Messed up my dual boot Windows 7/XP

I'm not sure whether the problem was caused by me cancelling a drive clone just as it started or whether it was because i ran Spotmau BootSuite (didn't need it, was curious) --- ironically now i need help to actually fix my boot

I have Windows XP and Windows 7 as dual boot, never had any problems but today i tried to clone the windows XP partition onto an SSD to see how fast it would be (again, just playing around i know Xp isn't great for SSDs), just as the clone started i tried to cancel the clone, but it wouldn't stop so i powered down the PC, in hindsight very dumb as now i messed up my dual boot.

I ran Windows 7 repair and bootrec boot/mbr/rebuild commands, but no luck. Windows 7 starts up fine, but now i can't boot into Windows XP from dual boot. I originally had it set up in a way so that first i'd get the option at boot whether i wanted to load Windows 7 or an "earlier version", default was "earlier version" which would load the second boot screen with Windows XP option there and then Windows XP would load fine. Now I keep getting errors if i try to load Windows XP, including the new listing of Windows XP which shows up as "recovered).

Any idea how i can repair it in such a way that Windows XP loads? Specifically via that "Earlier version of Windows". And still have my dual boot option so that i can load Windows 7 from the options too?

Might be worth to note that my Windows XP folder is called "Windows2", had to change it to that many years ago after some problems.

Here's what everything looks like now...i'm really regretting not keeping a backup version from EasyBCD:





This is the messy menu i have now, previously it didn't have the "recovered" options.



This is what i get if i go through "Earlier version of Windows", btw, ntldr is not really missing, it's still on the XP partition:



This is what i get if i select Windows XP (Recovered):

It's added the clone to the Boot Menu apparently.

First unplug the clone.

Then in EasyBCD on Edit tab delete both XP listings, Add back in the XP on the HD, it should autocomplete possibly prompting for boot files, Save, Reboot.

Post back Easy screenshot if it doesn't help. I don't see how XP could have been damaged and it should just add again as normal unless the MBR is now corrupted.

Unfortunately i can't Add it back for some reason, keep getting this error (even manually selecting the drive):





The main window looks like this now:

Then you can try repairing the boot with XP CD by booting into the repair function on the first screen choosing R then run the commands given here until it starts: How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

Or even run an XP Repair Install so that it starts.

Then Mark Win7 Partition Active and run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times to restart Win7, add XP using EasyBCD.

Have you tried virtualizing XP in Win7 which is much easier than struggling with a dead OS unless you like doing the repairs?

Good news, i fixed it, yay! Only took 4 hours lol

I came across this thread: EasyBCD does't recognize XP and it turns out my Windows XP folder being named "Windows2" was causing the problem in EasyBCD where it couldn't find the Windows XP installation. Changed the folder name to the standard "Windows", Added in EasyBCD (it found it immediately this time), then changed it back to "Windows2" and starts up fine now. Also did a chkdsk scan before doing all that as i did shut the PC down midway during a clone attempt.

Thanks for the help, seems to be working fine now...at least i think

Here's what it looks like now:

Why are you changing the XP Windows folder name? I've never heard of a reason to do this.

gregrocker said:

Why are you changing the XP Windows folder name? I've never heard of a reason to do this.

I know, it's pretty weird, i don't even remember to be honest, over 7 years ago i did that, never caused an issue apart from the EasyBCD one. I did it during installation, not after install.