Trying to dual boot Windows 7 and Windows XP

Hi,

Trying to dual boot Windows 7 and Windows XP, when Windows 7 was the first OS installed.

Followed the steps as per the guide. XP wouldn't boot after the first part of setup as had been suggested might happen so I booted the Windows 7 DVD, restored the MBR and BCD and it booted fine into Windows 7 again.

However trying to use EasyBCD to configure it so I can choose either Windows 7 or XP at startup (so I can carry on with the XP setup) and it just won't work.

I go through all of the steps and it appears to put the second entry into the BCD, pointing at S: where I can see ntldr and co are. However when I reboot it goes straight into Windows 7 and when I run EasyBCD the second entry has disappeared. Done this three times so far with the same result each time.

Can anyone tell me why EasyBCD does not seem to be saving the settings I give it?

You need to use EasyBCD 2.0 beta after doing quick registration in their forum to use beta.

It is automated to account for the Win7 System Reserved partition.

You may need to Remove any attempted XP entry first, then Add it back, accept offered boot files, let it autocomplete, Save, Restart.

Hopefully the tutorial wiil be updated as soon as it exits beta.

Are you saying you have never gotten a complete XP install?

Normally during the install, the XP boot loader overwrites the Win 7 one. The install will continue if this is happening normally and you will not be able to boot into Win 7 until you repair the Win 7 boot after the install is complete or run EasyBCD from within XP.

It sounds like you have a System Reserve partition and have added a drive letter to it.

Thanks for the replies.

I gave EasyBCD 2.0 a go and it has worked - thanks. For anyone else having the same problem, I added the entry in EasyBCD 2.0 in a similar way to the instructions in the guide, and with reference to GregRocker's post above - I didn't choose to re-install the bootloader afterwards and it went through fine.

Saltgrass -it was after the first reboot during XP setup that it then refused to boot into anything at all (as the guide suggests might happen). I did have a system reserve partition in Windows 7 but it didn't have a drive letter. Once I had run the various fixes for the mbr and bcd from the windows DVD I was able to boot to Windows 7 fine and then run EasyBCD from there. 1.7.2 didn't work for me though, but 2.0 beta did

Might be an idea to update the guide to tell people to use version 2.0 when running in Windows 7?

Thanks for the replies.

I gave EasyBCD 2.0 a go and it has worked - thanks. For anyone else having the same problem, I added the entry in EasyBCD 2.0 in a similar way to the instructions in the guide, and with reference to GregRocker's post above - I didn't choose to re-install the bootloader afterwards and it went through fine.

Saltgrass -it was after the first reboot during XP setup that it then refused to boot into anything at all (as the guide suggests might happen). I did have a system reserve partition in Windows 7 but it didn't have a drive letter. Once I had run the various fixes for the mbr and bcd from the windows DVD I was able to boot to Windows 7 fine and then run EasyBCD from there. 1.7.2 didn't work for me though, but 2.0 beta did

woffle99 said:

Might be an idea to update the guide to tell people to use version 2.0 when running in Windows 7?

Click to expand...

A good Idea

woffle99 said:

Might be an idea to update the guide to tell people to use version 2.0 when running in Windows 7?

Click to expand...

This request is best directed to our Administrator Brink. His tutorials are the best in the business and well-managed for updates such as this.

I'm guessing we have to wait for EasyBCD 2.0 to come out of beta before it is linked in tutorial, just as we are waiting to be able to upload it for these uses 3-5 times per day here.

Hi greg

Shawn updated some time ago.

Thank you theog for bringing to our attention the Note about EasyBCD 2.0 listed in Method One (When XP is Installed First) of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

Unfortunately, most of those needing to use EasyBCD are using Method Two (When Win7 is Installed First) of the tutorial which still links to and shows screenshots of Easy 1.7.2 with no similar Note:




I haven't PM'd Brink about this because it is beta and NeoSmart does not want the actual file linked yet. SIW2 asked me to link only the forum for beta users to register to use it.

Hi greg

I was being lazy, first REF I got to.

No prob. Hope we're getting closer to it replacing 1.72 as it's needed here every day.

Hey, Neosmartguys, is it soup yet?

We really, really like your app!!!!

Hi greg

Have you tried build 93.

Yep. It's the latest one offered on beta link: http://neosmart.net/forums/showthread.php?t=642

Yes, last in the list.

List of some of fixes.
Fixed corruption issue when dealing with external disks
Allow backup of non-system BCD stores
Allow restore of non-system BCD stores
Fixed crash when copying necessary files for WinPE boot for first time
Fixed duplicate entries in UI after adding WinPE 2.0 or VHD entries
Added option for portable NeoGrub entry
Fixed incorrect default value of unsigned 64-bit driver support
Fixed non-working forced portable VHD entries
Reset BCD and Repair BCD features now work for external entries

So they still busy on it.