Dual boot Vista and XP (NTLDR is missing)

[basc]

I just installed WinXP64. It is actually the sixth OS that I have
installed, but for the sake of this question just consider it a dual boot
(Vista and XP).
(All other five OS's are able to boot fine.)

I'm using a specific bootloader in the MBR, which is chained to all the
other bootloaders in their respective OS's root partitions.

Installing WinXP64, of course, wiped out my MBR, during installation. I
restored it to my previous MBR bootloader. I can boot into all five other
OS's including Vista.

Attempts to boot into WinXP64 yields, "NTLDR is missing".

Doing a repair with the WinXP64 install disc allows WinXP64 to boot, but,
you guessed it, trying to boot into Vista will then yield: "NTLDR is
missing".

How do you both of them to install NTLDR to their root partitions, not the
MBR, so my MBR bootloader can call them up?

Using NTLDR as an MBR bootloader isn't an option as other OS's include
FreeBSD and Linux.

Thanks.

 

[basc]

I just installed WinXP64. It is actually the sixth OS that I have
installed, but for the sake of this question just consider it a dual boot
(Vista and XP).
(All other five OS's are able to boot fine.)

I'm using a specific bootloader in the MBR, which is chained to all the
other bootloaders in their respective OS's root partitions.

Installing WinXP64, of course, wiped out my MBR, during installation. I
restored it to my previous MBR bootloader. I can boot into all five other
OS's including Vista.

Attempts to boot into WinXP64 yields, "NTLDR is missing".

Doing a repair with the WinXP64 install disc allows WinXP64 to boot, but,
you guessed it, trying to boot into Vista will then yield: "NTLDR is
missing".

How do you both of them to install NTLDR to their root partitions, not the
MBR, so my MBR bootloader can call them up?

Using NTLDR as an MBR bootloader isn't an option as other OS's include
FreeBSD and Linux.

Thanks.

Alright, I just did this Windows BS so hopefully will at least have WinXP
available when calling up Vista from MBR bootloader:

bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Windows XP"
bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=E:
bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr
bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast

Why can't this Windows NTLDR be installed to root partitions like any other
real OS? Why does it have to be in the f'n MBR?

 

[none]

Why can't this Windows NTLDR be installed to root partitions like any
other real OS?

basc, I cannot answer your question because MBR's are still mostly a mystery
to me but here's a thought, have you tried EasyBCD?
http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

It may be able to add the functionality you are looking for.

 

[John John - MVP]

Alright, I just did this Windows BS so hopefully will at least have
WinXP available when calling up Vista from MBR bootloader:

bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Windows XP"
bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=E:
bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr
bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast

Why can't this Windows NTLDR be installed to root partitions like any
other real OS? Why does it have to be in the f'n MBR?

Ntldr is not in the MBR, it's in the partition boot sector.

John

 

[Peter Foldes]

Ntldr is in the partition boot sector not in the MBR