issues with booting that I want to solve first. I also noticed that the boot speed dropped so low when I plugged-in the Windows 7 drive. In Disk 2 booting to and from the other Win 7 partitions is fast(still have that 30-35sec boot speed in Win 7). But in Win 8.1 I'd say it went to seconds to minutes... I think the longest was around 5 or 7 minutes!!! The same was observed even when I set the BIOS boot to the "Windows Loader" for Win 8.1. Booting to W811_1 to W812 took longer. Previously it took just seconds with only the Disk1 and Disk3 installed(no other OS except Win8.1). Why the reason for the drop in boot speed...? Anyway, I stil have issues with dual-booting from Disk 1(Windows 8.1) to Disk 2 (Windows 7). I'd like to ask for help for that first before plunging to the boot speed issue. How may be the best solution for the dual-boot...? Is there anything that I should backup first prior BCD edit...? As mentioned I do not know BCD edit..can you assist me please..please... Thanks and will wait for your reply and understanding.

Hello jaclaz, Thank you very much for the reply. It's quite interesting the way you explain it. Allow me a couple of more questions please. -- Am not technically equipped here but pardon me for more questions Got a bit confused Do you mean, in the default OS Windows 8.1 I will add the 4 ones(or 3 partitions which are Windows 7)...?If so, I will have to install EasyBCD on that default Windows 8.1 drive which is C:W811_1...correct..? From there, add the other Windows 7 partitions in EasyBCD..correct..? Or, I boot to the default Windows 8.1 (which is C:W811_1) use BCDedit to add the 3 Windows 7 partitions..?If I do that will I get the blue boot screen in Windows 8.1 with the addition of the other Windows 7 partitions..?I do not know how can I do that...I mean use BCDedit..sorry Can you give me some tips... Thanks again

That was fast Thanks for the reply So it's normal and I do not need to do anything...? Now the second question for this is that on this desktop I previously have a drive which has 3 partitions of Windows 7 Ultimate. As mentioned in the first post for different usages. The games I erased for storage in the meantime. Now I soon want to re-install or "connect" it again as Disk 2. Disk 1 is the 1TB drive with: C: W811_1 F: W812 H: I: J: K: Making the deskop with 3 drives. Disk 1 windows 8.1 dual-boot etc. Disk 2 Windows 7 3boot. Disk 3 System Image backups Will there be any issues here...? What do I need to check further before connecting the Windows 7 drive (Disk2)...? What will happen to the Windows Boot Loader...? I use EasyBCD on the Windows 7 drives, will I need to install EasyBCD and iReboot to C:W811_1 and F:W812..? What's the best scenario on this...? Thanks very much:)

Thanks for the reply guys. @Tripredacus, Can the license be used for the N version instead(actually have both licenses KN and N) here but the KN will be useless...

Storage drives are all primary etc. Non-techy person here New to Windows 8.1 (in prep for Windows 10) Pardon for it I recently formatted 2 bootable partitions(dual-boot) with Windows 8.1 Pro on a 1 TB hard drive via a USB-Rufus created installer(UEFI) . The default boot partition is C:W811_1. I did a clean install first C:W811_1 and then shrunk the partition to create smaller partitions for: a) second boot partition for dual-boot (F:W812) b) storage partitions (H / I / J and K ) I formatted the second boot partition by extracting the Windows 8.1 Pro ISO to the desktop of C:W811_1 and then from the sources folder ran setup.exe to format the dual-boot. When I formatted the second partition for dual-boot, the storage drives (H / I / J and K ) were already there(--created them first then recovered some files). Now as I checked the Disk Management I see that all the partitions in that 1 TB are all marked as primary. Seems I did something wrong here... Why are they all primary...? Is that a good thing...? If not what can I do to correct it...? Please see attached Disk Management image and Minitool Partition Wizard gui image. Also, in Windows 7 desktop I always use EasyBCD and iReboot to boot to my preferred partitions (work, home, gaming, for kids). In Windows 8.1 I see that there is the Windows Loader which governs the dual-boot and other options(correct?) Now the Windows Loader has the CD-DVD Drive and another Hard drive there along with Windows 8.1 in (4) and Windows 8.1 in (5). I was to delete that via "msconfig" but it does not show there. It shows only the 2 Windows 8.1 drives. How can I delete that "CD-DVD Drive and another Hard drive"...safely...? Sorry for the elementary questions there Really I am not in my field Thank you.

I don't know whether this also applies to 10, but for 7, there were two types of FPP, those that can be activated anywhere in the world, and those with "Activation Restrictions", which were clearly identified by a red warning on the box. See this older post of mine regarding that. Is there any link I can visit to be sure. I will print that thread. Thanks

Hello guys awesome replies. Thanks. Can I ask some more. -- Thanks on the local account and the parental control. I will apply that. -- As to the language, currently I am having issues with my internet . It's darn slow and flakky. So I went to this site, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/techbenchto get the Windows 10 KN ISO installer but when I got to the "select language" there wasn't any but Korean. Please see images. Can you guy check this out please. As mentioned my internet is slow. Just getting to the language selection took about 25minutes Assuming I have downloaded that file (which is English) will I be able to do a clean install with it..? Now another issue I have...(please bear with me on this) the site says that... It seems that I can't possibly download it because my connection says it'll take me 12 days to download it Is there an alternative download link for an offline/standalone installer for the Windows 10 Pro KN..? Or Windows 10 Pro retail ISO where I can download..? Thank you very much guys for the help.