Cannot get Win XP to dual boot with Win 7

Hi guys, I'm doing this tutorial with method 2 (I have Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit installed and I'm trying to install Windows XP Professional SP3 32 bit after) and I've been having a few problems when trying to install XP.

I actually tried this tutorial on two computers, both with Windows 7 on them first, and I've been getting the same error on both computers. So basically, everything I do on the tutorial works fine until Windows finishes installing Windows XP. After XP is installed, when my computer restarts, I get this message:

We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this.

If your computer stopped responding, restarted unexpectedly, or was automatically shut down to protect your files and folders, choose Last Known Good Configuration to revert to the most recent settings that worked.

If a previous startup attempt was interrupted due to a power failure or because the Power or Reset button was pressed, or if you aren't sure what caused the problem, choose Start Windows
Normally.

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked) Start Windows Normally

Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice.

Seconds until Windows starts: 30

The system then gets stuck in a reboot loop. I try all of the options, and the computer just reboots, and I get the same message again and again. Luckily, I was able to boot from my Windows 7 installation CD and used start up repair and I was able to get it to boot into Windows 7 again.

It's funny, because I installed a virtualized version of Windows XP on the same computer (VirtualBox) using the same disk, and it worked fine. Why then, doesn't it work when I want to install a real copy of Windows XP?

In your BIOS, is your SATA mode set to ACHI or IDE?

I'm not sure, how do I check?

tk962 said:

I'm not sure, how do I check?

Fill in your specs System Info - See Your System Specs But common keys to get into your BIOS are F2 F1 F10 F11 F12 and DEL.

OK, I just checked. It says my SATA mode is ACHI.

tk962 said:

OK, I just checked. It says my SATA mode is ACHI.

Try changing it to IDE and try to boot into XP.

I changed it to IDE, and then tried to start XP again and I still got the same error. Switched it back to ACHI for the time being.

Any suggestions guys? I'll give rep for helpful answers.

Hold on a second, I think I might have something.

Where did you get XP? Is the disk clean and unscratched? Did you burn it yourself? Are the AHCI drivers installed? Did you full format the XP partition before install?

Have you unplugged all other HD's during XP install? Is there a separate HD for Win7 and XP? If so unplug the Win7 HD during XP install.

For now, restart Win7 by marking Active it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) or Win7 partition: Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two) then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times .

Then install EasyBCD to attempt to add XP on the Add OS Entry tab: accept boot files, let it autocomplete, reboot to see if there's a Dual Boot Menu.

If not there is something wrong with the XP install itself. Try marking XP partition Active in addition to full formatting it.