Solved Failed setting up dual boot Win7/XP - cannot boot Win7

[Morgan210]

I tried to set up my desktop computer running Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit to dual boot Windows XP Home. It didn't go as planned and now Windows 7 will not boot. I get the following error message:

"Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem. Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware. Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information."

I tried deleting the Windows XP partition and double check the boot order in the BIOS but no luck. I'm hoping someone here will be able to help me out. Thanks.

 

[gregrocker]

Set the Win7 HD first to boot in BIOS setup, after DVD Drive.

Boot the Win7 DVD or System Repair Disk, follow these steps to mark Win7 or it's 100mb System Reserved partition (preferred if you have it) Active: Partition - Mark as Active (Method Two)

Next boot into DVD Repair console or Repair CD, accept any offered repair. If none offered or Win7 doesn't start after reboot, access System Recovery Options to run Startup Repair 3 Separate Times
to rewrite the System boot files to Win7 partition or it's System REserved boot partition.

If it fails after 3 times attempting to rewrite to SysReserved partition, change the Active flag to Win7 partition and try repairs again.

 

[theog]

Are you following this tutorial?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?ltr=D

 

[Morgan210]

Are you following this tutorial?
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?ltr=D

That is the tutorial I used yes. During the setup for Windows XP, it made it as far as the first reboot. After rebooting I saw the "Press any key to boot from CD" (I didn't push anything knowing that would restart the setup) but it stayed on that screen. Also I saw two...I guess "symbols" is the right word...pop up in the center of the screen and to the lower left; looked kind of like an "N" and the other was some kind of smiley. Hope that is a good enough description. Sorry I don't have a screenshot.

Greg - Thanks for the reply. I have one hard drive with two partitions, one for Windows 7 and the other for XP. Setting the boot order only shows the one hard drive. I'll give the options you suggested a try.

 

[Morgan210]

Just a quick update. Greg's suggestion worked and I'm up and running again. Thanks for the help! Feel free to close this thread down or whatever you guys do.