multiboot issues

[Mr. A.]

have two hard drives. When I setup XP, I mistakenly created a multi-boot
system. One drive C: containing ME the other D: XP. However, XP loaded it's
operating files onto the C: drive and then loaded everything else into the
D:\windows directory it created. All worked fine for about a month. The C:
drive was not reading correctly for some reason and would hang after the
bio's routine finished and thus no operating system would load. I could
access only the D: drive in DOS via XP boot from CDROM. DOS would report the
C: drive having an enumeration error whenever I attempted to access data on
it using the dir command. I was able to repartition the C: drive and
reformat it. After error checking the disk I then installed XP onto it. I
chose to load XP onto the C: drive so the data on the D: drive would not be
lost while running XP's install on that drive. However, all the programs
that I installed on the D: drive using XP prior to the C: drive crashing
will not run. If I reinstalled XP is there anyway I can get it to recognize
the previous windows XP files that exist on the D: drive so XP loads itself
onto the D: drive. Or, inable to access the existing programs on the D:
drive I need to reinstall them.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

have two hard drives. When I setup XP, I mistakenly created a multi-boot
system. One drive C: containing ME the other D: XP. However, XP loaded it's
operating files onto the C: drive and then loaded everything else into the
D:\windows directory it created. All worked fine for about a month. The C:
drive was not reading correctly for some reason and would hang after the
bio's routine finished and thus no operating system would load. I could
access only the D: drive in DOS via XP boot from CDROM. DOS would report the
C: drive having an enumeration error whenever I attempted to access data on
it using the dir command. I was able to repartition the C: drive and
reformat it. After error checking the disk I then installed XP onto it. I
chose to load XP onto the C: drive so the data on the D: drive would not be
lost while running XP's install on that drive. However, all the programs
that I installed on the D: drive using XP prior to the C: drive crashing
will not run. If I reinstalled XP is there anyway I can get it to recognize
the previous windows XP files that exist on the D: drive so XP loads itself
onto the D: drive. Or, inable to access the existing programs on the D:
drive I need to reinstall them.

You write "However, XP loaded its operating files onto the C:
drive and then loaded everything else into the D:\windows
directory it created." The two statements appear contradictory.
I suggest you clarify what you mean by "operating files".

I suspect that your old copy of Windows is still on drive D:.
If so then you can try and boot into it. Here is how it's done.

- Click Start / Run
- Type this: notepad c:\boot.ini {OK}
- You will see a file that looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

- Modify it so that it looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (new)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (old)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Note the changed partition number!

- Save and close the file.
- Try to reboot into the "old" version of Windows.

 

[Ron Sommer]

You have two replies to your first post.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Please do us a favour and post your messages just once.
I feel like an idiot after spending ten minutes answering
your post, only to find that other respondents have said
much the same thing in response to your earlier post under
a different name and subject. What are you trying to
achieve? You won't win many friends this way.

 

[Ron Sommer]

have two hard drives. When I setup XP, I mistakenly created a multi-boot
system. One drive C: containing ME the other D: XP. However, XP loaded it's
operating files onto the C: drive and then loaded everything else into
the
D:\windows directory it created. All worked fine for about a month. The
C:
drive was not reading correctly for some reason and would hang after the
bio's routine finished and thus no operating system would load. I could
access only the D: drive in DOS via XP boot from CDROM. DOS would report the
C: drive having an enumeration error whenever I attempted to access data on
it using the dir command. I was able to repartition the C: drive and
reformat it. After error checking the disk I then installed XP onto it. I
chose to load XP onto the C: drive so the data on the D: drive would not be
lost while running XP's install on that drive. However, all the programs
that I installed on the D: drive using XP prior to the C: drive crashing
will not run. If I reinstalled XP is there anyway I can get it to recognize
the previous windows XP files that exist on the D: drive so XP loads itself
onto the D: drive. Or, inable to access the existing programs on the D:
drive I need to reinstall them.

You write "However, XP loaded its operating files onto the C:
drive and then loaded everything else into the D:\windows
directory it created." The two statements appear contradictory.
I suggest you clarify what you mean by "operating files".

I suspect that your old copy of Windows is still on drive D:.
If so then you can try and boot into it. Here is how it's done.

- Click Start / Run
- Type this: notepad c:\boot.ini {OK}
- You will see a file that looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

- Modify it so that it looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (new)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (old)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Note the changed partition number!

- Save and close the file.
- Try to reboot into the "old" version of Windows.

The OP probably meant the boot files were on C.

The partition number should stay the same and the rdisk value should change
to 1.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

have two hard drives. When I setup XP, I mistakenly created a multi-boot
system. One drive C: containing ME the other D: XP. However, XP loaded it's
operating files onto the C: drive and then loaded everything else into
the
D:\windows directory it created. All worked fine for about a month. The
C:
drive was not reading correctly for some reason and would hang after the
bio's routine finished and thus no operating system would load. I could
access only the D: drive in DOS via XP boot from CDROM. DOS would

report
the

C: drive having an enumeration error whenever I attempted to access

data
on

it using the dir command. I was able to repartition the C: drive and
reformat it. After error checking the disk I then installed XP onto it. I
chose to load XP onto the C: drive so the data on the D: drive would

not
be

lost while running XP's install on that drive. However, all the programs
that I installed on the D: drive using XP prior to the C: drive crashing
will not run. If I reinstalled XP is there anyway I can get it to recognize
the previous windows XP files that exist on the D: drive so XP loads itself
onto the D: drive. Or, inable to access the existing programs on the D:
drive I need to reinstall them.

You write "However, XP loaded its operating files onto the C:
drive and then loaded everything else into the D:\windows
directory it created." The two statements appear contradictory.
I suggest you clarify what you mean by "operating files".

I suspect that your old copy of Windows is still on drive D:.
If so then you can try and boot into it. Here is how it's done.

- Click Start / Run
- Type this: notepad c:\boot.ini {OK}
- You will see a file that looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

- Modify it so that it looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (new)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (old)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Note the changed partition number!

- Save and close the file.
- Try to reboot into the "old" version of Windows.

The OP probably meant the boot files were on C.

The partition number should stay the same and the rdisk value should change
to 1.

Indeed - thanks for the correction.

 

[Mr. A.]

Thank you for replying to my post.
It would seem that somehow window XP's MSDOS files [if XP has msdos files]
[et. hidden operating files such as Win.com, msdos.sys, ect. say for Win 95]
were copied to the drive that also had my previous operating system [WinME]
along with other files I installed while using ME. I say that because
whenever I would attempt to boot onto the drive I had formatted where
windows XP installed it's program directory, the BIOS would report that
drive to be : INVALID SYSTEM DISK NO OPERATING SYSTEM DETECTED. ect. ect.
In order to boot either ME or XP, I needed the drive, C: drive, to be the
boot drive. If I chose the D: drive [the drive where XP installed it's
directory] as the boot drive...invalid system disk, no operating system
detected. message

have two hard drives. When I setup XP, I mistakenly created a multi-boot
system. One drive C: containing ME the other D: XP. However, XP loaded
it's
operating files onto the C: drive and then loaded everything else into
the
D:\windows directory it created. All worked fine for about a month.
The
C:
drive was not reading correctly for some reason and would hang after the
bio's routine finished and thus no operating system would load. I
could
access only the D: drive in DOS via XP boot from CDROM. DOS would report
the
C: drive having an enumeration error whenever I attempted to access data
on
it using the dir command. I was able to repartition the C: drive and
reformat it. After error checking the disk I then installed XP onto
it. I
chose to load XP onto the C: drive so the data on the D: drive would not
be
lost while running XP's install on that drive. However, all the programs
that I installed on the D: drive using XP prior to the C: drive crashing
will not run. If I reinstalled XP is there anyway I can get it to
recognize
the previous windows XP files that exist on the D: drive so XP loads
itself
onto the D: drive. Or, inable to access the existing programs on the
D:
drive I need to reinstall them.



You write "However, XP loaded its operating files onto the C:
drive and then loaded everything else into the D:\windows
directory it created." The two statements appear contradictory.
I suggest you clarify what you mean by "operating files".

I suspect that your old copy of Windows is still on drive D:.
If so then you can try and boot into it. Here is how it's done.

- Click Start / Run
- Type this: notepad c:\boot.ini {OK}
- You will see a file that looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

- Modify it so that it looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (new)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (old)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Note the changed partition number!

- Save and close the file.
- Try to reboot into the "old" version of Windows.

The OP probably meant the boot files were on C.

The partition number should stay the same and the rdisk value should change
to 1.

Indeed - thanks for the correction.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I see no point whatsoever in dealing with this problem in
two separate threads - it's just wasting everybody's time.
I wonder why you persist.

Thank you for replying to my post.
It would seem that somehow window XP's MSDOS files [if XP has msdos files]
[et. hidden operating files such as Win.com, msdos.sys, ect. say for Win 95]
were copied to the drive that also had my previous operating system [WinME]
along with other files I installed while using ME. I say that because
whenever I would attempt to boot onto the drive I had formatted where
windows XP installed it's program directory, the BIOS would report that
drive to be : INVALID SYSTEM DISK NO OPERATING SYSTEM DETECTED. ect. ect.
In order to boot either ME or XP, I needed the drive, C: drive, to be the
boot drive. If I chose the D: drive [the drive where XP installed it's
directory] as the boot drive...invalid system disk, no operating system
detected. message

have two hard drives. When I setup XP, I mistakenly created a multi-boot
system. One drive C: containing ME the other D: XP. However, XP loaded
it's
operating files onto the C: drive and then loaded everything else into
the
D:\windows directory it created. All worked fine for about a month.
The
C:
drive was not reading correctly for some reason and would hang after the
bio's routine finished and thus no operating system would load. I
could
access only the D: drive in DOS via XP boot from CDROM. DOS would report
the
C: drive having an enumeration error whenever I attempted to access data
on
it using the dir command. I was able to repartition the C: drive and
reformat it. After error checking the disk I then installed XP onto
it. I
chose to load XP onto the C: drive so the data on the D: drive would not
be
lost while running XP's install on that drive. However, all the programs
that I installed on the D: drive using XP prior to the C: drive crashing
will not run. If I reinstalled XP is there anyway I can get it to
recognize
the previous windows XP files that exist on the D: drive so XP loads
itself
onto the D: drive. Or, inable to access the existing programs on the
D:
drive I need to reinstall them.



You write "However, XP loaded its operating files onto the C:
drive and then loaded everything else into the D:\windows
directory it created." The two statements appear contradictory.
I suggest you clarify what you mean by "operating files".

I suspect that your old copy of Windows is still on drive D:.
If so then you can try and boot into it. Here is how it's done.

- Click Start / Run
- Type this: notepad c:\boot.ini {OK}
- You will see a file that looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

- Modify it so that it looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (new)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (old)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Note the changed partition number!

- Save and close the file.
- Try to reboot into the "old" version of Windows.


The OP probably meant the boot files were on C.

The partition number should stay the same and the rdisk value should change
to 1.

Indeed - thanks for the correction.

 

[Ron Sommer]

NTDETECT.COM, NTLDR and BOOT.INI are boot files for XP.
They are not MSDOS files.
C was the boot drive, because it was marked Active.
The boot files are on an Active partition.
--
Ron Sommer

Thank you for replying to my post.
It would seem that somehow window XP's MSDOS files [if XP has msdos files]
[et. hidden operating files such as Win.com, msdos.sys, ect. say for Win
95] were copied to the drive that also had my previous operating system
[WinME] along with other files I installed while using ME. I say that
because whenever I would attempt to boot onto the drive I had formatted
where windows XP installed it's program directory, the BIOS would report
that drive to be : INVALID SYSTEM DISK NO OPERATING SYSTEM DETECTED. ect.
ect.
In order to boot either ME or XP, I needed the drive, C: drive, to be the
boot drive. If I chose the D: drive [the drive where XP installed it's
directory] as the boot drive...invalid system disk, no operating system
detected. message

have two hard drives. When I setup XP, I mistakenly created a multi-boot
system. One drive C: containing ME the other D: XP. However, XP
loaded
it's
operating files onto the C: drive and then loaded everything else
into
the
D:\windows directory it created. All worked fine for about a month.
The
C:
drive was not reading correctly for some reason and would hang after the
bio's routine finished and thus no operating system would load. I
could
access only the D: drive in DOS via XP boot from CDROM. DOS would report
the
C: drive having an enumeration error whenever I attempted to access data
on
it using the dir command. I was able to repartition the C: drive and
reformat it. After error checking the disk I then installed XP onto
it. I
chose to load XP onto the C: drive so the data on the D: drive would not
be
lost while running XP's install on that drive. However, all the programs
that I installed on the D: drive using XP prior to the C: drive crashing
will not run. If I reinstalled XP is there anyway I can get it to
recognize
the previous windows XP files that exist on the D: drive so XP loads
itself
onto the D: drive. Or, inable to access the existing programs on the
D:
drive I need to reinstall them.



You write "However, XP loaded its operating files onto the C:
drive and then loaded everything else into the D:\windows
directory it created." The two statements appear contradictory.
I suggest you clarify what you mean by "operating files".

I suspect that your old copy of Windows is still on drive D:.
If so then you can try and boot into it. Here is how it's done.

- Click Start / Run
- Type this: notepad c:\boot.ini {OK}
- You will see a file that looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

- Modify it so that it looks like so:
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (new)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional (old)" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Note the changed partition number!

- Save and close the file.
- Try to reboot into the "old" version of Windows.


The OP probably meant the boot files were on C.

The partition number should stay the same and the rdisk value should change
to 1.

Indeed - thanks for the correction.