Dualboot windows 8 and VHDX

I have Windows 8.1 as main OS in UEFI environment, I wanted to have another Windows 8.1 as a VHDX (native boot).

I used EasyBCD to add entry for the VHDX but, it didn't boot the VHDX and the boot menu was without GUI (EasyBCD don't support UEFI).

I tried using BCDEdit Command-Line and added VHDX boot successfully with GUI but I noticed that, my Windows 8.1 load first then, it gives me the boot menu meaning when I chose Windows 8.1 it gives me the longing screen IMMEDIATELY and when I chose VHDX it reboots and load the VHDX so i lose my "fast boot" to my main win8.1 with a start-up time of a few seconds .

What I need is to go straight to VHDX without booting the main Windows 8.1. How can I do that?

here is my BCDEdit output:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]
(c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {bootmgr}
device                  partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume2
path                    \EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {globalsettings}
integrityservices       Enable
default                 {current}
resumeobject            {639e8f6b-85d9-11e3-827e-d4c9ef700a6a}
displayorder            {current}
                        {639e8f68-85d9-11e3-827e-d4c9ef700a6a}
toolsdisplayorder       {memdiag}
timeout                 30

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {current}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.efi
description             Windows 8.1
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence        {639e8f6d-85d9-11e3-827e-d4c9ef700a6a}
integrityservices       Enable
recoveryenabled         Yes
isolatedcontext         Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {639e8f6b-85d9-11e3-827e-d4c9ef700a6a}
nx                      OptIn
bootmenupolicy          Standard

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {639e8f68-85d9-11e3-827e-d4c9ef700a6a}
device                  vhd=[D:]\win8.vhdx
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.efi
description             vhd boot (D)
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {bootloadersettings}
recoverysequence        {639e8f69-85d9-11e3-827e-d4c9ef700a6a}
integrityservices       Enable
recoveryenabled         Yes
isolatedcontext         Yes
allowedinmemorysettings 0x15000075
osdevice                vhd=[D:]\win8.vhdx
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {c4677075-7115-11e3-aa4f-c37c6d2ea04c}
nx                      OptIn
bootmenupolicy          Standard
hypervisorlaunchtype    Auto

C:\Windows\system32>


January 31st, 2014 10:32pm

thanks Bill,

i do lose fast boot in both

how to move the post to the right forum ?


  • Edited by Power-9 Saturday, February 01, 2014 10:47 AM
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
February 1st, 2014 12:19pm

I moved it for you to the Windows 8.1 Installation forum.

Using BCDEdit you can change the Default operating system to your VHDX installed system and you can change the Time-Out value to 0 to boot the default entry without any prompt to boot the other operating systems in the BCD. Both options are outlined in the guide here on TechNet.

Brandon
Windows Outreach Team- IT Pro
The Springboard Series on TechNet



February 4th, 2014 6:21pm

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics