Stuck in Windows 7 - How do I boot from my mac partition?

[scem0]

I just installed Windows 7 on a new partition. I didn't use bootcamp, or any other software. I simply created a NTFS partition and threw Windows on there. Now it is fully installed and configured, but I can't seem to find out how to boot from my mac partition anymore.

Googling is yielding results that I'm having trouble synthesizing. There's a lot of people that seem to have done this, but I can't find a clear step-by-step explanation of how to remedy it. I believe I'll have to add the other partition to the master boot record or something along those lines, but I'm not sure and I don't know how to boot .

Thank You!

- Emerson

 

[rusty2192]

So I guess holding in the option key only works when bootcamp was used to create the partition?

 

[akadmon]

Did you try booting from OS X DVD? You may have to hold the C key while booting up. Then just reinstall OS X. All your appps, user accounts and files will stay untouched. Hopefully after reinstalling you will be able to boot into OS X normally.

 

[scem0]

Thanks for the responses, gentlemen .

So I guess holding in the option key only works when bootcamp was used to create the partition?

Yeah, I believe so. Doesn't seem to do anything with my computer.

Did you try booting from OS X DVD? You may have to hold the C key while booting up. Then just reinstall OS X. All your appps, user accounts and files will stay untouched. Hopefully after reinstalling you will be able to boot into OS X normally.

I have not tried using my OS X DVD, but it scares me to reinstall OS X. I don't want to lose my files . I know not to select the options to start a clean install, but it scares me nonetheless.

I'll pop in my mac's dvd and see if setting the startup disk (via the menu at the top) changes anything.

- Emerson

 

[akadmon]

Let us know if reinstalling OS X worked (if that's the route you wind up taking in the end).

 

[zao8350]

can you pop in the mac os disk while in windows and then install bootcamp?

 

[balamw]

Have you at least looked at the Control Panel in Windows to see if it "sees" the OS X partition as a startup device?

You can select the startup device from the command line too as described here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3802

Or do you have an Apple remote? You can also hold down Menu during boot if Option doesn't work for one reason or another.

B

 

[bcrguy]

this is a little off topic but how did you get it to run the installer without bootcamp? just put in the disc , hold option on the start, select boot from cd and install?? im wondering because i want to install xubuntu on my mbp (already running bootcamped xp) and everytime i make another partition it messes up the windows partition making it unusable with bootcamp (i had to reformat it and completly reinstall windows)..
and since you didnt use bootcamp i figure i can bypass this problem..

 

[balamw]

this is a little off topic but how did you get it to run the installer without bootcamp? just put in the disc , hold option on the start, select boot from cd and install?? im wondering because i want to install xubuntu on my mbp (already running bootcamped xp) and everytime i make another partition it messes up the windows partition making it unusable with bootcamp (i had to reformat it and completly reinstall windows)..
and since you didnt use bootcamp i figure i can bypass this problem..

Have you read up on any of the "Triple Boot" guides? e.g. http://fletcherpenney.net/2009/04/create_the_ultimate_triple-boo

Most triple booters add refit into the mix so that might be part of your problem.

B

 

[Far North]

Had a similar problem.
Would not boot to SL,reset PRAM,booted to Sl

 

[scem0]

I ended up reformatting and reinstalling os x on the newly formatted drive for a number of reasons. I realized that Windows 7 doesn't support screen spanning, which was the whole reason I wanted to install windows in the first place, and I had all my files backed up from when I installed snow leopard, so it wasn't a problem to format the drive.

If I install XP, I'll definitely do it via bootcamp .

Thanks for the help, guys!

- Emerson

 

[RedRaven571]

I ended up reformatting and reinstalling os x on the newly formatted drive for a number of reasons. I realized that Windows 7 doesn't support screen spanning, which was the whole reason I wanted to install windows in the first place, and I had all my files backed up from when I installed snow leopard, so it wasn't a problem to format the drive.

If I install XP, I'll definitely do it via bootcamp .

Thanks for the help, guys!

- Emerson

For future reference, EasyBCD 2.0 (free download) does a great job of taming W7/Vista bootloader issues. I have XP/W7/Leopard triple boot on my HP Pavilion and, after installing W7 onto the HDD with XP and Leopard already there, I was unable to boot into anything but W7 until I installed EasyBCD on W7. Now, everything works great!

 

[bcrguy]

Have you read up on any of the "Triple Boot" guides? e.g. http://fletcherpenney.net/2009/04/create_the_ultimate_triple-boo

Most triple booters add refit into the mix so that might be part of your problem.

B

i just read it through and the problem is using boot camp.. it needs the osx hard drive to be partitioned into one drive...

 

[akadmon]

I ended up reformatting and reinstalling os x on the newly formatted drive for a number of reasons. I realized that Windows 7 doesn't support screen spanning

Hold it right there! I run two monitors in Win7, both on my Mac Pro and on a Dell laptop. So unless by spanning you mean something else besides being able to drag a window from one screen to the next, I think your stament about Windows 7 not supporting screen spanning is incorrect.

 

[balamw]

i just read it through and the problem is using boot camp.. it needs the osx hard drive to be partitioned into one drive...

Yes. Boot Camp Assistant is very limited in what it can do, and will NOT deviate from the script no matter what. It'll take a standard single partition OS X install and create space for Windows, and boot "supported" Windows install media, or it will remove a partition it created restoring a single partition OS X install. That's pretty much it.

Boot Camp itself has two other parts. The firmware bits that let you boot Windows, and the drivers. These are all useful on their own without Boot Camp Assistant. Refit adds to the flexibility of the boot loader which can help you customize your boot experience once you go beyond the standard Boot Camp Assistant compatible install.

B

 

[bcrguy]

Yes. Boot Camp Assistant is very limited in what it can do, and will NOT deviate from the script no matter what. It'll take a standard single partition OS X install and create space for Windows, and boot "supported" Windows install media, or it will remove a partition it created restoring a single partition OS X install. That's pretty much it.

Boot Camp itself has two other parts. The firmware bits that let you boot Windows, and the drivers. These are all useful on their own without Boot Camp Assistant. Refit adds to the flexibility of the boot loader which can help you customize your boot experience once you go beyond the standard Boot Camp Assistant compatible install.

B

ok that helps.. im not gonna try it yet b/c im sick of reinstalling stuff but thanks all for the help..

//edit//
i just installed XUBUNTU 9.10 on the windows part of the hard drive without any problems so far.. however in order to get to it from the bootcamp startup i have to select windows hard drive first then it shows the windows prompt for multiple os's.. then select XUBUNTU from there and it starts up without a problem..

and as another plus i no longer get the time shift problem from xp to mac..