I have windows XP installed on two separate hdd's. I am trying to dual
boot them by modifying the boot.ini file. Here is what I have:

code:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional 1" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional 2" /fastdetect
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have the first drive set to master and the second one set to slave,
but whenever I select the second one, I get an error saying that it
can't the boot directory. Both drives will boot to windows if I plug
them in one at a time. I copied the boot.ini file onto both hdd's so
they are both the same, but it didn't help.

To recap: I have two hdd's with windows on them that I want to dual
boot. One is set to slave and the other to master, but they are both
on the same IDE cable. The master drive is labled drive 0 on the IDE
cable, and the slave drive is drive 1. I can't copy the lines from the
slave drive's boot.ini into the master's because they are the same.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I have windows XP installed on two separate hdd's. I am trying to dual
> boot them by modifying the boot.ini file. Here is what I have:
>
>
code:-----------------------------------------------------------------------
---------
> [boot loader]
> timeout=3
> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
> [operating systems]
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
> Professional 1" /fastdetect
> multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
> Professional 2" /fastdetect
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
>
> I have the first drive set to master and the second one set to slave,
> but whenever I select the second one, I get an error saying that it
> can't the boot directory. Both drives will boot to windows if I plug
> them in one at a time. I copied the boot.ini file onto both hdd's so
> they are both the same, but it didn't help.
>
> To recap: I have two hdd's with windows on them that I want to dual
> boot. One is set to slave and the other to master, but they are both
> on the same IDE cable. The master drive is labled drive 0 on the IDE
> cable, and the slave drive is drive 1. I can't copy the lines from the
> slave drive's boot.ini into the master's because they are the same.
>
> What am I doing wrong?
>
> Thanks
>

You write that Windows reports "it can't the boot directory".
I don't think that this is the actual error message - please
quote it verbatim.

I seriously doubt that you want disk(1).

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional 1" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional 2" /fastdetect

--
Ronald Sommer

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
:I have windows XP installed on two separate hdd's. I am trying to dual
: boot them by modifying the boot.ini file. Here is what I have:
:
:
code:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: [boot loader]
: timeout=3
: default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
: [operating systems]
: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
: Professional 1" /fastdetect
: multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
: Professional 2" /fastdetect
: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:
: I have the first drive set to master and the second one set to slave,
: but whenever I select the second one, I get an error saying that it
: can't the boot directory. Both drives will boot to windows if I plug
: them in one at a time. I copied the boot.ini file onto both hdd's so
: they are both the same, but it didn't help.
:
: To recap: I have two hdd's with windows on them that I want to dual
: boot. One is set to slave and the other to master, but they are both
: on the same IDE cable. The master drive is labled drive 0 on the IDE
: cable, and the slave drive is drive 1. I can't copy the lines from the
: slave drive's boot.ini into the master's because they are the same.
:
: What am I doing wrong?
:
: Thanks
:

On Feb 3, 11:12 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I...@fly.com> wrote:
> <kfc...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...> I have windows XP installed on two separate hdd's. I am trying to dual
> > boot them by modifying the boot.ini file. Here is what I have:
>
> code:----------------------------------------------------------------------*-
> ---------
>
>
>
>
>
> > [boot loader]
> > timeout=3
> > default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
> > [operating systems]
> > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
> > Professional 1" /fastdetect
> > multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
> > Professional 2" /fastdetect
> > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------------
>
> > I have the first drive set to master and the second one set to slave,
> > but whenever I select the second one, I get an error saying that it
> > can't the boot directory. Both drives will boot to windows if I plug
> > them in one at a time. I copied the boot.ini file onto both hdd's so
> > they are both the same, but it didn't help.
>
> > To recap: I have two hdd's with windows on them that I want to dual
> > boot. One is set to slave and the other to master, but they are both
> > on the same IDE cable. The master drive is labled drive 0 on the IDE
> > cable, and the slave drive is drive 1. I can't copy the lines from the
> > slave drive's boot.ini into the master's because they are the same.
>
> > What am I doing wrong?
>
> > Thanks
>
> You write that Windows reports "it can't the boot directory".
> I don't think that this is the actual error message - please
> quote it verbatim.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

It goes something like this:
"Windows cannot start bacause of a computer disk hardware
configuration problem.
Could not read from the selected bootdisk. Check boot
path and disk hardware.
please check the windows documentation about harware disk
configuration and your hardware reference manuals for
additional information"

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:

>I have windows XP installed on two separate hdd's. I am trying to dual
>boot them by modifying the boot.ini file. Here is what I have:
>
>code:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>[boot loader]
>timeout=3
>default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
>[operating systems]
>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>Professional 1" /fastdetect
>multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
>Professional 2" /fastdetect
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

partition(0)=C:\
partition(1)=D:\
and so on


--
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/dudefalling.php

I assume that Ron's reply pointed you in the right direction.


<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
On Feb 3, 11:12 pm, "Pegasus \(MVP\)" <I...@fly.com> wrote:
> <kfc...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...> I have
windows XP installed on two separate hdd's. I am trying to dual
> > boot them by modifying the boot.ini file. Here is what I have:
>
>
code:----------------------------------------------------------------------*
-
> ---------
>
>
>
>
>
> > [boot loader]
> > timeout=3
> > default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
> > [operating systems]
> > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
> > Professional 1" /fastdetect
> > multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
> > Professional 2" /fastdetect
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
> -------------
>
> > I have the first drive set to master and the second one set to slave,
> > but whenever I select the second one, I get an error saying that it
> > can't the boot directory. Both drives will boot to windows if I plug
> > them in one at a time. I copied the boot.ini file onto both hdd's so
> > they are both the same, but it didn't help.
>
> > To recap: I have two hdd's with windows on them that I want to dual
> > boot. One is set to slave and the other to master, but they are both
> > on the same IDE cable. The master drive is labled drive 0 on the IDE
> > cable, and the slave drive is drive 1. I can't copy the lines from the
> > slave drive's boot.ini into the master's because they are the same.
>
> > What am I doing wrong?
>
> > Thanks
>
> You write that Windows reports "it can't the boot directory".
> I don't think that this is the actual error message - please
> quote it verbatim.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

It goes something like this:
"Windows cannot start bacause of a computer disk hardware
configuration problem.
Could not read from the selected bootdisk. Check boot
path and disk hardware.
please check the windows documentation about harware disk
configuration and your hardware reference manuals for
additional information"

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
: (E-Mail Removed) wrote:
:
: >I have windows XP installed on two separate hdd's. I am trying to dual
: >boot them by modifying the boot.ini file. Here is what I have:
: >
:
>code:--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: >[boot loader]
: >timeout=3
: >default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
: >[operating systems]
: >multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
: >Professional 1" /fastdetect
: >multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
: >Professional 2" /fastdetect
:
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:
: partition(0)=C:\
: partition(1)=D:\
: and so on
:
:
: --
: http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/dudefalling.php

There can never be a partition(0).
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/pro...6.mspx?fr=true

multi(W)disk(X)rdisk(Y)partiton(Z)

Parameter Multi Parameter Definitions
W The number of the adapter, usually 0.
X Always 0.
Y The number for the disk on the adapter, usually between 0 and 3.
Z The partition number. All partitions that are in use receive a number.
Primary partitions are numbered before logical drives.
The first valid number for Z is 1; W, X, and Y start at 0.

--
Ronald Sommer

On Feb 3, 11:17 pm, "Ron Sommer" <rsom...@nospam.ktis.net> wrote:
> I seriously doubt that you want disk(1).
>
> [boot loader]
> timeout=3
> default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
> [operating systems]
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
> Professional 1" /fastdetect
> multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
> Professional 2" /fastdetect
>
> --
> Ronald Sommer

I tried this and it didn't work. Do I need to change anything on the
slave drive's boot.ini file to make this work?

Thanks

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
: On Feb 3, 11:17 pm, "Ron Sommer" <rsom...@nospam.ktis.net> wrote:
: > I seriously doubt that you want disk(1).
: >
: > [boot loader]
: > timeout=3
: > default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
: > [operating systems]
: > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
: > Professional 1" /fastdetect
: > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
: > Professional 2" /fastdetect
: >
: > --
: > Ronald Sommer
:
: I tried this and it didn't work. Do I need to change anything on the
: slave drive's boot.ini file to make this work?
:
: Thanks
:
Which drive contains the active partition?

Which XP can you boot?
--
Ronald Sommer

> Which drive contains the active partition?
>
> Which XP can you boot?
> --
> Ronald Sommer

I don't know exactly what you mean by the active partition. Both of
the drives are have windows installed on them. I can boot to both of
them if I plug them in one at a time. When they are both plugged in, I
can only get the master drive to boot.

Thanks