Dual-boot confuzzlement

[Arclight]

I've got Win7 RC 64-b installed on my primary HD. A while ago, I installed XP 32-b to a secondary disk. As a result, Win7 wouldn't boot anymore, so I booted from a Win7 disk and restored the boot sector. Win7 boots fine, but I don't have the option to boot XP.

Is there something I can modify to get a multi-boot menu and select XP?



Never dabbled in this particular topic of the dark arts, so I'm at a loss at the moment.

[FIREWALL]

Hi Arclight

I partitioned C drive and installed W7 Ultimate 64 and XP Pro sp2.

Did you Partition ?

[Arclight]

Ugh, where are my manners.

Hiya, FIREWALL.

Aye, been running this setup for a while;

HD connected to SATA0 port: 1 partition for OS (contains Win7), 1 for data
HD connected to SATA1 port: 1 partition for secondary OS (contains XP, but can't boot), 1 for media
HD connected to SATA2 port + HD connected to SATA3 port in RAID0: 1 partition for page-file, 1 for game installs.

So I have Win7 on that first disk on it's first partition, running and all, and XP is installed on the first partition of that second disk, but no way to boot. I figure I just need to modify the boot.ini or something, but I don't know what to do with it.

[FIREWALL]

Hmmm I don't know if you can put them on separate hdd.

Win7 is the dominate OS.

Hey People !!!! We need some help here.

I'm basicialy doing the same thing you are but, I think in a different way.

btw I'll stay here with you to see how this works out.

I'm on my first cup of morning coffee.

[Arclight]

That's reassuring, but you'll probably last longer than me though; almost 19:00 over here.
Hmm, time for diner. Think I'll just pop something in the oven.

I think "normally" you install XP first and then paste Win7 on top of it, all on the same partition. But there has to be a way to make this work... just because I say so.

[longam]

You always have to install the lowest OS first. XP then Vista then Windows 7.

XP will then control the boot loader.


Acronis makes a boot manager that's not to expensive.

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing...tibooting.html

[FIREWALL]

Originally Posted by longam

You always have to install the lowest OS first. XP then Vista then Windows 7.

XP will then control the boot loader.

I don't think so. Just got off the phone with MS.

Win7 first.

edit: I have a close ( GEEK/Hacker ) friend on the way over here (my house) will explain how-to.

[longam]

I guess you can with a command called BCDEDIT, I'll have to check this out.

What happened to the boot.ini file?

In earlier versions of Windows, boot.ini was a system file that contained information about the Windows operating systems installed on a computer. This information was displayed during the startup process when you turned on your computer. It was most useful in multiboot configurations, or for advanced users or administrators who needed to customize how Windows started.
In this version of Windows, the boot.ini file has been replaced with Boot Configuration Data (BCD). This file is more versatile than boot.ini, and it can apply to computer platforms that use means other than basic input/output system (BIOS) to start the computer.

[Arclight]

Wow, FW, can't believe the amount of effort you're putting into this. You too, Longam, you honor me.

There's no rush though. I just found out Crysis runs like crap on this install, so I figured I'd try and get that XP install running. Serves me right for my overly complicated set-ups.

[FIREWALL]

Originally Posted by longam

I guess you can with a command called BCDEDIT, I'll have to check this out.

Very interesting longam.

I'm going to reread Arclights 1st post again.

I'm thinking he put Win7 on one hdd and XP on the other.

I could be wrong. Thats why the reread.

[longam]

Just something to new to learn, always fun to do. Besides that, I have my original install of Vista sitting on a HD doing nothing, so this will be a project for me tonight setting up the dual boot for that OS.

@FW I don't think that would mater, would it?

[FIREWALL]

When the Geek gets here I'll know for sure.

But the MS tech said W7 first.

To be honest I didn't ask about separate hdd's.


I don't want to " Assume " anything.

We all know what that word means.

[Arclight]

Yes, they're on separate drives. Should be possible, I think the "Win7 first, then XP" only applies if you put it on the same partition. In that case, the Windows installer takes care of setting it up.

Gonna have some diner.

[NeonSamurai]

Though you can install the os's in any order, its usually easier to install the older one first (xp) and then the newest one, that is because you want to use the boot loader from the newest one, and if you install the oldest second, you will have to redo the master boot record with the new os.

Anyhow you will probably want to use EasyBCD to fix your boot manager so that it also shows xp.

http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1
http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBC...B694709DE4F5F5

EasyBCD works fine with windows 7


Lastly don't forget to move your boot.ini file from windows xp to your windows 7 root directory. You will also probably have to edit it some so you don't get two boot menus.


Otherwise what you are doing is the same thing as a vista & xp dual boot setup, so any instructions are the same. This is what I am currently running (though on 2 partitions on one sata drive). As far as I am aware there are no issues with using mutiple drives with SATA, just make sure your version of xp properly supports SATA otherwise you may have to make a custom install disk and slipstream the SATA drivers into it.

[Fincuan]

One more vote for EasyBDC. Easy to use, free and works. That was what saved my day when the ***!"#!¤#¤*** Windows 7 overwrote Grub, a live-cd wasn't at hand and I wanted my Ubuntu back.