Windows 7: I could use some help re: Dual boot of XP w/Win7

I hope I'm in the right place...
I've read so many threads but still having a dual-boot problem and sense it's a basic. I am getting the dreaded :"selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt" re:\windows\system32\winload.exe when trying to select the Win 7 entry after loading it into a new partition on the same disc as my existing and long running XP. (the option to select "older windows installation" is there and still works fine for the XP install on drive "C"



Done the repair routine a few times booting off the Win 7 CD; no change.

So with XP on the drive first, and then loading Win 7, is it true the Win 7 boot loader takes over and needs to be tuned with BCDEDIT ?? What I don't understand is BCDEDIT loads onto where ? and points at what to edit ? Many blogs say it doesn't run on XP - is that true ? or do I load/launch it (on XP) and point to the Win 7 partition (labeled F) and it then goes to work there ?

I'm a bit new to the dual-boot thing...any help would be appreciated.
JR

Follow this guide:

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

So with XP on the drive first, and then loading Win 7, is it true the Win 7 boot loader takes over

Correct

and needs to be tuned with BCDEDIT ??

Not necessarily. You can use EasyBCD to "tune" it from within XP.


What I don't understand is BCDEDIT loads onto where ?

bcdedit is a command line utility that runs under Windows 7


and points at what to edit?

It points to the boot files on your first partition.



Many blogs say it doesn't run on XP - is that true ? or do I load/launch it (on XP) and point to the Win 7 partition (labeled F) and it then goes to work there ?

Correct. It wont run under XP but EasyBCD does.

Thanks..what I can't make the connection to, is where the bootloader should "point" to for Windows 7. Selecting XP off the boot menu still works, but can't launch Win 7 (still getting "selected entry could not be loaded because the application is missing or corrupt" re:\windows\system32\winload.exe")

The tutorials don't reveal bootloader location information - here's what I have. :

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

Entry #1

Name: Windows XP
BCD ID: {ntldr}
Drive: C:\
Bootloader Path: \ntldr

Entry #2

Name: Windows 7
BCD ID: {d73a5989-896b-11de-bb20-eac77ac73a8f}
Drive: F:\
Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe
Windows Directory: \Windows

Win 7 is on my logical "F" drive and XP is on the logical "C" drive (same physical)

Sorry for the basic q's -
JR

JR

Hi and welcome to sevenforums.

BCDEdit is (internal in win 7) a boot loader editor. If you change disks, partitions, or install another OS, BCEdit can unify the entries into a single boot menu. Its really not rocket science but I do suggest you read the tutorial here at sF in the tutorial sections.

When you finish installing win 7 there will be a hidden boot folder where the relevant files reside.

I hope this helps and im sure there will be many other more informed replies

Ken

enigma757, everything looks OK to me on what you posted. I don't know why you are getting a corrupt message. Someone with more experience dealing with that error message will have to help you.

Good luck!

Thanks so much 10 , zigzag, sup3rsprt ...I've read and reread tutorials and other posts looking for clues , but miffed as to why Windows 7 returns the message regarding winloader.

I get it that it's all in the "mapping" of O/S to partitions and respective resources accomplished using easyBCD, etc.

One post actually said to boot off the Windows 7 CD and run the REPAIR option 3 times. Is there something to this - I figure it can't hurt, but does it really work and if so why?

Can I post any other information to help diagnose ?

Its just telling you aa needed file is missing or corrupt. That means you are going to have to re-install

Ken