Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP


  1. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Pro x64
       #950

    Yes sure, thank you very much for your help. I noticed when I use the EasyBCD or VistaBootPro tools, none of them actually added anything to the boot menu.

    When I go into the System Properties/Adavanced and modify my boot file there, I see the menu now BUT it is NOT going into WIN7.
    Please someone tell me how I can edit that string to point to my Win7 again.

    Here is the Boot file:

    [boot loader]
    timeout=15
    default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
    [operating systems]
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP on D:\" /fastdetect
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows 7 on F:\Windows\system32\winload.exe" /fastdetect
    Disk Manager pic is attached.

    Thanks again for helping me out, I am about to pull out my hair...


    myzr7 said:
    Welcome to SevenForums. So you say that you did Method Two of the tutorial and you did instructions 7 - 16 by adding netframework and easy bcd. Then restarted and you had no dual boot screen? Could you post a screen shot of your disk managment so we can see what your partitions look like?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP-disks.png  
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 1,797
    Windows 7 Ulti. x64
       #951

    Have you tried to boot from your win7 disk and do a start up repair?
    Startup Repair
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Pro x64
       #952

    Yes, done that 3 times to no avail. It will only boot into Win Xp now.

    Even tried this:
    How to use the Bootrec.exe tool in the Windows Recovery Environment to troubleshoot and repair startup issues in Windows

    Please tell me you have another way to get me back to my normal life.

    Steve

    myzr7 said:
    Have you tried to boot from your win7 disk and do a start up repair?
    Startup Repair
      My Computer

  4.    #953

    In order to start Win7 you need to first mark it Active, then run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to rewrite the MBR to Win7 partition.
    Partition - Mark as Active
    Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

    Once Win7 starts, install EasyBCD to add XP: accept boot files, autocompletes, save, restart.

    If there are any further problems please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Mgmt drive map with listings using the SNipping TOol in Start Menu. You can go there now in XP to Mark Win7 Active.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Pro x64
       #954

    I am back in Win7 now, here is what I had to do. I still want to be able to boot into XP now. Any ideas how I could without going thru the same nightmare?

    Diskpart can also be used to mark the partition as active from the Windows RE.
    Diskpart
    LIST DISK
    SELECT DISK (followed by the number of the disk . most likely 0)
    LIST PARTITION
    SELECT PARTITION (followed by your partition number. most likely 0)
    ACTIVE
    EXIT
    Windows startup recovery should now work.


    Then I was able to use the Startup Repair.


    Thank you so much for your help.


    myzr7 said:
    Have you tried to boot from your win7 disk and do a start up repair?
    Startup Repair
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Pro x64
       #955

    I just noticed your post, thank you for your help, here are my screen shots:

    I copied the Boot.ini, ntldr and NTDETECT.COM to the D drive thinking that might help.

    When I boot now, I see the XP entry but when I choose it, it just restarts, like a loop.

    What am I missing? The XP OS is on the D drive but the ntldr files were on the G drive.

    Thank you again.

    Steve

    gregrocker said:
    In order to start Win7 you need to first mark it Active, then run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to rewrite the MBR to Win7 partition.
    Partition - Mark as Active
    Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times

    Once Win7 starts, install EasyBCD to add XP: accept boot files, autocompletes, save, restart.

    If there are any further problems please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Mgmt drive map with listings using the SNipping TOol in Start Menu. You can go there now in XP to Mark Win7 Active.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP-disk.png   Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP-easybcd.png  
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2
    XP Pro 32bit, 7 Ultimate 64bit
       #956

    myzr7 said:
    So you say that you did Method Two of the tutorial and you did instructions 7 - 16 by adding netframework and easy bcd. Then restarted and you had no dual boot screen?
    I think there may be some errors in the "When Windows 7 is Installed First" section of the tutorial?

    Where is "Write MBR"?

    Maybe this is correct?

    - run EasyBCD

    - click on the "Bootloader Setup"
    - "[X]Install the Windows Vista/7 bootloader to the MBR"
    - click on the "Write MBR" button.

    - click on the "Add New Entry" button.
    - "Windows" tab > select "Windows NT/2k/XP/2k3"
    - "[X]Automatically detect correct drive"
    - click on the "Add Entry" button

    - close EasyBCD
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Pro x64
       #957

    After looking at that post I played with EasyBcd again from within Win7 and sure enough, NOW it all works.

    Thank you everybody for your help, that was some interesting learning for me.

    Steve
      My Computer

  9.    #958

    It looks like you had the 100mb System Reserved partition which should have been marked Active instead of Win7. It has now been cut out of the picture and can be deleted and recovered into either partition, or we can help you reconstruct it to manage the Dual Boot.

    This is why we should ask to see a screenshot before advising the steps (a dozen+ times a day) to start Win7 up by marking active and Startup Repair x3.

    Glad you got it sorted.

    Rilliz - Are you saying the tutorial lists the Rewrite and Add steps for EasyBCD in the wrong order? Please explain further as I think you are on to something.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 2
    XP Pro 32bit, 7 Ultimate 64bit
       #959

    gregrocker said:
    Are you saying the tutorial lists the Rewrite and Add steps for EasyBCD in the wrong order? Please explain further as I think you are on to something.
    (sorry for my bad english)

    When Windows 7 is Installed First Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

    9.-13. This is correct section of the tutorial.

    - click on the "Add New Entry" button.
    - "Windows" tab > select "Windows NT/2k/XP/2k3"
    - "[X]Automatically detect correct drive"
    - click on the "Add Entry" button

    14. "Save Settings" button is not important, if you don't change nothing ("Edit Boot Menu" page).

    - click on the "Edit Boot Menu" button
    - Click on the "Save Settings" button.

    But where is "Write MBR" (Install the Windows Vista/7 bootloader to the MBR)?
    After you installing Windows XP, you can't boot into the Windows 7 boot menu, if you don't write Windows 7 MBR.

    Installing Windows XP after Windows 7 or Windows Vista Installing XP After Vista - NeoSmart Technologies Wiki

    - click on the "Bootloader Setup"
    - "[X]Install the Windows Vista/7 bootloader to the MBR"
    - click on the "Write MBR" button.

    - click on the "Add New Entry" button.
    - "Windows" tab > select "Windows NT/2k/XP/2k3"
    - "[X]Automatically detect correct drive"
    - click on the "Add Entry" button
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:06.
Find Us