Windows 7: I would like to add XP and Vista

I have recently bought a Dell Vostro 3500 notebook, with Windows 7 64 bit installed. I would like to add XP and Vista. I seek advice on what probems may arise, as I think that the Dmbr.ini is probably in the hidden partition.

I also wonder if I will see the three OSs on the screen at boot up, to be able to choose, or to "enter" to boot without delay. This is what shows on my desktop at the end of POST - but this notebook does not show a POST screen.

Would appreciate any help.

Are you able to shrink Windows 7 or otherwise arrange partitioning to fit XP and Vista onto the HD? Post a screenshot up of your Disk Management drive map if you need help or advice.

When you install XP (first) it will take over the bootloader so you'll need to install Net Framework 2.0 and then EasyBCD 2.0 beta (after doing quick forum registration to use beta) to Add Windows 7 back from XP.

It may be necessary to start Windows 7 to Add XP from 7 since EasyBCD works better in 7. To do this mark Windows 7 active in XP Disk Management, boot into Windows 7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD, click through to Recovery Tools list to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to start Windows 7. Now add XP in Easy Add/Remove tab: accepted offered boot files, autocompletes, Save, Restart. System Repair Disc - Create - Windows 7 Forums.URL

Installing Vista last may correctly configure the Multi-boot. If not, install EasyBCD again to Add Xp and Windows 7.

If you need help along the way, post back screenshots of your full Disk Management drive map and listings, and the Easy listings page.

Thanks gregrocker

I have already partitoned the drive, using Partition Wizard. (I can't get the screen shot to copy here, but I have three which I named Windows 7,XP and Vista, with unallocated space to be used for data, and unaltered, the Recovery and the small 39MB partitions).

However I have run into a delay - before installing the first of the OSs I decided to make a full backup using the Dell program that camre with the notebook. This failed, with the error message "Bad values in D:\Dell\DBRM. I have decided to refer this to Dell rather than try to fix it myself, and await their reply.

When this is fixed I will continue with the programme you have set out for me. Thanks again.

Do you repartition the D: drive, as this is the Dell Recovery partition?

No Theog, I did not do anything to the D drive. I only patitioned what was then a ladge C drive.

Sorry for the typo - I meant large not ladge~

The prob with recovery might be related to your repartiioning C; drive. I am not sure how Dell will react to this so consider carefully what you say to them.

If it is possible to get Dell to send you Recov partition disks, then you can go ahead and wipe the partition since it doesn't work anyway. It may very well be blocking your progress, along with any boot/utility partitions.

You might ask them hypothetically how you could multi-boot XP and Vista on there to see how cooperative they might be. If they're not, I'd just ask them to make their Recov partition work correctly, which will prob mean sending you disks.

Dell owners might have more insight in how cooperative they are, and aren't.

Thanks gregrocker. Dell problems resolved. Have now put Vista on a new partition. Then tried XP - got blue screen - windows shutdown message - run chkdsk/F. Did this but of course no change. I tried a different copy of XP. Same result. I remember seeing some time ago that trying to put on XP as a multiboot with later OSs already installed would cause conflict with boot files - XP would overwrite them. Is this what has happened, I wonder?
Perhaps I will have to take a full image backup, in stall XP and then restore the other OSs?

Try this:

SATA Drivers - Load in Windows XP Setup on Dual Boot

Thanks theog - I do not get that far in the process, The blue screen comes at the end of loading the Windows files, and the stage of selecting partition is a step or two ahead.