problem with dual boot

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Guest

Where is the proper forum to address a dual boot issue between XP and Vista?
Ever since I installed Vista, I lost access to my XP installation on the
other drive.
 
install
VistBootPro
one if its options is to restore the multi-boot capabilities.



(e-mail address removed)



Where is the proper forum to address a dual boot issue between XP and Vista?
Ever since I installed Vista, I lost access to my XP installation on the
other drive.
 
Without knowing exactly how you installed the operating systems and what
the exact configuration of your computer is, usually and basically you
have to edit the Vista BCDEdit file. The easiest way to do this is with
VistaBootPRO. http://www.vistabootpro.org/

John
 
Where is the proper forum to address a dual boot issue between XP and
Vista?
Ever since I installed Vista, I lost access to my XP installation on the
other drive.
Click to expand...

You haven't given sufficient information on the configuration and the
problems to get focused help but John's recommendation to use VistaBootPro
is a good starting point.

These questions are best posed in a Vista newsgroup since Vista handles a
dual boot differently. Here are the list of Vista newsgroups.

microsoft.public.windows.vista.administration_accounts_password
microsoft.public.windows.vista.file_management
microsoft.public.windows.vista.games
microsoft.public.windows.vista.general
microsoft.public.windows.vista.hardware_assessment
microsoft.public.windows.vista.hardware_devices
microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup
microsoft.public.windows.vista.mail
microsoft.public.windows.vista.music_pictures_video
microsoft.public.windows.vista.networking_sharing
microsoft.public.windows.vista.performance_maintenance
microsoft.public.windows.vista.print_fax_scan
microsoft.public.windows.vista.security
 
Ok this is what I did: I had an older problematic version of XP Pro
installed on drive C: (boot drive). Newer version of XP Pro on drive D:
Dual-boot between these two operating systems functioned without a hitch. No
longer needed the old version, so like a dummy, I formatted c: drive and
installed Vista. With my format I deleted the boot.ini, so now I can't get
to my d: drive XP installation.

Tried the Vistabootpro, and it noticed that there was a missing operating
system, and added it, but with no information. My vista dual-boot login asks
me which operating system to start with, but when I choose XP on D: tell me
that {ntldr} is missing and cannot continue. I have copied these files from
my original XP installation CD onto d: drive, but to no avail.

I need to get back into that operating system! How do I show the computer
that there is another perfectly functional operating system on another drive,
bearing in mind that I have erased the original boot.ini?

Thank you anyone. I'm exasperated.
 
The boot files go on the common System partition. Put the files ntldr,
ntdetect.com and boot.ini in the root folder of the C: drive. The ARC
path in the boot.ini file will have to point to the drive and partition
where Windows XP is installed. Typically in a case like yours the rdisk
value will point to a disk other than 0, it should be something like
like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
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

If you are unsure of the rdisk ordinal number you can put multiple lines
pointing to different ordinals in the boot.ini file and try them out
when the boot menu appears. Valid ordinals are 0, 1, 2, or 3. The boot
file to test all rdisk ordinals file could be as so:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD1 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD2 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(3)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD3 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD0 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

The above presumes that XP is installed on the first partition of the
disk, as indicated by the partition(1) portion of the ARC path and that
it is in folder \Windows.

John
 
Ok, I fixed it, adding the information you shared with me to what I already
know. I had copied ntldr and ntdetect.com to my d: root folder, but there it
does no good, because it's not the boot drive! I did the following:

1. Copied the ntldr and ntdetect.com files from my d: drive to my Vista c:
drive (boot drive). If you have lost these files, you can find them on your
original XP installation cd in the \i386 folder and copy them to your BOOT
drive root.

2. Double checked my boot.ini (which should also be located in your boot
drive root!) I modified the rdisk settings as you suggested and found that
rdisk value of (1) worked for me (even if the XP drive is listed as drive 0
in my Disk Manager).

3. Used VistabootPro from inside Vista to modify the boot option menu added
another entry labeled "Windows XP".

4. Restarted the computer, and everything worked just as it should.
Dual-boot menu came up, I tried my "Windows XP" entry, and was back in my
original operating system after being "locked out" for 3 days!

FYI: during the last few days, I received alot of suggestions to use the
Recovery/Repair console via my original XP install Cd. I tried to rebuild
the boot.ini using the bootctf /rebuild command, but when I tried this, it
told me that D: drive which contained my XP installation, was corrupt, and
could not continue, so that wasn't a viable solution for me (chkdsk verified
that the disk was not corrupted).

Thanks to all of you for contributing to a real solution to my problem.

John John said:
The boot files go on the common System partition. Put the files ntldr,
ntdetect.com and boot.ini in the root folder of the C: drive. The ARC
path in the boot.ini file will have to point to the drive and partition
where Windows XP is installed. Typically in a case like yours the rdisk
value will point to a disk other than 0, it should be something like
like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
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

If you are unsure of the rdisk ordinal number you can put multiple lines
pointing to different ordinals in the boot.ini file and try them out
when the boot menu appears. Valid ordinals are 0, 1, 2, or 3. The boot
file to test all rdisk ordinals file could be as so:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD1 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD2 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(3)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD3 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD0 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

The above presumes that XP is installed on the first partition of the
disk, as indicated by the partition(1) portion of the ARC path and that
it is in folder \Windows.

John
Ok this is what I did: I had an older problematic version of XP Pro
installed on drive C: (boot drive). Newer version of XP Pro on drive D:
Dual-boot between these two operating systems functioned without a hitch. No
longer needed the old version, so like a dummy, I formatted c: drive and
installed Vista. With my format I deleted the boot.ini, so now I can't get
to my d: drive XP installation.

Tried the Vistabootpro, and it noticed that there was a missing operating
system, and added it, but with no information. My vista dual-boot login asks
me which operating system to start with, but when I choose XP on D: tell me
that {ntldr} is missing and cannot continue. I have copied these files from
my original XP installation CD onto d: drive, but to no avail.

I need to get back into that operating system! How do I show the computer
that there is another perfectly functional operating system on another drive,
bearing in mind that I have erased the original boot.ini?

Thank you anyone. I'm exasperated.

:
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You're welcome and thanks for the follow-up.

John

PS. If you intend to keep the Vista/XP dual boot you should be aware
that there is an issue with Vista Restore points and recovery features.
You should read here:

System Restore points and other recovery features in Windows Vista are
affected when you dual-boot with Windows XP
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/dualboot.html

Hopefully Microsoft might address the issue and issue a fix for the
problem.

John
Ok, I fixed it, adding the information you shared with me to what I already
know. I had copied ntldr and ntdetect.com to my d: root folder, but there it
does no good, because it's not the boot drive! I did the following:

1. Copied the ntldr and ntdetect.com files from my d: drive to my Vista c:
drive (boot drive). If you have lost these files, you can find them on your
original XP installation cd in the \i386 folder and copy them to your BOOT
drive root.

2. Double checked my boot.ini (which should also be located in your boot
drive root!) I modified the rdisk settings as you suggested and found that
rdisk value of (1) worked for me (even if the XP drive is listed as drive 0
in my Disk Manager).

3. Used VistabootPro from inside Vista to modify the boot option menu added
another entry labeled "Windows XP".

4. Restarted the computer, and everything worked just as it should.
Dual-boot menu came up, I tried my "Windows XP" entry, and was back in my
original operating system after being "locked out" for 3 days!

FYI: during the last few days, I received alot of suggestions to use the
Recovery/Repair console via my original XP install Cd. I tried to rebuild
the boot.ini using the bootctf /rebuild command, but when I tried this, it
told me that D: drive which contained my XP installation, was corrupt, and
could not continue, so that wasn't a viable solution for me (chkdsk verified
that the disk was not corrupted).

Thanks to all of you for contributing to a real solution to my problem.

:

The boot files go on the common System partition. Put the files ntldr,
ntdetect.com and boot.ini in the root folder of the C: drive. The ARC
path in the boot.ini file will have to point to the drive and partition
where Windows XP is installed. Typically in a case like yours the rdisk
value will point to a disk other than 0, it should be something like
like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
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

If you are unsure of the rdisk ordinal number you can put multiple lines
pointing to different ordinals in the boot.ini file and try them out
when the boot menu appears. Valid ordinals are 0, 1, 2, or 3. The boot
file to test all rdisk ordinals file could be as so:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD1 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD2 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(3)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD3 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD0 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

The above presumes that XP is installed on the first partition of the
disk, as indicated by the partition(1) portion of the ARC path and that
it is in folder \Windows.

John
Ok this is what I did: I had an older problematic version of XP Pro
installed on drive C: (boot drive). Newer version of XP Pro on drive D:
Dual-boot between these two operating systems functioned without a hitch. No
longer needed the old version, so like a dummy, I formatted c: drive and
installed Vista. With my format I deleted the boot.ini, so now I can't get
to my d: drive XP installation.

Tried the Vistabootpro, and it noticed that there was a missing operating
system, and added it, but with no information. My vista dual-boot login asks
me which operating system to start with, but when I choose XP on D: tell me
that {ntldr} is missing and cannot continue. I have copied these files from
my original XP installation CD onto d: drive, but to no avail.

I need to get back into that operating system! How do I show the computer
that there is another perfectly functional operating system on another drive,
bearing in mind that I have erased the original boot.ini?

Thank you anyone. I'm exasperated.

:



Where is the proper forum to address a dual boot issue between XP and Vista?
Ever since I installed Vista, I lost access to my XP installation on the
other drive.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
John said:
You're welcome and thanks for the follow-up.

John

PS. If you intend to keep the Vista/XP dual boot you should be aware
that there is an issue with Vista Restore points and recovery features.
You should read here:

System Restore points and other recovery features in Windows Vista are
affected when you dual-boot with Windows XP
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/dualboot.html

Hopefully Microsoft might address the issue and issue a fix for the problem.
Click to expand...

Currently there no plans to fix this problem, only to work around them.

Regards,
Bert Kinney MS-MVP Shell/User
http://bertk.mvps.org
Member: http://dts-l.org

John
Ok, I fixed it, adding the information you shared with me to what I
already know. I had copied ntldr and ntdetect.com to my d: root
folder, but there it does no good, because it's not the boot drive! I
did the following:

1. Copied the ntldr and ntdetect.com files from my d: drive to my
Vista c: drive (boot drive). If you have lost these files, you can
find them on your original XP installation cd in the \i386 folder and
copy them to your BOOT drive root.

2. Double checked my boot.ini (which should also be located in your
boot drive root!) I modified the rdisk settings as you suggested and
found that rdisk value of (1) worked for me (even if the XP drive is
listed as drive 0 in my Disk Manager).

3. Used VistabootPro from inside Vista to modify the boot option menu
added another entry labeled "Windows XP".

4. Restarted the computer, and everything worked just as it should.
Dual-boot menu came up, I tried my "Windows XP" entry, and was back in
my original operating system after being "locked out" for 3 days!

FYI: during the last few days, I received alot of suggestions to use
the Recovery/Repair console via my original XP install Cd. I tried
to rebuild the boot.ini using the bootctf /rebuild command, but when I
tried this, it told me that D: drive which contained my XP
installation, was corrupt, and could not continue, so that wasn't a
viable solution for me (chkdsk verified that the disk was not corrupted).

Thanks to all of you for contributing to a real solution to my problem.
:

The boot files go on the common System partition. Put the files
ntldr, ntdetect.com and boot.ini in the root folder of the C: drive.
The ARC path in the boot.ini file will have to point to the drive and
partition where Windows XP is installed. Typically in a case like
yours the rdisk value will point to a disk other than 0, it should be
something like like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
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

If you are unsure of the rdisk ordinal number you can put multiple
lines pointing to different ordinals in the boot.ini file and try
them out when the boot menu appears. Valid ordinals are 0, 1, 2, or
3. The boot file to test all rdisk ordinals file could be as so:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD1 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD2 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(3)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD3 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="RD0 Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

The above presumes that XP is installed on the first partition of the
disk, as indicated by the partition(1) portion of the ARC path and
that it is in folder \Windows.

John

Erik wrote:

Ok this is what I did: I had an older problematic version of XP Pro
installed on drive C: (boot drive). Newer version of XP Pro on
drive D: Dual-boot between these two operating systems functioned
without a hitch. No longer needed the old version, so like a dummy,
I formatted c: drive and installed Vista. With my format I deleted
the boot.ini, so now I can't get to my d: drive XP installation.

Tried the Vistabootpro, and it noticed that there was a missing
operating system, and added it, but with no information. My vista
dual-boot login asks me which operating system to start with, but
when I choose XP on D: tell me that {ntldr} is missing and cannot
continue. I have copied these files from my original XP
installation CD onto d: drive, but to no avail.

I need to get back into that operating system! How do I show the
computer that there is another perfectly functional operating system
on another drive, bearing in mind that I have erased the original
boot.ini?

Thank you anyone. I'm exasperated.

:



Where is the proper forum to address a dual boot issue between XP
and Vista? Ever since I installed Vista, I lost access to my XP
installation on the other drive.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
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