Restoring Vista boot

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dustin Harper
  • Start date Start date
D

Dustin Harper

When you boot from the Vista CD, it will have a "Startup Repair" option.
That will repair your boot sector, and give you the ability to boot to XP as
well.
 
Hello Jack--

I'm betting you have a very viable alternative to installing Win XP on C:\
from scratch. You did not tell us why you think you need to reinstall it,
but let's assume it's systemically trashed or has something you deem is
keeping you from using it properly--it could even be one component that
irritates you--I am only guessing because you didn't specify why.

However, I suggest that before you resort to formatting and reinstalling XP
you get your XP back to normal by doing
a repair install. We're talking a few minutes to set it up and then 32
minutes of the XP setup. That way you don't lose anything. The requirement
for this is an XP CD, which you must have if you were planning to format
and reinstall it.

If that doesn't work, and you format and reinstall XP, then if the dual boot
hasn't survived you can try putting in the Vista DVD and using either
Startup Repair from the Recovery link as Dustin suggests, or another
alternative if that doesn't work is to try a system restore from the same
link.

Repair Install XP
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341 (Method 2 Booting from the XP CD)

You could also try F8 advanced options (4 Safe Modes--->system restore) and
LKG for Vista if nothing else worked first.

CH
 
We did not know you do not have a Vista DVD. If you have an XP CD, all the
more compelling reason to try to do a repair install using the links and
simple steps I put up for you.

Then tackle the problem of whether Vista boots using the F8 options, and you
also might get help from this:L

Vista Boot Pro
http://www.vistabootpro.org/

I don't understand what you mean here. Could you be clearer? When you
start what from the Win XP desktop? What do you mean by that? You mean
Virtual DVD?

Again do a repair install of XP and that may make your problem moot.

Good luck,

CH
 
Hello,
I have dual boot system with WinXP installed on drive C and Vista
installed on drive D.
I am forced to reinstall my Windows XP from scratch.
I am sure that after reinstalling WinXP I will loose the abilty to boot to
Vista.
Can I restore that boot somehow or I will have to reinstall Vista again?
Is it something I can preserve from drive C to restore that boot?
Your comments please,
Jack
 
VistaBootPro requires the .net 2.0 framework to run in WinXP.
Others have followed those instructions and succeeded.
 
I do not have Vista CD.
I have RC2 ISO file and I installed it using virtual DVD.
Will it work you way when I start that from within WinXP environment?
Jack
 
I have to reinstall my WinXP from scratch not to repair it.
The question remains:
Can I use that Vista boot repair utility from within WinXP environment just
by starting Vista install program from within it?
Jack
 
Just copy out one executable file from Vista install DVD - bootsect.exe.
Save it somewhere, for example on D:\. After you installed XP run this
command from XP command line: d:\bootsect /nt60 c: /force. It will
restore correct Vista bootsector and at the next restart you will see
your previous Vista's bootmenu.

P.S. If on C: drive you have a hidden \Boot catalog, then copy it out
before formatting C: and restore it thereafter.
 
Michal Kawecki said:
Just copy out one executable file from Vista install DVD -
bootsect.exe. Save it somewhere, for example on D:\. After you
installed XP run this command from XP command line: d:\bootsect /nt60
c: /force. It will restore correct Vista bootsector and at the next
restart you will see your previous Vista's bootmenu.

P.S. If on C: drive you have a hidden \Boot catalog, then copy it out
before formatting C: and restore it thereafter.
Click to expand...


You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr. Sorry.
 
Thanks Michal.
That is the solution I was looking for!
Dzieki,
Jacek

Michal Kawecki said:
Just copy out one executable file from Vista install DVD - bootsect.exe.
Save it somewhere, for example on D:\. After you installed XP run this
command from XP command line: d:\bootsect /nt60 c: /force. It will restore
correct Vista bootsector and at the next restart you will see your
previous Vista's bootmenu.

P.S. If on C: drive you have a hidden \Boot catalog, then copy it out
before formatting C: and restore it thereafter.
--
Michal Kawecki [Windows - Shell/User MVP]
Warsaw, PL

Jack said:
I do not have Vista CD.
I have RC2 ISO file and I installed it using virtual DVD.
Will it work you way when I start that from within WinXP environment?
Jack
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Ok, so let me get this straight. I have Server 2003 x64 on installed on my C
drive. I have Vista x86 installed on my D drive. From time to time I need to
install for example different versions of Server 2003, x86, x64, or other
Server OS's.

If I understand you correctly, all I need to do IF I install Server 2003 x86
on my C drive, if I have "bootmgr and bootsect.exe" copied from the Vista DVD
to the root of my Vista install, which is on "D", and run this command
"d:\bootsect /nt60 c: /force", I will get my Vista Dual Boot screen back and
be able to boot back into Vista or earlier operating systems?
TIA
 
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