Windows XP/7 Dual Boot Issue

I installed Windows 7 on a partition without a hitch and the bootloader appeared to be working fine initially, but after trying to boot into XP I ran into some issues:

When trying to boot into XP, i get the error message that the file \ntldr is missing or corrupt. After researching for a little bit, it seems that booting from an XP disc in repair mode should fix the problem.

However, my second problem came up while trying to do that: any XP disc I try to boot from gives me this error: INF file txtsetup.sif is corrupt or missing, status 18. I've tried an SP3 CD as well as SP2 and SP3 from my thumb drive - all with the same error. I've checked each ISO and they all contain txtsetup.sif.

I'm running EasyBCD and I've tried every available combination of drive/operating system. I either end up having to fix 7 through bcdedit in the command prompt or booting 7 fine, but no access to XP no matter what I do.

I read all 13 pages of the dual boot sticky and nothing in there helped me.

Suggestions?

XP has been installed for a while now and I just installed 7 today. They are both on the same HDD, under separate partitions.

If you had simply installed 7 following XP XP would be seen as "previous version of Windows" as well as "XP Home" or "XP Pro" in the boot opions menu once the 7 installation was finished.

That is what I see, but I cannot access XP: I get the ntldr error.

For adding XP into the 7 BCD store the guide is correct in the need to unhide the protected system files and hidden folders in order to copy the XP boot.ini to the root on the 7 primary if both are on separate drives. The "ntldr is missing" error is seen when trying to boot into XP while the boot.ini is either not present on the newer version's root of C or was never edited to point the 7 boot loader to the correct XP primary partition ending up with a failed dual boot.

I can't seem to find the step in the guide that details this. Maybe I'm blind or maybe my eyes are just tired from searching for answers all day. :) Would you mind pointing me in the right direction?

Hi sean,

I assume you had XP installed first - it is on the first partition and you have one HD?

In that case, d/l this zip file, extract the contents onto the root of the ACTIVE partition.

Use Easybcd to remove the previous entries for XP you made, and create another - point it at the ACTIVE partition ( look in Disk Management to find the ACTIVE partition)

xpbootfiles.zip

Hi NH,

I have been playing with Easybcd v2 for a while - works very well.

Not sure why Mahmoud has MBRFIX and the Vista bootsect in the bin folder.

7 bootsect will replace both of them . ( I already did that on my copy of Easybcd v2)

Maybe he hasn't got permission from MS to redistribute that file yet.

I had so many issues when I was trying a tri boot with Win 7, Vista and XP. Here's how I got it to work:

1. Back up all your data on your HDD
2. Use a third party (From DOS) - Hiren's BOOT CD, MiniXp mode is very useful to format the HDD and create the # of partitions you require, slow format them.
3. Install XP on C: (Part1) but when asked leave drive as is (i.e. do not format again)
4. Install 7 on D: (Part2) do not create new partition or format - just install it and it should work.

It's lengthy but I know it worked for me.

Hi king,

That does seem lengthy.

If you have an older version of Windows installed first - 7 will pick that up and add it to bcd automatically during installation.

At least it will if no changes are made to the location of the Active flag.


Hi NH,

Easybcd v2.0 is not adding the locale entry for 7 - you get the rolling green bars.



Only takes a second to add it by hand, though with

bcdedit /set {current} locale en-US

SIW2 said:

Hi sean,

I assume you had XP installed first - it is on the first partition and you have one HD?

In that case, d/l this zip file, extract the contents onto the root of the ACTIVE partition.

Use Easybcd to remove the previous entries for XP you made, and create another - point it at the ACTIVE partition ( look in Disk Management to find the ACTIVE partition)

xpbootfiles.zip

I'm still receiving the same error message after putting those files in my active partition. EasyBCD is pointed at the correct partition, but I see no option to create a boot.ini file like the NeoSmart Wiki suggests. The boot.ini file that I received from you appears to be blank, but it is my understanding that it should look something like this:

Code:

[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="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Windows 7" /fastdetect

I'm going to put that in and give it a try, will update.

EDIT: No luck using that boot.ini, I receive the same error message. I've attached screenshots of my disk management and bcdedit, maybe you can pick out something that I am missing.

king44 said:

I had so many issues when I was trying a tri boot with Win 7, Vista and XP. Here's how I got it to work:

1. Back up all your data on your HDD
2. Use a third party (From DOS) - Hiren's BOOT CD, MiniXp mode is very useful to format the HDD and create the # of partitions you require, slow format them.
3. Install XP on C: (Part1) but when asked leave drive as is (i.e. do not format again)
4. Install 7 on D: (Part2) do not create new partition or format - just install it and it should work.

It's lengthy but I know it worked for me.

Formatting and re-installing is my last option at this point because I don't have any easy way to back up my data right now.