Reinstalling fresh XP into XP/Vista dualboot

[DJ_Jones]

I have a computer with both XP and Vista (each on separate drive). The
dualboot menu is governed by XP (since Vista was added later). Now,
I'd like to reinstall a fresh copy of XP (replacing the old one),
however I am afraid it will remove the dualboot menu and I will have
no access to my Vista. Any idea how to solve this?

Thanks

 

[Andy]

I have a computer with both XP and Vista (each on separate drive). The
dualboot menu is governed by XP (since Vista was added later). Now,
I'd like to reinstall a fresh copy of XP (replacing the old one),
however I am afraid it will remove the dualboot menu and I will have
no access to my Vista. Any idea how to solve this?

Don't format the XP partition; while running Vista, just delete the
Windows XP folders Windows, Documents and Settings, and Program Files.

After installing XP, boot from the Vista DVD, and run Command Prompt.
Change directory to \boot.

H:\sources\x86\Sources>cd \boot

H:\boot

Execute bootsect /nt60 sys command.

H:\boot>bootsect /nt60 sys
Target volumes will be updated with BOOTMGR compatible bootcode.

C: (\\?\Volume{ad0c894a-e806-11dc-8253-806e6f6e6963})

Successfully updated NTFS filesystem bootcode.

Bootcode was successfully updated on all targeted volumes.

H:\boot>

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

When you installed Vista, the boot manager installed previously by XP was
replaced with the one that comes with Vista. This does not use the boot.ini
file in the root of the "system" partition, but instead uses the the "BCD
database" in the folder named "boot" in the root of the system partition.
Well, actually, if you select "Earlier version of Windows" from the Vista
boot manager menu, the content of boot.ini will be used to list the
installations of "older" versions of Windows, if there is more than one (if
there is only one entry in the boot.ini, the list of older (e.g. XP)
installations won't display - the single entry will be used and it will be
booted).

If you do a new install of any Windows version prior to Vista, the boot
manager for Vista will be replaced with the boot manger from that version of
Windows (e.g. Windows XP). This will mean that you can no longer "boot to
Vista".

However, there's a way to preserve, then restore the Vista boot manager.

First, you need to know which partition is your "system" partition -
Computer Management, Disk Management will tell you this.

Usually, when one installs XP, it installs in the first partition on the
first disk and that partition will be the "system partition". If this is
the case and you intend to format this partition to do your new, clean
install of XP, and you still want to be able to boot into Vista afterwards,
you need to save the content of the "boot" folder currently in the system
partition somewhere else. If you have a third (e.g. data) partition, that
would be a good place to copy the boot folder to. Failing that, create a
folder in the Vista partition, but not directly under the root. Or you
could copy it to a USB drive (stick).

If you are going to install XP in a partition that is not the "system
partition" you can skip the saving and restoring of the boot folder.

After you've installed XP, you can restore the Vista boot manager - here's
the steps:

1. Make sure that in Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, View, you have no
check mark in "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" and
that the "Show hidden files and folders" radio button is selected (click
Apply to Folders if you make any changes here).
2. copy the boot folder from the system partition somewhere safe where you
can retrieve it later
3. install your clean copy of XP
4. while XP is running, copy the saved boot folder back to the root of the
system partition
5. put the Vista installation DVD into the DVD drive
6. ignore the (auto run) window that opens
7. open a Command Prompt window (e.g. Start, All Programs, Accessories,
Command Prompt)
8. in the following, use the drive letter for your CD/DVD reader - I've
assumed it is d: - key the commands:
d:
cd d:\boot
bootsect /nt60 SYS

This should restore the Vista boot manager and allow you to boot either the
newly installed XP or the previously installed Vista.

If you actually destroy the "BCD database" (e.g. by formatting the system
partition without saving the boot folder), you can re-create it, but that's
messy and complicated - you don't want to go there!

--
Bruce Sanderson
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

 

[KDE]

just install Easy BCD or Vista Boot Pro, both are free and simple point and
click boot managers.

 

[DJ_Jones]

When you installedVista, the boot manager installed previously byXPwas
replaced with the one that comes withVista.  This does not use the boot..ini
file in the root of the "system" partition, but instead uses the the "BCD
database" in the folder named "boot" in the root of the system partition.
Well, actually, if you select "Earlier version of Windows" from theVista
boot manager menu, the content of boot.ini will be used to list the
installations of "older" versions of Windows, if there is more than one (if
there is only one entry in the boot.ini, the list of older (e.g.XP)
installations won't display - the single entry will be used and it will be
booted).

If you do a new install of any Windows version prior toVista, the boot
manager forVistawill be replaced with the boot manger from that version of
Windows (e.g. WindowsXP).  This will mean that you can no longer "boot toVista".

However, there's a way to preserve, then restore theVistaboot manager.

First, you need to know which partition is your "system" partition -
Computer Management, Disk Management will tell you this.

Usually, when one installsXP, it installs in the first partition on the
first disk and that partition will be the "system partition".  If this is
the case and you intend to format this partition to do your new, clean
install ofXP, and you still want to be able to boot intoVistaafterwards,
you need to save the content of the "boot" folder currently in the system
partition somewhere else.  If you have a third (e.g. data) partition, that
would be a good place to copy the boot folder to.  Failing that, createa
folder in theVistapartition, but not directly under the root.  Or you
could copy it to a USB drive (stick).

If you are going to installXPin a partition that is not the "system
partition" you can skip the saving and restoring of the boot folder.

After you've installedXP, you can restore theVistaboot manager - here's
the steps:

1. Make sure that in Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, View, you have no
check mark in "Hide protected operating system  files (Recommended)" and
that the "Show hidden files and folders" radio button is selected (click
Apply to Folders if you make any changes here).
2. copy the boot folder from the system partition somewhere safe where you
can retrieve it later
3. install your clean copy ofXP
4. whileXPis running, copy the saved boot folder back to the root of the
system partition
5. put theVistainstallation DVD into the DVD drive
6. ignore the (auto run) window that opens
7. open a Command Prompt window (e.g. Start, All Programs, Accessories,
Command Prompt)
8. in the following, use the drive letter for your CD/DVD reader - I've
assumed it is d: - key the commands:
      d:
      cd d:\boot
      bootsect /nt60 SYS

This should restore theVistaboot manager and allow you to boot either the
newly installedXPor the previously installedVista.

If you actually destroy the "BCD database" (e.g. by formatting the system
partition without saving the boot folder), you can re-create it, but that's
messy and complicated - you don't want to go there!

--
Bruce Sandersonhttp://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.







- Show quoted text -

I have tied that, i.e. installed a fresh copy of xp, copy back the
boot folder and use the vista dvd. After rebooting I am getting -
"Disk read error occured" press ctrl+Alt+Del to boot...

I am quite lost here

 

[Bruce Sanderson]

Do you get the error before the boot menu appears, or after you select to
boot to Vista? Can you boot into XP?

Did you save and copy back everything in the boot folder and all its
sub-folders?

Have you tried using the command:

bootsect /nt60 ALL

To help further, it would be useful to know exactly what the disk drive and
partition structure is, please state what physical drives you have, how many
partitions are on each physical drive, how big each partition is, whether it
is marked "Active" or not and which partition on which drive you installed
XP and Vista into.

You might see if either of the tools mentioned by KDE help. Easy BCD is
available at http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1. Vista Boot Pro is available
at http://www.vistabootpro.org/.
--
Bruce Sanderson
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.

When you installedVista, the boot manager installed previously byXPwas
replaced with the one that comes withVista. This does not use the boot.ini
file in the root of the "system" partition, but instead uses the the "BCD
database" in the folder named "boot" in the root of the system partition.
Well, actually, if you select "Earlier version of Windows" from theVista
boot manager menu, the content of boot.ini will be used to list the
installations of "older" versions of Windows, if there is more than one
(if
there is only one entry in the boot.ini, the list of older (e.g.XP)
installations won't display - the single entry will be used and it will be
booted).

If you do a new install of any Windows version prior toVista, the boot
manager forVistawill be replaced with the boot manger from that version of
Windows (e.g. WindowsXP). This will mean that you can no longer "boot
toVista".

However, there's a way to preserve, then restore theVistaboot manager.

First, you need to know which partition is your "system" partition -
Computer Management, Disk Management will tell you this.

Usually, when one installsXP, it installs in the first partition on the
first disk and that partition will be the "system partition". If this is
the case and you intend to format this partition to do your new, clean
install ofXP, and you still want to be able to boot intoVistaafterwards,
you need to save the content of the "boot" folder currently in the system
partition somewhere else. If you have a third (e.g. data) partition, that
would be a good place to copy the boot folder to. Failing that, create a
folder in theVistapartition, but not directly under the root. Or you
could copy it to a USB drive (stick).

If you are going to installXPin a partition that is not the "system
partition" you can skip the saving and restoring of the boot folder.

After you've installedXP, you can restore theVistaboot manager - here's
the steps:

1. Make sure that in Explorer, Tools, Folder Options, View, you have no
check mark in "Hide protected operating system files (Recommended)" and
that the "Show hidden files and folders" radio button is selected (click
Apply to Folders if you make any changes here).
2. copy the boot folder from the system partition somewhere safe where you
can retrieve it later
3. install your clean copy ofXP
4. whileXPis running, copy the saved boot folder back to the root of the
system partition
5. put theVistainstallation DVD into the DVD drive
6. ignore the (auto run) window that opens
7. open a Command Prompt window (e.g. Start, All Programs, Accessories,
Command Prompt)
8. in the following, use the drive letter for your CD/DVD reader - I've
assumed it is d: - key the commands:
d:
cd d:\boot
bootsect /nt60 SYS

This should restore theVistaboot manager and allow you to boot either the
newly installedXPor the previously installedVista.

If you actually destroy the "BCD database" (e.g. by formatting the system
partition without saving the boot folder), you can re-create it, but
that's
messy and complicated - you don't want to go there!

--
Bruce Sandersonhttp://members.shaw.ca/bsanders

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.







- Show quoted text -

I have tied that, i.e. installed a fresh copy of xp, copy back the
boot folder and use the vista dvd. After rebooting I am getting -
"Disk read error occured" press ctrl+Alt+Del to boot...

I am quite lost here