Vista / XP Pro dual boot question

[Guest]

This one's a variation on the other posts...

Using a spare, single 80GB drive that was already split into 2 x 40GB, I
installed Vista to the empty second partition. Partition 1 already had an
old, unused XP pro install on it.

Vista loaded fine, and upon reboot, I got the expected multiboot menu asking
if I wanted to run Windows older version, or Windows - it worked fine - I
could reboot to my heart's content, switching from XP to Vista.

The running copy of XP Pro was an old test install that had some driver
problems, so I booted up my XP Pro install CD and did a fresh format and
re-install of XP on partition 1.

Of course, now the system will not display the multiboot menu, and only
boots to XP Pro on part1. I'm assuming I blew out something in the MBR, but
I know that Vista is still sitting there on part2 - I can see it from my XP
file explorer just fine.

Is there an easy tweak to get my multiboot back without having to reload
Vista?

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I wouldn't call it a tweak. You can use BCDedit or VistaBoot Pro. This is
always going to happen when you format the primary boot volume. That erases
the boot configuration data store Vista writes in the Boot folder there.

 

[Chris Saunders]

I don't actually know if Vista will start a recovery console from the boot
disk
but if it does you should be able to start that and enter "fixboot" and then
"fixmbr".

This may solve your problem (just know this works on XP).

Regards
Chris Saunders

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I would do that from an XP cd.
Vista will start a WinRE session rather than a recovery console.

 

[JT]

This one's a variation on the other posts...

Using a spare, single 80GB drive that was already split into 2 x 40GB, I
installed Vista to the empty second partition. Partition 1 already had an
old, unused XP pro install on it.

Vista loaded fine, and upon reboot, I got the expected multiboot menu
asking
if I wanted to run Windows older version, or Windows - it worked fine - I
could reboot to my heart's content, switching from XP to Vista.

The running copy of XP Pro was an old test install that had some driver
problems, so I booted up my XP Pro install CD and did a fresh format and
re-install of XP on partition 1.

Of course, now the system will not display the multiboot menu, and only
boots to XP Pro on part1. I'm assuming I blew out something in the MBR,
but
I know that Vista is still sitting there on part2 - I can see it from my
XP
file explorer just fine.

Is there an easy tweak to get my multiboot back without having to reload
Vista?

Download and install VistaBootPro. Once you install that inside the Program
folder you will find a program called bootsect.exe. Open a command prompt
and type bootsect \NT60 all. This should fix the boot loader and allow the
dual boot again. It did for me.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

I think the slash should be a switch, /.

Download and install VistaBootPro. Once you install that inside the
Program folder you will find a program called bootsect.exe. Open a command
prompt and type bootsect \NT60 all. This should fix the boot loader and
allow the dual boot again. It did for me.

 

[JT]

You're right. My bad.

I think the slash should be a switch, /.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No prob.

You're right. My bad.

 

[Guest]

Either a slash or a minus sign will work with bootsect.

To resolve, the bootsector has to be reset to a Vista boot sector. Once that
is complete the BCD store will have to be created and then add your boot
entries/options.
This article explains how.

Windows Vista no longer starts after you install an earlier version of the
Windows operating system in a dual-boot configuration
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;es;919529