Windows 7: Repair boot manager

What a mess, did a XP install on my 350 GB drive, then win 7 install on my 1TB drive, everything was working fine could boot to either XP or win 7 at boot screen. Then I decided to setup up 0 raid with 2 TB drives for win 7, that worked fine, but have to change boot drives in bios to work correctly. I hosed my bootmgr file in XP, I had to rename it in win 7 so I could get XP to work. How can I restore the boot manager so I don't have to change boot drives in bios to access each version of windows.

2002z06, have you tried to do a repair install with Windows 7 install disc, with both HDs connected? It should recognize the XP install and create a new boot manageer in Windows 7 that would allow you to access XP (will probalby be called "Earlier versions of windows") and Windows 7.

I did a fresh Win 7 install but no luck, I think I have to figure a way to get of the old boomgr files for win 7 in xp first.

It will probably be easier to edit Windows 7's boot manager using BCDEdit (check this tutorial) than messing with boot.ini in XP.

I thought the boot files have to be in XP for a dual boot 7 and XP.

Not necessarily. You can have Windows 7 boot manager manage it, which should be the set up when you install Windows 7 last or do the repair install. That might be something to try since it is not complicated (just follow instructions on the tutorial I listed above) and it should not mess up your data. I say should because it is always a risk when you do this that you might end up with a bigger problem that requires you to wipe your drive off, and then loose your data. Therefore, before you do that I strongly recommend you backup any personal files you have in XP or Windows 7

Let us know if it works or if you need additional help

I did edit bcd in win 7 it reads like this

Windows Legacy OS Loader
--------------------------
Identifier {ntldr}
device partition=D:
path \ntldr
description Windows XP Professional

D is the assinged drive in Win 7, but it is C: in XP, I get the boot screen but cannot boot to XP, system restarts, Windows 7 boots fine, what am I missing.

Install EasyBCD and post back a screenshot of its front panel listings. Use Snipping Tool in Start menu, attach files using paper clip in reply box.

You should be able to add XP if it's missing in the Add/Remove tab by drive letter.

Automated method would be to run a repair install from the Windows 7 desktop (upgrade over itself) as it will reconfigure the boot correctly while reinstalling the OS, yet save the programs, files and settings in place.

Attachment 41050

I am not to happy with bcd, after trying to remove it from XP, it left files I cannot remove.

EasyBCD is one of the most reputable tools around. If it somehow left remnants when uninstalling, then reinstalling it now to give us a screenshot and possibly make repairs will give you another shot at a clean uninstall which we can help you with.

Otherwise can you post a screenshot of your full Disk Management map so we can see what has blocked the Windows 7 installer from correctly configuring a dual boot as it always does?

Use Snipping Tool in Start menu, attach file using paper clip in reply box.