Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

gregrocker · Apr 4, 2011

In EasyBCD 2.02 on Edit Boot Menu tab, delete the XP entry which is showing the wrong drive (C).

Then on Add New Entry tab, add XP by name, type and D drive, accept any offered boot files. Save and restart.

Was the 100mb Win7 System Reserved partition already deleted with boot files recovered into Win7 before you installed XP?

NTCosa · Apr 5, 2011

gregrocker said:
In EasyBCD 2.02 on Edit Boot Menu tab, delete the XP entry which is showing the wrong drive (C).

Then on Add New Entry tab, add XP by name, type and D drive, accept any offered boot files. Save and restart.

Was the 100mb Win7 System Reserved partition already deleted with boot files recovered into Win7 before you installed XP?

When this screenshot was taken (latest try) Windows XP was installed first to partition D. After booted into WinXP, I installed Win7 to partition C. Rebooted and it went straight into Win7 without the boot options. Then I picked up from I think Step 8 of Method 2 per the directions and did exactly as was stated. Rebooted and received error. Tried to repair boot files, etc. Rebooted, still get the error. Then I took the screenshot. Would the 100MB section for Win7 be listed in this case or would it not?

Also, I have tried selecting D for the WinXP entry, but then the bootloader path is \NST\easyldr1 and I get the error easyldr1 is missing or corrupt.

SIW2 · Apr 5, 2011

Are ntldr, ntdetect.com and boot .ini on C and what are the boot.ini entries ?

Serpentz · Apr 8, 2011

This totally saved my butt. Thank you 100 Million times over and Seven Forums....add a "Buy me a beer" button!

abeeftec · Apr 11, 2011

Brink said:
Luciak said:

Here's a riddle (at least for me):

I've installed Windows 7 to be the second system with Windows XP using baarod's method with a little modification using tips from this tutorial.

What I've done is described in this baarod's tutorial.

And the riddle:

Everything is working properly but here is what I see when I am on XP:

And here is what I see when I am on W7:

Why is it like this?

Click to expand...

Hello Luciak,

This is normal. Whatever OS you have started up in will see itself as the C: drive by default, and the other OS with another drive letter.

Shawn

Then please tell me why this NEVER happens no matter which one I load first the 100MB SYSTEM Partition is ALWAYS C!!!! Its driving me crazy because there has to be a way to make that thing go away!!!!
And Sure I knwo there is a tutorial to make that go away. This has me wanting to throw the PC out the window.
In the section.... Starting with XP loaded first you say to boot into the Command Prompt using the Windows 7 disc. HOW?? When you already have XP loaded hitting f8 LOADS THE XP COMMAND PROMPT!! So what does the disc being in the drive have to do with anything?

NotSoYoung · Apr 11, 2011

Brink,

I finally got the hard drive issue sorted.

Did a clean install of XP onto a blank standalone drive in the same system (unplugged all other drives), followed the instructions on the tutorial and loaded EasyBCD. However when I opened EasyBCD all of the fields were greyed out and I couldn't do anything.

Then I reconfigured the cabling such that Windows 7 was the Master and the hard drive with XP as secondary. Installed EasyBCD into the windows 7 partition and started it - the machine didn't offer alternative boots (as expected) but came up as it should have in Windows 7.

At this point your tutorial says follow the steps from point 8. However, points 8/9 assume that you are starting from Windows XP and tell you to add Windows XP which is fine (i couldn't do anything from XP remember)

Then in step 10 the instructions say to add Windows7/Vista to the bootloader. That struck me as wrong since I was already booted in Windows 7 and Windows 7 showed up in the existing operating systems screen. I think the tutorial needs a tweak to tell folk that in step 10, if they are working in windows 7 that they need to add XP to the bootloader not Windows 7. It's common sense but it made me stop and check myself, not everyone will.

Anyway, once I clicked the radio button (dot) for XP and "Write MBR" everything came up perfectly.

Thanks for writing the tutorial, it gave me the confidence to do this. Great job.

Adrian

PS: The tutorial for protecting restore points is good, but relatively unhelpful unless you are able to move massive amounts of files around between partitions (and thereby have sub optimal disk space usage) so that they can be accessed by XP after you shut off the 7/vista drive. That means messing with the already confusing 7/vista directory(folder) tree in order to put all of the documents into the library. That also doesn't resolve the issue of Application data files such as outlooks that are stored in restricted areas of Windows 7 (I know one can move them but what a pain) not being available to say outlook in XP.

The preamble was for this question, is there any way to tell Windows to put the shadow copies anywhere else other than on the same drive. (It strikes me as odd that if I have two physical drives, I cannot direct the system restore points to the alternative drive, so that if one drive dies, I have a valid restore point saved off-line for the dead drive.)

Anyway, thanks again for all of the hard work you do on this site.

Adrian

gregrocker · Apr 11, 2011

abeeftec: You must boot to the Command Prompt of the DVD: System Recovery Options

Are you runnning the Win7 DVD from XP or booting it? This could be why SysReserved is taking C.

Please post back a screenshot of your maxmimized full Disk Mgmt Drive map with listings, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

NotSoYoung: If you unplugged all other HD's during XP install, then you don't need EasyBCD as you can boot directly from the BIOS.

After install, plug back in other OS HD, set preferred one to boot first in BIOS setup, use one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to boot the other.

This is a cleaner method that leaves the HD's independent to come and go as you please, whereas the Windows-managed Dual Boot interlocks them requiring surgery to later remove XP>

abeeftec · Apr 11, 2011

gregrocker said:
abeeftec: You must boot to the Command Prompt of the DVD: System Recovery Options

Are you runnning the Win7 DVD from XP or booting it? This could be why SysReserved is taking C.

Please post back a screenshot of your maxmimized full Disk Mgmt Drive map with listings, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

NotSoYoung: If you unplugged all other HD's during XP install, then you don't need EasyBCD as you can boot directly from the BIOS.

After install, plug back in other OS HD, set preferred one to boot first in BIOS setup, use one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to boot the other.

This is a cleaner method that leaves the HD's independent to come and go as you please, whereas the Windows-managed Dual Boot interlocks them requiring surgery to later remove XP>

Thanks a bunch for answering. This is something I have just never had to do before. Work on Pcs and never booted into the command prompt. I figured it out though last night.

The problem was that I wasnt getting C drive for main drive in either XP or Win7. It was changing it in 7 once XP was installed. So it made the System reserved Drive C. And when you are doing this for someone else you want to make sure when they go to install a program they can just install it as normal.

When the OS drive shows as G programs would have to be redirected to G because they automatically are aimed at C drive.

All i had to do was install XP first and then 7 and it Dual boots fine. I made the Partition as I installed XP and just installed 7 afterward but before installing any drivers. It all worked perfectly.
Thanks

NotSoYoung · Apr 11, 2011

gregrocker said:
abeeftec: You must boot to the Command Prompt of the DVD: System Recovery Options

Are you runnning the Win7 DVD from XP or booting it? This could be why SysReserved is taking C.

Please post back a screenshot of your maxmimized full Disk Mgmt Drive map with listings, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

NotSoYoung: If you unplugged all other HD's during XP install, then you don't need EasyBCD as you can boot directly from the BIOS.

After install, plug back in other OS HD, set preferred one to boot first in BIOS setup, use one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to boot the other.

This is a cleaner method that leaves the HD's independent to come and go as you please, whereas the Windows-managed Dual Boot interlocks them requiring surgery to later remove XP>

Greg,

Understood. I want both systems available easily. I'm not the only user of the PC.

I have older Apps that run better in XP than in 7 (some only in XP) and they need to share data.

What surgery do you mean to uninstall XP of a stand alone drive?

Thanks

gregrocker · Apr 12, 2011

Would need to see a Disk Mgmt screenshot to advise you with certainty, but normally to remove XP from a separate-HD Dual Boot you would mark Win7 HD partition Active in Disk Mgmt, power down to unplug the XP HD, then boot the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to write the System Boot files to the Win7 partition.

NotSoYoung · Apr 12, 2011

gregrocker said:
Would need to see a Disk Mgmt screenshot to advise you with certainty, but normally to remove XP from a separate-HD Dual Boot you would mark Win7 HD partition Active in Disk Mgmt, power down to unplug the XP HD, then boot the Win7 DVD Repair console or Repair CD to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to write the System Boot files to the Win7 partition.

According to the disk Mgmt screen The Windows 7 is the boot partition so I'm not sure what you mean. I don't know how to "uninstall" the dual boot, but no doubt the info is out there somewhere.

For now my system works. Thanks for your help.

SIW2 · Apr 12, 2011

That looks fine to me.

If you are happy with it - leave it as it is.

No, you can't choose to store shadow copies somewhere else.

gregrocker · Apr 12, 2011

NotSoYoung said:
What surgery do you mean to uninstall XP of a stand alone drive?
Thanks

Since you asked me, I will finish my response having now seen the screenshot:

If Win7 is C in screenshot then it is already System drive so removing XP would be as easy as deleting it's partition or removing it's HD, then deleting XP entry in EasyBCD.

To remove Win7 however, you would have to write the System Boot Files to XP.

No one was suggesting you do this now.

AstaLaVista · Apr 13, 2011

WOW, 124 pages of responses, I would have to take a month to read it all... I did read a few pages but I did not see anything that resembles the problem I am having and I hope it has a simple solution.

I have Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit install on a WD Velociraptor 74GB Drive (see attachment) and there is a also a System Reserve, which btw, I don't really know what it is and I can only assume is something that Windows 7 did.

On another drive, also a WD 160GB Raptor is where I have my Windows XP W/SP3 + a partition for Data and Backups.

My BIOS has the capability of allowing me to choose which drive I want to make the first Boot so, if I choose the 74GB (Windows 7), I am able to go to it and even if I use EasyBCD to have dual booting at boot time, if I choose Win XP I immediately get an error telling me something about NTLR so only the Windows 7 is available.

I thought about inserting my Win XP CD/DVD and doing a repair but all I manage was to blow away my windows 7 prompt and XP would boot w/o an option to choose.

If I choose the the 160GB Raptor as a first boot option in my Bios, I get on Win XP but don't have an option to even choose Windows 7 and this is where I am now.

I am stuck and I don't know where to proceed. My biggest problem is that I am using a KVM USB switch to be able to use my KB/Mouse/Monitor with the Server at the office and when I switch drives in my Bios, the KVM stops working and I have to disconnect and connect again for it to work, hence, the hassle and annoyance from trying to use this method.

Is there a simple solution to all this?

The specs on the PC I am using are not the ones you see in My System Specs but if you need them for anything, here they are... see attach.

Sorry, if this has been hashed before.

severedsolo · Apr 13, 2011

AstaLaVista:

Just follow steps 7-12 of the "With Windows 7 Installed First" section.

What you have is basically the situation you'd be in if you installed XP after 7

Hope it helps

gregrocker · Apr 13, 2011

Best way to Dual boot with separate HD's is to set preferred OS HD as first to boot in BIOS setup, then boot the other HD using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first BIOS boot screen. This keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please, whereas a Window-managed Dual Boot interlocks them and requires surgery to later remove one.

Check to see if your Foxconn mobo has a one-time Boot Menu key - also known as BBS or BIOS Boot Selection screen.

This is normally set up by installing each OS with the other one unplugged, however as you've lost the Win7 boot by repairing XP with both HD's connected, you'll first need to unplug XP HD, set Win7 HD as first HD to boot in BIOS, then boot the Win7 DVD Repair console to Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

Once Win7 starts, plug back in XP HD and attempt to boot it using the one-time BIOS Boot menu key. If you don't have one on Foxconn mobo then install EasyBCD 2.02 to Win7 to Add XP by name and type, accept any offered boot files, let it autocomplete, Save then restart to Dual Boot menu.

The 100mb System Reserved boot partition conveniently places the Repair console, normally only on the Win7 DVD or Repair CD, on the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu.

AstaLaVista · Apr 13, 2011

severedsolo said:
AstaLaVista:

Just follow steps 7-12 of the "With Windows 7 Installed First" section.

What you have is basically the situation you'd be in if you installed XP after 7

Hope it helps

In that section it requires me to have Netframe 2, which I already have, matter of fact, I have the Netframe 2 with sp1.

It also asks me to install EasyBCD, my problem here is... do I need to do this on the Windows 7 side or also install on Win XP?

gregrocker said:
Best way to Dual boot with separate HD's is to set preferred OS HD as first to boot in BIOS setup, then boot the other HD using one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first BIOS boot screen. This keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please, whereas a Window-managed Dual Boot interlocks them and requires surgery to later remove one.

Check to see if your Foxconn mobo has a one-time Boot Menu key - also known as BBS or BIOS Boot Selection screen.

Woof, you may think I know what I am doing but you would be wrong... I merely know how to navigate when I am told what to do in terms that even a monkey would understand

OK, I went to my Bios and this is what I was able to find:

Advance BIOS Features:

Boot Device Priority:... My only options is whether the CD/DVD is first or my HDD
Hard Disk Drive:... Here I can choose which Drive I want to boot first with. Right now, the 160GB (Win XP) has first priority since this is the one I have been using.
CD/DVD Drives:... Self explanatory I suppose.

Fox Central Control Unit:

Smart BIOS:...

Smart Power LED ... Enable
Smart Boot Menu ... Enable

gregrocker said:
This is normally set up by installing each OS with the other one unplugged, however as you've lost the Win7 boot by repairing XP with both HD's connected, you'll first need to unplug XP HD, set Win7 HD as first HD to boot in BIOS, then boot the Win7 DVD Repair console to Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times.

Yes, I did loose it but I have been able to recover it back and I can boot with Win 7 as long as set the 74GB drive as first priority.

And No, I did not install with the other drive unplugged, I had a vague idea that I should have but I was to lazy to do so so I went ahead and did so with both drives plugged in but... I did put the 74GB (Win 7) as first priority to boot when I did the installation.

gregrocker said:
Once Win7 starts, plug back in XP HD and attempt to boot it using the one-time BIOS Boot menu key. If you don't have one on Foxconn mobo then install EasyBCD 2.02 to Win7 to Add XP by name and type, accept any offered boot files, let it autocomplete, Save then restart to Dual Boot menu.

EasyBCD is installed on the Windows 7 side and I do believe I added XP, hence, why I have the option to boot with Windows 7 and Windows XP but, if I choose XP, I end up getting that error.

How do I go back to EasyBCD and delete that entry so I can do it again? Perhaps I did not follow the guidelines properly the first time around.

gregrocker said:
The 100mb System Reserved boot partition conveniently places the Repair console, normally only on the Win7 DVD or Repair CD, on the F8 Advanced Boot Tools menu.

Ahhhhh... good to know then!

Thanks again, you guys are truly amazing at how fast you respond, that never ceases to amaze me. :eek:

helpdeskguy · Apr 13, 2011

Hi All,

Fantastically long and great thread! I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for though and I am hoping to find a quick resolution to this issue so I can have my laptop back ready for work tomorrow!

VERY IMPORTANT: I installed Win 7 Professional 64 on an HP 8540p notebook on top of an existing XP Pro install THAT WAS ENCRYPTED with PGP 10.x using Whole Disk Encryption!!!! I had forgotten to take disk encryption into consideration before the install.

l used the 7 install disk and followed the steps in this tutorial to allocate 80gb free HD space and followed through the install as normal. Now here's the kinda weird part...the 7 install went fine, but PGP Desktop doesn't prompt for a password at boot now and it gives me no option to load XP Pro. I tried using EasyBCD 2.0 to add the XP volume to the boot list, but it won't find it. I can see the other partition from 7 and assigned it as E: in Disk Manager, but when I try to explore the partition I get nothing there. Disk Management shows it as E: (Healthy, Active, Primary Partition). The Win7 partition shows C: (BOOT, page file, crash dump, primary partition). I can write to the XP partition now and it shows 153 gb free space. My HD is 250gb so that leaves only 17gb which my XP install could be on.

Any suggestions would be helpful, I'm panicking here, what I'd prefer to do at this point is just delete the 7 partition effectively uninstalling Win7 and hopefully restoring the XP Pro Partition, but right now I can't even figure out if the Win7 install just overwrote the MBR with the bootguard bootloader on it and now I need to try and install PGP on 7 and see if it re-installs the bootguard???

Well I've made a total mess of this, any suggestions on what to do now would be greatly appreciated!!

helpdeskguy · Apr 13, 2011

overwrote MBR

OK well something I gleaned from the PGP support forums is that Win7 overwrote the MBR and therefore the proprietary "bootguard" bootloader that PGP uses for encrypted disks.

severedsolo · Apr 13, 2011

AstaLaVista said:
If I choose the the 160GB Raptor as a first boot option in my Bios, I get on Win XP but don't have an option to even choose Windows 7 and this is where I am now.

My understanding from the above quote, was that you had XP only available after a botched repair job? Or rather an incomplete one

As I said, steps 7-12 of "With Win 7 installed first" will work, needs to be done from XP though (which I thought was your only option)

Having said that, Gregs advice about booting from BIOS is a damn good one. I just find it... inconveniant to have to always switch BIOS order.

Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

When XP is Installed First

When Windows 7 is Installed First

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