Cannot get dual boot: Windows 7 and XP

Kaktussoft · 28 May 2012

mark "system reserved" as active and winxp as inactive. Then reboot with both disks attached. win7 should boot then.

What is drive letter of winpx if booted in win7? I assume F.

In Elevated Command Prompt:

Code:

 
bcdedit  /create  {ntldr}  /d "WindowsXP"
bcdedit  /set  {ntldr}  device  partition=F:
bcdedit  /set  {ntldr}  path  \ntldr
bcdedit  /displayorder  {ntldr}  /addlast

Replace F with actual drive letter.

Try to boot both operating systems. I think winxp still fails. If it does fail .... swap the two ide or sata cables and try again.

Post results

Rev Anton · 28 May 2012

Hi Arc,

No long till I'm in front of the pc now so I will try both methods and post result, but this solution feels posistive.

Thank you very much :)

Rev

Arc · 28 May 2012

You are welcome, Rev. Tet us know what actually happened . :)

EDIT : BTW, have you tried the startup repair using the installation disk or recovery disk ?
Startup Repair

If you follow this method, run startup repair for three separate times, with restarts after every single run, it will add both the startup entries, as your system reserved is already marked as active.

gregrocker · 28 May 2012

The best way to dual boot with separate HD's is via the BIOS. Set the preferred HD to boot first, then when needed boot the other by using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to trigger it.

You've apparently missed that you must use the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to trigger the other HD.

If this is not possible, then install EasyBCD to Win7 to add XP on Add OS Entry tab: accept offered boot files, autocompletes, Save, Reboot. EasyBCD (free Download at bottom of page - no name or email required). Make sure Win7 HD is set first to boot in BIOS setup.

There is a problem in your Disk configuration which may be only because it is viewed from XP. You said you installed each OS with the other HD's unplugged, yet Win7 doesn't not show System Active flags on it's boot partition. Normally it would only be missing the System flag if its boot files were placed on XP partition during 7 install while XP is plugged in. To test this, unplug XP HD and see if Win7 will boot on its own. If not, mark 100mb Active and run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 boot partition correctly shows System Active flags - Boot flag only means it is the OS booted.

XP also only shows System though it should be System Active to boot on its own. You can leave the Active flag off if it is going to be booted via Win7 using Easybcd.

Rev Anton · 28 May 2012

Hi All,

Problem solved.

Thanks to everyone who offered their solutions.

Grabbhed EasyBCD and installed on XP. This did not work so disconnected and reconnected, rebooted twice and loaded Easy BCD and worked like a dream.

Thanks. :))

Arc · 28 May 2012

You are welcome Rev :) Nice to know that it is solved !

PSCO2007 · 30 May 2012

I was trying to bring up the boot options ( last good config etc, as I had on my XP machine using f8)
When I pressed f8, it brought up a boot menu option .
I have a second hdd with xp in my Windows 7 computer - I can now boot from either one.

Arc · 30 May 2012

Your motherboard is Asus ?

Which one was installed first in the dual boot environment ?

First, mark the system reserved partition as active . Partition - Mark as Active

Then run Startup Repair , for at least three times, with restarts in between every single run.

Let us know if it worked or not .

PSCO2007 · 30 May 2012

Arc said:

Your motherboard is Asus ?

Which one was installed first in the dual boot environment ?

First, mark the system reserved partition as active . Partition - Mark as Active

Then run Startup Repair , for at least three times, with restarts in between every single run.

Let us know if it worked or not .

The Motherboard is Asus P8z77-v.
I installed both hdds - xp and windows 7 -hit f8 and it brought up the boot window.
I was then able to boot from either hdd.

gregrocker · 30 May 2012

Are you asking for help or reporting that what was suggested for Rev Anton's Dual Boot in this thread has also worked for you?