Windows 7 and XP install --> only XP boots

rmw82 said:

I tried to install windows 7 64bit with my XP to create a dual boot situation. However, my system will just go straight to XP without giving me an OS option. If I boot from the 7 DVD, windows 7 will boot, but that is it.

Actually after I went to XP and tried to boot from the DVD, it first went back to the 7 installation, but I chose the repair option, which put me into windows 7. Once I removed the boot from DVD option in the Bios, it went back to XP.

Any ideas?

can you please give more very specific details on this.
I tried to install windows 7 64bit with my XP to create a dual boot situation.

I'm sure you do not mean what I think you mean. = YOU CAN NOT INSTALL XP AND WIN7 to gether on the same partition.

+1 When you want help, give any and all info possible, and try to be clear, so as not to confuse people.

Win 7 is very easy to install, but there are some steps to take before hand that will help you along the way. Like getting drivers/making sure all your hardware has 64bit drivers, in case ur PC is old. Partitioning, or adding a second drive, etc etc. Post everything you can think of, but be brief.

I have a virtually new custom built PC that had windows xp sp3 installed on it. I downloaded the 64 bit windows 7 rc from Microsoft and burned it to a CD. Then I created a partition (NTFS) using a live CD program (I believe) and installed windows 7 on that partition. Both OSs are on the same physical drive.

Things appeared to work fine, except once I went back to my bios to remove the boot from CD option, XP booted without giving me the dual boot option.

Then I redid the boot from CD option and a command comes up to boot from CD press any key. I press the space bar and the windows 7 installation starts again. I repaired and things seemed to work fine in 7. I reboot and 7 starts. I reboot again and change bios to boot from hard drive and XP boots.

It seems that if I boot from the DVD, 7 will start; if I boot from the hard drive, XP starts.

Any ideas?

I used this program to give me my proper boot options, and also to remove the OS option after I removed it. EasyBCD

I used EasyBCD and set it up for 7 to be primary and XP to also appear on the boot menu. This only works, however, if I boot from the CD. If I boot from the hard drive, it just loads XP. If I boot from the CD, I get the boot screen.

Any additional help would be appreciated.

I am having the exact same problem.

ie. 2 HDD's one unused, one main with 2 partitions, one for xp and one for 7RC x64
When the installation disk is in the drive I get a boot screen with the option of windows 7 and windows XP,
When I choose 7 all works well and 7 boots, but when I choose XP the computer reboots and I am presented with the boot screen once again.
If the disc is not in the drive, I boot directly to XP, with no boot screen.
I have tried to use easyBCD 2.0 but this makes no difference.
I have also tried following the guide to setting up via an elevated command prompt and the /bcdedit command.
Repair install had no effect either.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Jayk1188 said:

I am having the exact same problem.

ie. 2 HDD's one unused, one main with 2 partitions, one for xp and one for 7RC x64
When the installation disk is in the drive I get a boot screen with the option of windows 7 and windows XP,
When I choose 7 all works well and 7 boots, but when I choose XP the computer reboots and I am presented with the boot screen once again.
If the disc is not in the drive, I boot directly to XP, with no boot screen.
I have tried to use easyBCD 2.0 but this makes no difference.
I have also tried following the guide to setting up via an elevated command prompt and the /bcdedit command.
Repair install had no effect either.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Can you explain exactly how did you install. You should not need the DISK in drive to boot at all.
EasyBCD is easy enough to use, I prefer --> orb --> type msconfig -->
move to boot... should see this: or very similar:

The Cool Guy said:

Hey guys, Installing XP after Vista or 7, doesn not give you the option to boot into & or Vista. Here is how-
Install Windows XP in Dual Boot with Pre-Installed Windows 7

Actually this does not apply to the original question.
He had XP installed and is having problems with Win7.

The Normal method in every case is Original OS=XP , second OS would be the Dual boot to Vista. Where as the 2nd Installed OS - Vista or Win7 then becomes the "Default", you simply open msconfig and click XP to make it the default boot. You can then set the time delay to boot what ever you want. The 30s timer is default. so if you want to Clean install Win7 again different version. Boot into XP, delete the entry for Win7 - save and close. Format partition with Win7 - insert DVD and Clean install, or when you insert the DVD and chose Clean install where as the DVD will format for you..