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Need Help creating 2nd Operating System with Window 10 for Dual Boot on Laptop

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I’m hoping someone can point me in a good direction.

I want to create a dual boot system onto my laptop, both operating systems with be Windows 10.

The purpose is to have one OS with numerous software (general purpose), and the 2nd OS is for video editing only. This was recommended years ago on my previous laptop (and workstation before that) and this worked well for me.

In the past, I used Disk Director with OS Selector. I searched high and low on my current version of Disk Director 12 and concluded that Acronis no longer provides this. (or what I purchased doesn't have this)

If I am wrong about this, please let me know!

(My Acronis account still shows that I have access to Disk Director 11 home and I believe I have an older version saved to CD with OS Selector in my archives.)

In the past, when I restarted my laptop a menu would allow me to select which OS to boot. Very straight forward. Would like to get this set up for my new laptop.

I’m guessing that Acronis may have stopped providing OS Selector because Windows 10 allows selecting of a 2nd OS. (Start Menu, “Settings”, “Update & Security” and “Recovery”. I read this as I was searching the web for answers.)

When I bought my new laptop in 2017, I purchased Acronis True image 2018 and Disk Director 12.

I made an image backup of the system right away and saved it to an external hard drive.

Here’s what I’ve done so far:

-I split Volume C and created Volume D for the 2nd OS.

-I restored the above image onto Volume D.

pic-a.png

I attempted to boot the OS on Volume D by the Windows 10 method as I understand it: Start Menu, “Settings”, “Update & Security” and “Recovery”. There’s a small list of options but only 1 OS was visible.

When I press F2 on my Asus, I get the following:

pic1.png

 

I went through steps to create Aconis rescue media onto a USB, which led to downloading WinPE update.

I tried to set the boot priority to start first at the USB, then hard drive. When I saved and restarted, it ignored the USB and started Windows as usual. I may not have installed and selected options appropriately. I feel like I’ve been on a few pointless rabbit trails…

When I examined the files on Volume D, I noticed there is a folder called C_Drive or similar. (I’m at work now.)

This folder has the files I expected to reside on the root menu of D.

 

-Is there a way to mark Volume D as a bootable device?

-Is the restored image on D going to accomplish my goal of having a dual boot system?

-I’m willing to remove Volume D and start over, if necessary.

I could really use some help.

Thanks, in advance, for your input!

0 Users found this helpful

Art, welcome to these public User Forums.

Some comments on this request.

First, ATI does not directly support dual-boot systems in terms of backup & recovery, but can be used with the same provided you understand what you are doing.

Next, Disk Director, OS Selector is not needed for what you are wanting to do, as you just need a method of editing the Windows Boot Configuration Data to add in your second copy of Windows 10 OS.  The tool that I use for this is EasyBCD which works great for adding extra menu options plus the same company provide another utility called iReboot which allows you to boot directly into one of your boot menu choices from the current Windows desktop.  I use both of these on my own dual-boot laptop system.

When I examined the files on Volume D, I noticed there is a folder called C_Drive or similar. (I’m at work now.)

This folder has the files I expected to reside on the root menu of D.

This would suggest to me that you have done a Files & Folders type restore of your C: OS drive contents which will never produce a working, bootable OS partition.  This is a case where you need to do a Partition restore to your new D: partition for the second copy of the Windows OS.

When you are booted into each copy of Windows, you should always see all the files / folders as being on the C: drive, but the second copy of Windows will show as always being on D:

2018-11-12 EasyBCD.png2018-11-12 iReboot.png2018-11-12 Dual OS boot.png2018-11-12 Win10-1.png2018-11-12 Win10-2.png

Thank you, Steve.

When I get home, I will get started with your suggestions.

Much appreciated.

Art.

Steve,

Your observation about the Restore i ran was spot on. I restored the partition, Downloaded EasyBCD and iReboot. 

Everything is working like I hoped. 

Love EasyBCD’s simplicity!

 

You saved me a lot of time, Steve. 

Much Appreciated,

Art. 

Art, great to hear positive feedback, glad all is now working as you wanted it to do!