Dual boot problems

[Bobbie Leslie]

I have a machine that had WindowsME installed on a C: drive and until
WindowsXP proved itself I installed XP on a separate D: drive. One of
my friends kids was trying to install Sierra Hoyle Poker and found a
file that looked suspiciosly like Microsoft Outlook on the Sierra CD
and the little rascal ran it. I lost my entire email setup, etc, etc.
I started to run Michael Stevens Repair/Install and it only shows the
C: drive and no WindowsXP. Went from there to Charley White's page and
started to do the rebuild and can't get past the darn C: drive. Seems
to me I should be able to rebuild the boot.ini to show the WindowsXP
drive only but not real sure how to go about it or really, what is the
simplest way to get around the C: drive short of removing it from the
computer. Help appreciated....
Bob

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have a machine that had WindowsME installed on a C: drive and until
WindowsXP proved itself I installed XP on a separate D: drive. One of
my friends kids was trying to install Sierra Hoyle Poker and found a
file that looked suspiciosly like Microsoft Outlook on the Sierra CD
and the little rascal ran it. I lost my entire email setup, etc, etc.
I started to run Michael Stevens Repair/Install and it only shows the
C: drive and no WindowsXP. Went from there to Charley White's page and
started to do the rebuild and can't get past the darn C: drive. Seems
to me I should be able to rebuild the boot.ini to show the WindowsXP
drive only but not real sure how to go about it or really, what is the
simplest way to get around the C: drive short of removing it from the
computer. Help appreciated....
Bob

Please clarify:
- Can you boot into WinME?
- While in WinME, can you see drive D:?
- Can you see the folder d:\Windows?
- Do you wish to completely re-install WinXP on drive D:?

 

[Guest]

I won't think that a repair of a Mail Program would not require a
Repair/Reinstall of Win XP.
You have a dual boot machine? ie choose Me or XP?
Donesn't XP show in dual boot menu?

It sound like you crashed while running XP?
Why would you want to boot to it?
Sounds like you need to repair it first.

If XP is in boot.ini, it should lidt in dual boot menu.

Can you boot to Win Me?
Change boot order in BIOS to boot from HDD ie D drive
If proper files in D root directory it should boot?

Doesn't fix problem with dual boot or possibly C drive!

 

[Bobbie Leslie]

I apologize, I didn't fully explain. I partitioned the first drive
into two 20gig drives sometime before WindowsXP came out. When I
decided to install XP I installed another 40gig hard drive and
partitioned it into two 20gig drives. So I had Drive C: with WindowsME
and drive D: to use for pictures and movies, i.e. a workshop. When
WindowsXP came out I nstalled XP on drive E: and used F: for a
workshop, more or less.

To answer your question, I cannot boot into Drive C:. I haven't tried
in a long time and when I decided I had to go to a bigger hard drive I
tried to boot into Drive C: or WindowsME and cannot. I've run Spinrite
6.0 and found some problems on the E: Drive but nothing on Drive C:.
My boot.ini looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
;C:\="Microsoft Windows"

What I'd like to do is rewrite my boot.ini so it'll boot into
WindowsXP and then I can migrate the stuff to the new hard drive
(250gig). Thanks for your help.
Bob

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Your first steps should be to check if WinXP is still around.
Modifying boot.ini comes much, much laterl Try this:
- Boot the machine with a Win98 boot disk (www.bootdisk.com).
- Run this command: ntfsdos /L:MN. You can download the
command from www.sysinternals.com.
- Check if the following folders exist:
c:\Windows
d:\Windows
m:\Windows
n:\Windows
- Try to boot into WinXP, then report verbatim how far the
boot process goes and what message(s) you see on the screen.

You should also remove the semi-colon at the start of the last
line in c:\boot.ini. This might enable you to start WinME.

I apologize, I didn't fully explain. I partitioned the first drive
into two 20gig drives sometime before WindowsXP came out. When I
decided to install XP I installed another 40gig hard drive and
partitioned it into two 20gig drives. So I had Drive C: with WindowsME
and drive D: to use for pictures and movies, i.e. a workshop. When
WindowsXP came out I nstalled XP on drive E: and used F: for a
workshop, more or less.

To answer your question, I cannot boot into Drive C:. I haven't tried
in a long time and when I decided I had to go to a bigger hard drive I
tried to boot into Drive C: or WindowsME and cannot. I've run Spinrite
6.0 and found some problems on the E: Drive but nothing on Drive C:.
My boot.ini looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
;C:\="Microsoft Windows"

What I'd like to do is rewrite my boot.ini so it'll boot into
WindowsXP and then I can migrate the stuff to the new hard drive
(250gig). Thanks for your help.
Bob

Please clarify:
- Can you boot into WinME?
- While in WinME, can you see drive D:?
- Can you see the folder d:\Windows?
- Do you wish to completely re-install WinXP on drive D:?

 

[Plato]

I have a machine that had WindowsME installed on a C: drive and until
WindowsXP proved itself I installed XP on a separate D: drive. One of
my friends kids was trying to install Sierra Hoyle Poker and found a
file that looked suspiciosly like Microsoft Outlook on the Sierra CD

IN the future, do not download and/or install free gambling apps. Use
your PC for basic needs. Please note that the odds are NEVER in your
favor. You will only lose your dollars.

 

[Bobbie Leslie]

Plarto,
I do not download games at all. I purchased the Sierra Hoyle card game
from Office Depot. I have no idea why the Microsoft Otlook file was on
the CD. I have written to Sierra and haven't heard a word. Hmmmmm..

 

[Bobbie Leslie]

Plato,
The dual boot menu comes up on bootup and defaults to WindowsXP just
fine. WindowsXP is running on drive E: with only the one problem I
noted earlier about the Hoyle Poker CD file. I'll remove the
semi-colon from the boot.ini and see if that helps.
Thanks,
Bob

Your first steps should be to check if WinXP is still around.
Modifying boot.ini comes much, much laterl Try this:
- Boot the machine with a Win98 boot disk (www.bootdisk.com).
- Run this command: ntfsdos /L:MN. You can download the
command from www.sysinternals.com.
- Check if the following folders exist:
c:\Windows
d:\Windows
m:\Windows
n:\Windows
- Try to boot into WinXP, then report verbatim how far the
boot process goes and what message(s) you see on the screen.

You should also remove the semi-colon at the start of the last
line in c:\boot.ini. This might enable you to start WinME.

I apologize, I didn't fully explain. I partitioned the first drive
into two 20gig drives sometime before WindowsXP came out. When I
decided to install XP I installed another 40gig hard drive and
partitioned it into two 20gig drives. So I had Drive C: with WindowsME
and drive D: to use for pictures and movies, i.e. a workshop. When
WindowsXP came out I nstalled XP on drive E: and used F: for a
workshop, more or less.

To answer your question, I cannot boot into Drive C:. I haven't tried
in a long time and when I decided I had to go to a bigger hard drive I
tried to boot into Drive C: or WindowsME and cannot. I've run Spinrite
6.0 and found some problems on the E: Drive but nothing on Drive C:.
My boot.ini looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
;C:\="Microsoft Windows"

What I'd like to do is rewrite my boot.ini so it'll boot into
WindowsXP and then I can migrate the stuff to the new hard drive
(250gig). Thanks for your help.
Bob

I have a machine that had WindowsME installed on a C: drive and until
WindowsXP proved itself I installed XP on a separate D: drive. One of
my friends kids was trying to install Sierra Hoyle Poker and found a
file that looked suspiciosly like Microsoft Outlook on the Sierra CD
and the little rascal ran it. I lost my entire email setup, etc, etc.
I started to run Michael Stevens Repair/Install and it only shows the
C: drive and no WindowsXP. Went from there to Charley White's page and
started to do the rebuild and can't get past the darn C: drive. Seems
to me I should be able to rebuild the boot.ini to show the WindowsXP
drive only but not real sure how to go about it or really, what is the
simplest way to get around the C: drive short of removing it from the
computer. Help appreciated....
Bob

Please clarify:
- Can you boot into WinME?
- While in WinME, can you see drive D:?
- Can you see the folder d:\Windows?
- Do you wish to completely re-install WinXP on drive D:?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

My pen name is Pegasus, not Plato.

If WinXP comes up fine, what actually is your question?
Also: Instead of blaming your kid's friend for damaging
your setup, you should thank him, simply because he is
forcing you to do the right thing, i.e.

a) Back up your EMail files to an independent medium
frequently, e.g. every week.
b) Protect your logon account with a password.
c) Create a user account to be used by your children
and their friends.

With "independent medium" I mean something like a
hard disk in an external USB case. If you don't then
you will lose some really important files some day.

Plato,
The dual boot menu comes up on bootup and defaults to WindowsXP just
fine. WindowsXP is running on drive E: with only the one problem I
noted earlier about the Hoyle Poker CD file. I'll remove the
semi-colon from the boot.ini and see if that helps.
Thanks,
Bob

Your first steps should be to check if WinXP is still around.
Modifying boot.ini comes much, much laterl Try this:
- Boot the machine with a Win98 boot disk (www.bootdisk.com).
- Run this command: ntfsdos /L:MN. You can download the
command from www.sysinternals.com.
- Check if the following folders exist:
c:\Windows
d:\Windows
m:\Windows
n:\Windows
- Try to boot into WinXP, then report verbatim how far the
boot process goes and what message(s) you see on the screen.

You should also remove the semi-colon at the start of the last
line in c:\boot.ini. This might enable you to start WinME.

I apologize, I didn't fully explain. I partitioned the first drive
into two 20gig drives sometime before WindowsXP came out. When I
decided to install XP I installed another 40gig hard drive and
partitioned it into two 20gig drives. So I had Drive C: with WindowsME
and drive D: to use for pictures and movies, i.e. a workshop. When
WindowsXP came out I nstalled XP on drive E: and used F: for a
workshop, more or less.

To answer your question, I cannot boot into Drive C:. I haven't tried
in a long time and when I decided I had to go to a bigger hard drive I
tried to boot into Drive C: or WindowsME and cannot. I've run Spinrite
6.0 and found some problems on the E: Drive but nothing on Drive C:.
My boot.ini looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
;C:\="Microsoft Windows"

What I'd like to do is rewrite my boot.ini so it'll boot into
WindowsXP and then I can migrate the stuff to the new hard drive
(250gig). Thanks for your help.
Bob


I have a machine that had WindowsME installed on a C: drive and until
WindowsXP proved itself I installed XP on a separate D: drive. One of
my friends kids was trying to install Sierra Hoyle Poker and found a
file that looked suspiciosly like Microsoft Outlook on the Sierra CD
and the little rascal ran it. I lost my entire email setup, etc, etc.
I started to run Michael Stevens Repair/Install and it only shows the
C: drive and no WindowsXP. Went from there to Charley White's page and
started to do the rebuild and can't get past the darn C: drive. Seems
to me I should be able to rebuild the boot.ini to show the WindowsXP
drive only but not real sure how to go about it or really, what is the
simplest way to get around the C: drive short of removing it from the
computer. Help appreciated....
Bob

Please clarify:
- Can you boot into WinME?
- While in WinME, can you see drive D:?
- Can you see the folder d:\Windows?
- Do you wish to completely re-install WinXP on drive D:?

 

[Charlie Tame]

I've run dual boot systems for some time Bobbie and usually the fix-it
utilities make matters worse if anything goes wrong, you may well end up
reinstalling anyway, but there is one thing I would add from experience.

If you have an original disk C: and add a new disk D: and then install a new
system dual boot on D: it will forever remain dependant upon C: while
starting up.You cannot format or damage C: without losing both systems. In
other words you cannot install a new OS dual boot and then simply format the
old drive when you are satisfied with the new one and expect to get away
with it. You can of course delete the old system and clean up that way. Now,
maybe you "Should" be able to do this and maybe not, but I recommend
caution.

Also, the newer systems allow you to "Rename" drives to make the sequence
seem logical. Note that this does not rename in the other system, so you can
end up getting yourself confused and make errors that way. I recommend not
renaming drives when running dual boot.

By the way I know Plato was supposed to be a philosopher but I don't think
that includes dictating how people use their computers

Charlie