Cannot boot from XP CD (it is Vista relevant)...

G

Guest

Hi,

I have a pre-installed Vista machine, which I want to install XP on another
partition. I know this can be done, but when I install my XP CD it doesn't
get recognised as a bootable disk. I have tried other bootable CD's and they
work fine. Is there a reason why my laptop will not recognise the XP CD as a
bootable disk. The BIOS is set to read CD/DVD Drive first, then HDD etc...
I'm stumped.
Thanks in advance.
 
C

Chad Harris

Hi Neil--

The problem that represents is relevant to more users than I think people
realize who want to dual boot. But I have to launch a caveat for you Neil--

The rule of thumb for a dual boot is usually to install the legacy or older
OS first--then install Vista. The dilemma for many people like yourself is
a new PC with pre-loaded Vista but no DVD so they could format with XP and
*then make a partition to park Vista on.

Take a look at this:

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/kb/919529/en-us

You cannot start Windows XP after you install Windows Vista so that the
computer can start either in Windows Vista or in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933172/en-us

You cannot start Windows XP after you install Windows Vista in a dual-boot
configuration together with Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927817/


Reading your post, I wonder if you have created a separate partition on
which to install Win XP although again I'd install XP first>Vista second on
another partition ideally.

You may also be helped by using Vista Boot Pro, but I still wonder if you
have a partition for XP to be installed on.


VistaBootPro from http://www.pro-networks.org/vistabootpro/intro.php

Use BootIT NG to manage and install the bootloader from each OS:
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com

CH
 
G

Guest

Yeah I've seen all the resources Chad, but the annoying thing, my XP CD will
just not get recognised as bootable. I have a partition ready to install
on... The CD works in my desktop PC as bootable. It's just really frustrating.
 
A

AJR

If it is an upgrade XP cd it will not boot from the cd drive - must be run
from within Windows.
 
G

Guest

Nah, it's a full version. Also, from within windows when the CD is inserted
the 'install XP' option on the autorun screen is greyed out....

I really dont wanna go through installing XP first then re-installing
Vista... there must be a solution.... fingers crossed....

Partition Magic used to let you install OS's on a desired partition from
within windows which started on reboot, is there a program similar seeing as
PM doesn't run with Vista???
 
R

Rick Rogers

Not so, any XP retail or generic OEM disk is bootable. Even all Vista disks
are, including the upgrade disks, but the upgrade installation must be
initiated from within an existing Windows installation. XP upgrade disks can
be booted and installed simply by showing setup a qualifying media disk.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
G

Gary VanderMolen

Yep, I concur with Rick's comments.
Sounds to me like the OP's laptop CD drive is having problems,
especially so when the same CD boots fine in his desktop machine.

Gary VanderMolen
 
G

Guest

I can assure everyone that the drive is fine, this is the only CD that will
not boot from. However the CD does boot in my desktop PC. So the CD/Drives
are fine.
I am assuming the PC 'knows' the OS i'm trying to install is older than
Vista and therefore will not boot? Like I say when I insert the XP CD in
Vista and the splash screen comes up to 'install' 'check system' etc... the
install option is greyed out, and manually running winnt32.exe says the OS is
older and will not run....
 
R

Rick Rogers

Hi Neil,

That is much different than stating that the CD will not boot. It is booting
from the CD, you just can't run the installer, a very different problem.
Instead of Winnt32.exe, you would use winnt.exe in the I386 folder from this
mode. Winnt32.exe is used to run from within an existing 32-bit
installation, like doing an upgrade from Win9x or Win2000.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
G

Guest

I think we are all getting confused.

Booting the laptop with the XP CD in doesn't give the "Press any key to boot
from CD.." option.
Putting the CD in whilst Vista is loaded, loads the splashscreen to install
XP, but the actual option to install is greyed out and unavailable.
Running winnt32.exe and winnt.exe both give the same error stating
incompatible as XP is older than Vista....
 
G

Guest

I have got somewhere...

I booted into safe mode and ran winnt32.exe from there, it gave me a warning
first (older OS) then let me carry on... so it copied the install files over,
then rebooted. I was greeted with the bootmanager screen which says Win Vista
and now Win XP setup... I chose setup, it started copying the drivers over,
but after it says Preparing to start windows, i get the blue screen "A
problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage"
then goes on about any new hardware etc...

Tech Info: STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF7A57524, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

Anyone any ideas how I get past this?
Thanks
 
C

Chad Harris

Neil--

I don't know if this KB helps or not:

You cannot select or format a hard disk partition when you try to install
Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927520/en-us

Also:

Windows Vista setup log file locations
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927521/en-us

Rick is correct that all DVDs are generally bootable as are XP CDs but Vista
has one exception documented by Darrell Gorter [MSFT] has pointed out and
that's the volume licensing upgrade DVD which is not bootable. This has been
documented a couple times on threads on this group.

CH
 
C

Chad Harris

Rick--

I think the one exception to bootable Vista DVDs are Volume Licensing
upgrade Vista DVDs if I understand Darell Gorter correctly here:

2/2/07 @ 4:15PM

"Hello Chad,

That page is not talking about the media availability specifically.That is
talking about the license.

The license for volume programs is for upgrade ( which means that you need
to have a qualifying OS which would meet the compliance for upgrade
scenarios(compliance checks). this should be in the license agreement, what
Windows versions would meet the requirement.).

You are not required to do an upgrade, You are not required to have the
previous version of Windows installed. You are required to have a license
for the previous versions of Windows.


Some of the people posting in the newsgroups since November have posted the
names to the downloads that were available from their VL programs.

In each case they listed both the upgrade and full version names as
available for download. ( x64 volume is only available as a non-upgrade
option)

So I had to ask around and got to borrow an upgrade volume license DVD,so as
to confirm it is not bootable. This is only Volume upgrade media, all other
Windows upgrade media should be bootable.

However I also confirmed that the all the volume license programs have full
prodcut media available as an option as well. Either for download or you
can order a DVD. The default DVD shipped out is the Upgrade Volume Media.

Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]"

CH
 
B

Bruce Chambers

AJR said:
If it is an upgrade XP cd it will not boot from the cd drive - must be run
from within Windows.


That's incorrect. All legitimate WinXP Upgrade CDs are bootable.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
 
R

Rick Rogers

Hi Neil,

You can't (obviously) run setup from within Vista, it has to be done by
booting (hence the problem you are having). Try booting to a DOS boot floppy
with CD support. Load it, then run the winnt.exe file from the I386 folder
on the CD.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
C

Chad Harris

According to Darrell Gorter [MSFT] on this group on Febuary 2, 2007 after he
checked it out, and what I quoted was that a Vista Volume License Upgrade
DVD is not bootable. I'm not sure about XP volume license CDs. I know
every non-volume license CD that is XP or DVD that is Vista is certainly
bootable.

CH
 

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