XP/VISTA Dual Boot Question

[superboy]

I have been dual booting XP PRO for some time, with my main operating
system on drive 1 (Primary Master) and my gaming system on drive 2
(Primary Slave). I control which system to boot up by the simple
modification of boot.ini thus:

[boot loader]
timeout=10
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 DISK 1" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional DISK 2"=optin /fastdetect

And it has worked flawlessly.

Now I have bought VISTA Ultimate, removed my two XP drives, and have a
beginning VISTA system up and running on a separate drive1 by itself
(Primary Master). My plan now is to do a similar dual boot scenario,
mixing my XP gaming drive as drive 1 with my new VISTA drive as drive
2. I figured I had to choose this order because I discovered that
VISTA has no boot.ini file (?or does it?), and so will have to choose
system selection from the XP drive's boot.ini file.

When I tried it, booting from the XP drive worked fine. However, when
I tried to boot from the VISTA drive, the bootup hung with a blank,
black screen.

So I figure I can't do what I am trying to do.

How about it?

Thanks

-SUPERBOY

 

[superboy]

You should have left the XP drive you wanted to keep in the system when you
installed Vista. Vista would have detected XP and added it to the Vista
boot menu automatically.

I agree, now. But I did not know that, and now I have to two OS's
created separately - Vista on C drive and XP on E drive.
As was pointed out, changing the BIOS to select the desired boot drive
should work, and in fact it does. I can do that. Both drives do boot
just fine.

However, at this point you can either use your BIOS to select your boot
drive (this is what I do), or you can install VistaBootPro or EasyBCD.
Both are free utilites that you install in Vista that allow you to
add/remove/edit boot entries for other OSes. I have used both of these
utils, and each has advantages over the other, depending on what OSes you
want to boot. Both allow easy addition of Windows OSes, but EasyBCD is
easier to use if you want to boot Linux or OS X.

I do want to try to make either VISTABOOTPRO or EASYBCD work, if only
to learn how to do it that way. I downloaded VISTABOOTPRO v3.3 and
EASYBCD v1.7.1. I tried each one separately, and can get NEITHER to
work. So I must be doing something wrong.

With EASYBCD, my first screen shows:
There is one entry in the Vista Bootloader.
Bootloader Timeout: 5 seconds.
Default OS: Windows Vista

Entry #1

Name: Windows Vista
BCD ID: {current}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows

I chose 'Add/Remove entries'm thinking to add XP. Under 'Windows'
tab, I selected 'Type' and chose 'Windows NT,2k, XP,2k3'. I changed
the 'Name' from 'Microsoft Windows' to simple 'XP'. For some reason,
'Drive' is gray'ed out. So I can't choose 'E' like I think I should.
Leaving it gray'ed 'C', I clicked on 'Add Entry' - nothing happened,
but when I select 'View Settings' I now get:

There are a total of 2 entries listed in the Vista Bootloader.
Bootloader Timeout: 5 seconds.
Default OS: Windows Vista

Entry #1

Name: Windows Vista
BCD ID: {current}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows

Entry #2

Name: xp
BCD ID: {7a912b63-f69c-11dc-af7a-bb11938bc00f}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \NTLDR

I don't think Entry #2 is right. It should say E:\ I would think.
Anyway, at next boot, I can still choose to boot to Vista, but booting
to XP blanks the screen and does nothing.

So, what am I missing please? VISTABOOTPRO performs just about the
same for me.

Thanks for your time.
-SUPERBOY

 

[superboy]

Now, instead of the back screen when I select SP in the boot, I get an
error message, saying that /NTLDR is missing or corrupt.
I quickly add this in case it is important to my problem
Thanks

You should have left the XP drive you wanted to keep in the system when you
installed Vista. Vista would have detected XP and added it to the Vista
boot menu automatically.

I agree, now. But I did not know that, and now I have to two OS's
created separately - Vista on C drive and XP on E drive.
As was pointed out, changing the BIOS to select the desired boot drive
should work, and in fact it does. I can do that. Both drives do boot
just fine.

However, at this point you can either use your BIOS to select your boot
drive (this is what I do), or you can install VistaBootPro or EasyBCD.
Both are free utilites that you install in Vista that allow you to
add/remove/edit boot entries for other OSes. I have used both of these
utils, and each has advantages over the other, depending on what OSes you
want to boot. Both allow easy addition of Windows OSes, but EasyBCD is
easier to use if you want to boot Linux or OS X.

I do want to try to make either VISTABOOTPRO or EASYBCD work, if only
to learn how to do it that way. I downloaded VISTABOOTPRO v3.3 and
EASYBCD v1.7.1. I tried each one separately, and can get NEITHER to
work. So I must be doing something wrong.

With EASYBCD, my first screen shows:
There is one entry in the Vista Bootloader.
Bootloader Timeout: 5 seconds.
Default OS: Windows Vista

Entry #1

Name: Windows Vista
BCD ID: {current}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows

I chose 'Add/Remove entries'm thinking to add XP. Under 'Windows'
tab, I selected 'Type' and chose 'Windows NT,2k, XP,2k3'. I changed
the 'Name' from 'Microsoft Windows' to simple 'XP'. For some reason,
'Drive' is gray'ed out. So I can't choose 'E' like I think I should.
Leaving it gray'ed 'C', I clicked on 'Add Entry' - nothing happened,
but when I select 'View Settings' I now get:

There are a total of 2 entries listed in the Vista Bootloader.
Bootloader Timeout: 5 seconds.
Default OS: Windows Vista

Entry #1

Name: Windows Vista
BCD ID: {current}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows

Entry #2

Name: xp
BCD ID: {7a912b63-f69c-11dc-af7a-bb11938bc00f}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \NTLDR

I don't think Entry #2 is right. It should say E:\ I would think.
Anyway, at next boot, I can still choose to boot to Vista, but booting
to XP blanks the screen and does nothing.

So, what am I missing please? VISTABOOTPRO performs just about the
same for me.

Thanks for your time.
-SUPERBOY

 

[andy]

I agree, now. But I did not know that, and now I have to two OS's
created separately - Vista on C drive and XP on E drive.
As was pointed out, changing the BIOS to select the desired boot drive
should work, and in fact it does. I can do that. Both drives do boot
just fine.


I do want to try to make either VISTABOOTPRO or EASYBCD work, if only
to learn how to do it that way. I downloaded VISTABOOTPRO v3.3 and
EASYBCD v1.7.1. I tried each one separately, and can get NEITHER to
work. So I must be doing something wrong.

With EASYBCD, my first screen shows:
There is one entry in the Vista Bootloader.
Bootloader Timeout: 5 seconds.
Default OS: Windows Vista

Entry #1

Name: Windows Vista
BCD ID: {current}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows

I chose 'Add/Remove entries'm thinking to add XP. Under 'Windows'
tab, I selected 'Type' and chose 'Windows NT,2k, XP,2k3'. I changed
the 'Name' from 'Microsoft Windows' to simple 'XP'. For some reason,
'Drive' is gray'ed out. So I can't choose 'E' like I think I should.
Leaving it gray'ed 'C', I clicked on 'Add Entry' - nothing happened,
but when I select 'View Settings' I now get:

There are a total of 2 entries listed in the Vista Bootloader.
Bootloader Timeout: 5 seconds.
Default OS: Windows Vista

Entry #1

Name: Windows Vista
BCD ID: {current}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows

Entry #2

Name: xp
BCD ID: {7a912b63-f69c-11dc-af7a-bb11938bc00f}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \NTLDR

I don't think Entry #2 is right. It should say E:\ I would think.
Anyway, at next boot, I can still choose to boot to Vista, but booting
to XP blanks the screen and does nothing.

So, what am I missing please? VISTABOOTPRO performs just about the
same for me.

If the C:\ in BCD cannot be changed to E:\,
copy hidden files ntldr, ntdetect.com, and boot.ini from the Windows
XP drive to C:\.
Edit boot.ini, changing rdisk(0) to rdisk(1).

 

[superboy]

If the C:\ in BCD cannot be changed to E:\,
copy hidden files ntldr, ntdetect.com, and boot.ini from the Windows
XP drive to C:\.
Edit boot.ini, changing rdisk(0) to rdisk(1).

I did all that - VISTA still boots up fine. When I select XP in the
boot up choices, now I immediately get an error message:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or is
corrupt

<windows root>\system32\hal.dll

Now what????

Thanks

-SUPERBOY

 

[John Barnes]

You only want the one entry in your boot.ini that relates to the XP drive
you have currently installed.

 

[superboy]

You only want the one entry in your boot.ini that relates to the XP drive
you have currently installed.

Well...this is what I have now:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
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

Thanks

-SUPERBOY

Should I copy the hal.dll file from XP's system32 folder to system32
in VISTA's system32 folder? Vista already has a hal.dll file and I am
afraid to alter it.

-SUPERBOY

 

[John Barnes]

Don't do anything with your hal file. Just play around with the rdisk
number. Since I'm not sure how you are set up, you could try rdisk 0 and 1
and 2 . You could either change it each time or make a triple entry. One
for each, then you would only have to go back thru POST to try each of the
entries. Not finding hal means that the system has found a boot partition
pointing to the windows os, but can't find the two start programs. ntoskrnl
and hal on the partition being pointed to.

You only want the one entry in your boot.ini that relates to the XP drive
you have currently installed.

Well...this is what I have now:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
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

Thanks

-SUPERBOY

Should I copy the hal.dll file from XP's system32 folder to system32
in VISTA's system32 folder? Vista already has a hal.dll file and I am
afraid to alter it.

-SUPERBOY

 

[Wilwil]

Hi, sorry to budge in during the conversations. I am in same situation as
superboy. I am planning to get a 2nd HD and install WinXP on it. Hopefully
will get the dual boot effects.

I have read the all the post in here, and this thread is the closest to
mine. Since the online mmorpg game that I play all this while, isn't stable
in Vista system, so I am planning for dual boot system.

I had a OEM vista home premium came with my Dell XPS systems. Everything
work great, and eventually, i learn to adapt to this new OS, Vista is cool
and I love it. But somehow, my online game crashed very often with this Vista
(getting worse after SP1 update!!!)

I understand that Dual boot should work fine with a 2nd HD with XP OS. My
intention is to boot Vista as default, and ONLY XP when I wanted to play this
online game.

Please advise me what to do??
My plan is, take out my Vista HD, plug in 2nd HD, then install XP in it.

After that plug both HD in. From BIOS, I select to BOOT HD (w/ VISTA) first.
Then, I should always get to boot VISTA first right?

By doing this, do I get the selection of booting with either OS during BOOT
UP?

I had experience that with i had 2 OS, during boot up, selection with popped
out in black screen and I get to choose either OS to boot.

Can someone pls advice me what't better for me to do?

 

[John Barnes]

Inline

Please advise me what to do??
My plan is, take out my Vista HD, plug in 2nd HD, then install XP in it.
After that plug both HD in. From BIOS, I select to BOOT HD (w/ VISTA)
first.
Fine

Then, I should always get to boot VISTA first right?

Double check to make sure. After you switch drives, some BIOS make the
change permanent unless you change it back manually.

By doing this, do I get the selection of booting with either OS during
BOOT
UP?

No. Vista boot will not have the XP drive in the boot menu

I had experience that with i had 2 OS, during boot up, selection with
popped
out in black screen and I get to choose either OS to boot.

Since you only have a restore disk for Vista, you will need either EasyBCD
or VistaBootPro to add your legacy drive to the Boot Menu of Vista.
Experiment with the drive letters until you find the one that works, as we
don't know your setup. Good luck.

 

[superboy]

Don't do anything with your hal file. Just play around with the rdisk
number. Since I'm not sure how you are set up, you could try rdisk 0 and 1
and 2 . You could either change it each time or make a triple entry. One
for each, then you would only have to go back thru POST to try each of the
entries. Not finding hal means that the system has found a boot partition
pointing to the windows os, but can't find the two start programs. ntoskrnl
and hal on the partition being pointed to.

Thanks for your suggestion. Wouldn't have done it without you. I got
things to work with my boot.ini (duplicated in both disks) looking
thus:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="VISTA" /fastdetect
/NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="XP" /fastdetect
/NoExecute=OptIn


-SUPERBOY

 

[John Barnes]

Now you can delete the one you don't need and you will boot directly into XP
from the legacy entry without the boot.ini entry. Thanks for posting back.

Don't do anything with your hal file. Just play around with the rdisk
number. Since I'm not sure how you are set up, you could try rdisk 0 and
1
and 2 . You could either change it each time or make a triple entry. One
for each, then you would only have to go back thru POST to try each of the
entries. Not finding hal means that the system has found a boot partition
pointing to the windows os, but can't find the two start programs.
ntoskrnl
and hal on the partition being pointed to.

Thanks for your suggestion. Wouldn't have done it without you. I got
things to work with my boot.ini (duplicated in both disks) looking
thus:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="VISTA" /fastdetect
/NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="XP" /fastdetect
/NoExecute=OptIn


-SUPERBOY

 

[superboy]

Now you can delete the one you don't need and you will boot directly into XP
from the legacy entry without the boot.ini entry. Thanks for posting back.

Well.....I guess I am not smart enough to understand quite what you
mean. I thought I could simplify things also, but what I found in my
case is:

1) My boot.ini is what I reported earlier and is duplicated on both
drives.
2) I had run EasyBCD earlier and got the result that at boot I would
and still get a selection menu of VISTA and XP.
3) If I select VISTA, the VISTA drive (Primary Slave) boots up
directly.
4) If I select XP, I get a second menu (that looks different because
it comes from the boot.ini) with same two choices.
5) If I select VISTA there, it hangs. If I select XP, the XP drive
(Primary Slave) boots up.
6) If I remove the boot.ini file from the VISTA root, I cannot boot up
VISTA. If I remove the boot.ini file from the XP root, I cannot boot
up XP.

So I leave things as they are, duplicated, with a klutzy boot sequence
that at least works.

I might next investigate how booting XP will affect VISTA recovery if
and when,

Thanks

-SUPERBOY

 

[John Barnes]

You can delete this entry from BOTH boot.ini

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="VISTA" /fastdetect
/NoExecute=OptIn

Also, you will lose the Vista restore points and shadow copies any time you
boot into XP.

 

[superboy]

You can delete this entry from BOTH boot.ini

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="VISTA" /fastdetect
/NoExecute=OptIn

Ur right! Worked fine. No second menu in XP boot. I had to alter
the default spec to point to the line left in the file.

Also, you will lose the Vista restore points and shadow copies any time you
boot into XP.

I thought I read that somewheres.

Thanks again & Happy BunnyDay

-SUPERBOY

 

[John Barnes]

You're welcome. Good luck.

Ur right! Worked fine. No second menu in XP boot. I had to alter
the default spec to point to the line left in the file.


I thought I read that somewheres.

Thanks again & Happy BunnyDay

-SUPERBOY

 

[superboy]

You're welcome. Good luck.

Well - all is not good.
After a period of using this new setup, including dual boots of both
XP and VISTA, now suddenly I cannot boot up VISTA. After I select
VISTA from the initial dual boot menu, my system hangs permanently as
VISTA tries to start up (the progress 'bars' suddenly stop).
I tried the 'restore install' procedure, but that fails because I
guess XP has destroyed VISTA's restore points, and probably other
things as well.

I can boot up the VISTA drive in 'safe mode', but I wouldn't know what
to try to change to fix the problem.

XP still boots up okay so its part of the dual boot still works.

I really don't think the boot hang-up situation has anything to do
with the dual boot additions, but I guess it could.

I have a clone backup, but it is four days old, and precedes all the
work I did for the dual boot. So, I would have to repeat all that
plus what else I added yesterday. Not sure I want to do that.

Any suggestions as to what I might try?
Thanks
-SUPERBOY

 

[John Barnes]

You are past the boot menu process and into the startup routine. If you get
fully into safe mode, but hang on the regular startup, first I would try
last know good. Then think of any changes you made to the machine since it
last worked. Maybe plugged in a USB device, installed a driver, a program,
etc. When you say restore install, what are you talking about? A repair
install, selecting a restore point (yes, they would be gone due to booting
XP). Have you tried low resolution startup? That would indicate that the
video driver is at fault, so you could try installing a new video driver for
your machine in Safe mode.

 

[superboy]

You are past the boot menu process and into the startup routine. If you get
fully into safe mode, but hang on the regular startup, first I would try
last know good. Then think of any changes you made to the machine since it
last worked. Maybe plugged in a USB device, installed a driver, a program,
etc. When you say restore install, what are you talking about?

Oh - I meant repair install (using original installation disk). That
is, choosing 'R'epair after choosing language.

A repair
install, selecting a restore point (yes, they would be gone due to booting
XP). Have you tried low resolution startup?

I don't know what a low resolution startup is, but I'll go look for
that choice. I do know what 'low resolution' means.

 

[superboy]

You are past the boot menu process and into the startup routine. If you get
fully into safe mode, but hang on the regular startup, first I would try
last know good. Then think of any changes you made to the machine since it
last worked. Maybe plugged in a USB device, installed a driver, a program,
etc. When you say restore install, what are you talking about? A repair
install, selecting a restore point (yes, they would be gone due to booting
XP). Have you tried low resolution startup? That would indicate that the
video driver is at fault, so you could try installing a new video driver for
your machine in Safe mode.

WHOA NELLIE! 'Last known good' worked! Thanks.
I even re-booted immediately, and it worked too.
Whew!

BTW - I spotted the low resolution choice you suggested. I didn't
need to try it though.

-SUPERBOY