M
Marty Felker
I don't know if anybody on this newgroup has setup dual boot XP and Vista
(in my case 64 bit). If the Vista Bootloader appears everything is OK.
Both operating systems consider themselve installed on partition C: - no
matter what physical partition. For example I installed Win XP 64 on Drive
C: and then Vista RC2.
I also use Linux. If you have installed Linus BEFORE any of the M$
operating systems we all know that Windows wipes out GRUB and takes over the
MBR. You can recover trom this using the rescue method for Linux (they
differ - usual you put in the install disk and it will detect the problem
and even setup its own dual boot). When you install Vista with XP not only
does it take over the MBR but it takes over XP's bootloader and some of us
know. Reinstall Linux and using the GRUB chainloader +1 entry you can boot
into the Vista Bootloader and then choose your posion. But wait if you do
something that effects the XP or Vista system. Sometimes you can recover
using the Vista disk (wiping out Linux again) - but if the problem can be
fixed in that manner you are SOL. Reinstall Vista or XP will leave you with
a bootloader which can boot both systems. It will only boot Vista. The
only way to boot XP is boot off the XP install disk and use the recovrery
console to fixmbr and fixboot. Then you get XP back but not Vista. All the
data is there - when you do get to boot into XP or Vista - the OS comes up
with no problems.
This in my opionion is due to the archaic practice - going back to DOS - of
using drive LETTERS rather than devices.
In any event Microsoft assumes the only OS on your disk(s) is Microsoft - it
will eat the others for lunch.
(in my case 64 bit). If the Vista Bootloader appears everything is OK.
Both operating systems consider themselve installed on partition C: - no
matter what physical partition. For example I installed Win XP 64 on Drive
C: and then Vista RC2.
I also use Linux. If you have installed Linus BEFORE any of the M$
operating systems we all know that Windows wipes out GRUB and takes over the
MBR. You can recover trom this using the rescue method for Linux (they
differ - usual you put in the install disk and it will detect the problem
and even setup its own dual boot). When you install Vista with XP not only
does it take over the MBR but it takes over XP's bootloader and some of us
know. Reinstall Linux and using the GRUB chainloader +1 entry you can boot
into the Vista Bootloader and then choose your posion. But wait if you do
something that effects the XP or Vista system. Sometimes you can recover
using the Vista disk (wiping out Linux again) - but if the problem can be
fixed in that manner you are SOL. Reinstall Vista or XP will leave you with
a bootloader which can boot both systems. It will only boot Vista. The
only way to boot XP is boot off the XP install disk and use the recovrery
console to fixmbr and fixboot. Then you get XP back but not Vista. All the
data is there - when you do get to boot into XP or Vista - the OS comes up
with no problems.
This in my opionion is due to the archaic practice - going back to DOS - of
using drive LETTERS rather than devices.
In any event Microsoft assumes the only OS on your disk(s) is Microsoft - it
will eat the others for lunch.