Problems with Windows XP boot manager

[Gabriele72]

Hello, I have a little problem with the boot manager in XP, perhaps
someone has a quick solution I don't...

This is my config:

HD-1 (primary): XP boot manager + Windows 98SE
HD-2 (secondary): Windows XP (no boot manager on disk)

on power up the boot manager loads and asks me which OS to start (98SE
on C: or XP on D: ). It is not possible to boot directly from D:
because there seems not to be any boot loader on it.

Problem: I need to remove HD-1 and make HD-2 primary. Is there a way I
can move the boot manager on HD-2 without having to format and
reinstall everything? Would moving D: to a logical C: position mess
with the installed programs?

Thanks in advance

*Gabriele*

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

See below.

Hello, I have a little problem with the boot manager in XP, perhaps
someone has a quick solution I don't...

This is my config:

HD-1 (primary): XP boot manager + Windows 98SE

That's a bad idea. You should never install more than one OS
on any one partition.

HD-2 (secondary): Windows XP (no boot manager on disk)

on power up the boot manager loads and asks me which OS to start (98SE
on C: or XP on D: ). It is not possible to boot directly from D:
because there seems not to be any boot loader on it.

Problem: I need to remove HD-1 and make HD-2 primary. Is there a way I
can move the boot manager on HD-2 without having to format and
reinstall everything? Would moving D: to a logical C: position mess
with the installed programs?

Yes, it would.

Thanks in advance

*Gabriele*

You can do what you want if you're happy to keep the WinXP system
drive letter at D:. Here are the basic steps:
1. Make sure that the WinXP system partition is marked "active".
2. Copy the hidden files c:\ntdetect.com, c:\ntldr and c:\boot.ini to D:\.
3. Modify D:\boot.ini so that the Windows XP line(s) point at disk 0.
4. While Win2000 is active, save the WinXP registry files in a safe place.
5. Remove the Win2000 disk.
6. Make the WinXP disk the primary master disk.
7. Reboot. The WinXP system drive letter should be D:.

If things don't work out then you can restore your original setup
by reversing Step 4.

Post again if you need more details.

 

[Gabriele72]

You can do what you want if you're happy to keep the WinXP system
drive letter at D:. Here are the basic steps:

Thanks for all the info, unfortunately it didn't seem to work. I get a
non-bootable disk error message then I'm prompted to change disk
and press a key (reminds me of good ol'DOS times )

1. Make sure that the WinXP system partition is marked "active".

It is. PRI-DOS FAT32 A(ctive) status.

2. Copy the hidden files c:\ntdetect.com, c:\ntldr and c:\boot.ini to D:\.
3. Modify D:\boot.ini so that the Windows XP line(s) point at disk 0.

This is how it is:

[Boot Loader]
timeout=30
Default=C:\
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP"
/noexecute=optin /fastdetect
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98"

4. While Win2000 is active, save the WinXP registry files in a safe place.
5. Remove the Win2000 disk.
6. Make the WinXP disk the primary master disk.
7. Reboot. The WinXP system drive letter should be D:.

It looks as if something is missing perhaps it's the Master Boot
Record... always closer to re-format.

*Gabriele*

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I'm not surprised that it does not work. My Step 3 suggested
that boot.ini should be modified to point at disk 0. Your
version points at disk 1.

You can do what you want if you're happy to keep the WinXP system
drive letter at D:. Here are the basic steps:

Thanks for all the info, unfortunately it didn't seem to work. I get a
non-bootable disk error message then I'm prompted to change disk
and press a key (reminds me of good ol'DOS times )

1. Make sure that the WinXP system partition is marked "active".

It is. PRI-DOS FAT32 A(ctive) status.

2. Copy the hidden files c:\ntdetect.com, c:\ntldr and c:\boot.ini to D:\.
3. Modify D:\boot.ini so that the Windows XP line(s) point at disk 0.

This is how it is:

[Boot Loader]
timeout=30
Default=C:\
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP"
/noexecute=optin /fastdetect
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98"

4. While Win2000 is active, save the WinXP registry files in a safe place.
5. Remove the Win2000 disk.
6. Make the WinXP disk the primary master disk.
7. Reboot. The WinXP system drive letter should be D:.

It looks as if something is missing perhaps it's the Master Boot
Record... always closer to re-format.

*Gabriele*

 

[Ron Sommer]

Pegasus,
This thread has me confused.
Shouldn't rdisk be 0, not disk 0?

Your directions mentioned Win2000.
Did you copy the directions from another post?

Your directions don't mention
'Boot into the Recovery Console, then run fixmbr and fixboot.'
Did you leave those steps out for a reason?
--
Ronald Sommer


: I'm not surprised that it does not work. My Step 3 suggested
: that boot.ini should be modified to point at disk 0. Your
: version points at disk 1.
:
:
: : > Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
: > >
: > > You can do what you want if you're happy to keep the WinXP system
: > > drive letter at D:. Here are the basic steps:
: >
: > Thanks for all the info, unfortunately it didn't seem to work. I get a
: > non-bootable disk error message then I'm prompted to change disk
: > and press a key (reminds me of good ol'DOS times )
: >
: > > 1. Make sure that the WinXP system partition is marked "active".
: >
: > It is. PRI-DOS FAT32 A(ctive) status.
: >
: > > 2. Copy the hidden files c:\ntdetect.com, c:\ntldr and c:\boot.ini to
: D:\.
: > > 3. Modify D:\boot.ini so that the Windows XP line(s) point at disk 0.
: >
: > This is how it is:
: >
: > [Boot Loader]
: > timeout=30
: > Default=C:\
: > [Operating Systems]
: > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP"
: > /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
: > C:\="Microsoft Windows 98"
: >
: > > 4. While Win2000 is active, save the WinXP registry files in a safe
: place.
: > > 5. Remove the Win2000 disk.
: > > 6. Make the WinXP disk the primary master disk.
: > > 7. Reboot. The WinXP system drive letter should be D:.
: > >
: >
: > It looks as if something is missing perhaps it's the Master Boot
: > Record... always closer to re-format.
: >
: > *Gabriele*
:
:

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

See below - it seems I slipped up in a couple of places.

Pegasus,
This thread has me confused.

Me too!

Shouldn't rdisk be 0, not disk 0?

Yes, of course.

Your directions mentioned Win2000.
Did you copy the directions from another post?

No, but I misread the original post. Somehow I thought
that the OP had a dual Win2000/XP booting system.

Your directions don't mention
'Boot into the Recovery Console, then run fixmbr and fixboot.'
Did you leave those steps out for a reason?

If the OP formatted the second disk under WinXP then
neither of these should be necessary. On the other hand
it won't hurt running them.

--
Ronald Sommer


: I'm not surprised that it does not work. My Step 3 suggested
: that boot.ini should be modified to point at disk 0. Your
: version points at disk 1.
:
:
: : > Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
: > >
: > > You can do what you want if you're happy to keep the WinXP system
: > > drive letter at D:. Here are the basic steps:
: >
: > Thanks for all the info, unfortunately it didn't seem to work. I get a
: > non-bootable disk error message then I'm prompted to change disk
: > and press a key (reminds me of good ol'DOS times )
: >
: > > 1. Make sure that the WinXP system partition is marked "active".
: >
: > It is. PRI-DOS FAT32 A(ctive) status.
: >
: > > 2. Copy the hidden files c:\ntdetect.com, c:\ntldr and c:\boot.ini to
: D:\.
: > > 3. Modify D:\boot.ini so that the Windows XP line(s) point at disk 0.
: >
: > This is how it is:
: >
: > [Boot Loader]
: > timeout=30
: > Default=C:\
: > [Operating Systems]
: > multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP"
: > /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
: > C:\="Microsoft Windows 98"
: >
: > > 4. While Win2000 is active, save the WinXP registry files in a safe
: place.
: > > 5. Remove the Win2000 disk.
: > > 6. Make the WinXP disk the primary master disk.
: > > 7. Reboot. The WinXP system drive letter should be D:.
: > >
: >
: > It looks as if something is missing perhaps it's the Master Boot
: > Record... always closer to re-format.
: >
: > *Gabriele*
:
:

 

[Gabriele72]

After running fixmbr and fixboot on D: and changing the rdisk bit I
can now boot from D: too. Good! I didn't swap the disks yet, should I
modify the DEFAULT field too?

*Gabriele*

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

After running fixmbr and fixboot on D: and changing the rdisk bit I
can now boot from D: too. Good! I didn't swap the disks yet, should I
modify the DEFAULT field too?

*Gabriele*

It's up to you whether you change the Default line. This line
simply tells you which OS is chosen if you do not change
the selection manually.

 

[Ron Sommer]

Yes, modify D:\boot.ini.
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
--
Ronald Sommer

:
: After running fixmbr and fixboot on D: and changing the rdisk bit I
: can now boot from D: too. Good! I didn't swap the disks yet, should I
: modify the DEFAULT field too?
:
: *Gabriele*