Windows 7: Dual booting Win7 & WinXP

Hello, I had windows XP installed for my main OS. I have 2 HDs on my computer, I use one per OS. I installed Windows 7 on the other HD, now making Windows 7 my default OS to load. I do not have the option to get into XP anymore. I know Windows 7 doesn't use boot.ini anymore, so I was hoping someone could help me out and point me in the right direction.



Thanks,
Rutger

Hi Rutger, welcome to sevenforums.

You can use EasyBCD as in this tutorial to add the XP boot entry back.

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

Hello, and thank you very much for replying so quick. I really like that guide and thank you for that. But what I get from reading everything on there is how to do it from scratch.

What if I have already installed both on two seperate HDs? I know Win 7 doesn't use boot.ini, what does it use? Can I just reconfigure it in windows 7 to add the XP partition?

Thanks

It's called BCD. Boot Configuration Data. It's stored within the boot folder of the system partition.

Yes I think everything you need is in the guide that Airbot posted, if you only look through it. You don't need to follow the part about installing Windows.

Try the steps from method 2-step 8 and below, from the tutorial within 7.

Hey, that is a step closer! But I get an error when using EasyBCD. When I add the XP entry it gives me the error saying:

I have changed the drive letter to where Windows 7 is installed on and to the XP, I tried it twice and restarted. Nothing happens, tells me to put the installtion cd in.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

does your computer have ntldr anywhere? It should be on the system partition as a hidden file.

If you don't have ntldr on your hard drive I don't think you'll be able to boot XP.

ntldr can be copied off of the Windows XP installation media if needed.

in particular you will need these three files to boot XP

ntdetect.com
ntldr
boot.ini

they need to exist on the system partition. Copy those files to the system partition and then fire up EasyBCD. Then maybe it will detect it.

Here is what I am doing.

Using Windows 7 right now. Am not able to get into my XP partition which is located on a different HD. I used EasyBCD to add windows XP entry to the boot. It did that but now says NTLDR is missing. I have selected the drive which xp is installed on and still gives me that error. I know for sure XP is installed on that drive and verified it. I know there is the boot.ini because I just looked at it.

I know those files are needed inorder for XP to boot but how come it is not recognizing them?

Thanks

probably because they're not on the system partition