Windows 7: Error after installing Win XP on partition

Hi -



I have Windows 7 64 bit installed on my computer but needed to install a program only compatible with 32 bit, so decided to create a new 3GB partition using the in-built feature in Windows 7 and install Windows XP on it.

I booted up XP, formatted the partition again,a nd let it run through the set up, but as soon as it had copied the files and rebooted, I got the error message 'error loading operating system'.

I really don't know how to fix this - I'm not bothered about installing XP, I can do without it, but the main thing is getting back onto Windows 7 as I have all my files there. I didn't bother making a back up as I thought any problems that could occur would be limited to the partition that I installed Win XP on.

I tried the 'start up repair' utility on the Windows 7 boot disk, and although that said it had repaired a problem, I still get the same error. Although one strange thing I've noticed is that it says that Windows 7 is located on '(E:\ ) Local Disk' when it was definitely installed on the D:\ drive - E:\ was the new partition of size 3GB with Win XP installed, but according to this it is 400GB + with Windows 7..

Any advice?

Thank you.

shyamt,

how are you posting in the forum? are you using a different computer?

did you change any BIOS settings? that error typically occurs when the BIOS tries to load the operating system from a device that doesn't have a master boot record.

Yes I posted from another computer, but since then have got Windows 7 running again. After trying various steps I managed to get Win 7 back by using the bootrec.exe via command promp on my Windows 7 DVD. Although the set up files are on the partition I created for XP, I don't think it was installed.

I tried re-installing XP after, but ran into the same problem, and resolved the same way.

I really do want to get XP working.. Any ideas on how to fix this? Do you think it's worth trying again with Vista?

Thanks

are you trying to install Windows XP on the same hard disk as Windows 7?

That is what I always do, and haven't had a problem.

Yes, exactly that...

ok what's probably happening is that Windows XP installation is overwriting the MBR and now your computer cannot boot. I suspect that you are installing Windows XP to a logical partition which means the boot files for XP will need to exist on the Windows 7 partition (because logical partitions cannot be set as bootable).

But I just created the partition through Windows 7's own disk management - I'm sure I did it exactly as described on an online guide?

Do you know how I can get around this?

Perhaps you can attach a screenshot of Disk Management so we can have a look.

Once I know the problem I can probably show you how to get around it.

Okay screenshot is below. It does say logical drive, but I don't think there's any other option?

Yes, delete it and make a primary partition.

By the way, the best guide is on this site:

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP