Windows 7 missing from boot list after new installation of XP.


  1. Posts : 6
    Windows Home x64, Windows XP Pro sp3
       #1

    Windows 7 missing from boot list after new installation of XP.


    I have two hard drives on this computer, one is running Windows 7. The other has XP Pro on 1 of the 3 partitions. Then I installed a fresh copy of XP on an empty partition, so now I have 2 copies of XP.

    Now when I boot, Windows 7 is no longer listed in the options, just the two XPs.


    I've tried a few things already. First booted from my Win7 installation disk and by SHIFT + F10 entered in the cmd prompt: bootrec /rebuildbcd
    Is this supposed to scan all drive partitions and rebuild the boot list? When I typed it it came back as 0 installations of Windows found.

    I also tried other boot manager programs, one created a new list to boot from and showed drive letters and other information about the partition, but actually almost got me more problems.

    How can I remake the boot list or add Windows 7 back to it??
    Last edited by ho0t; 06 Dec 2010 at 02:41. Reason: Problem Solved
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6
    Windows Home x64, Windows XP Pro sp3
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Problem Solved.

    I unplugged the SATA/power cable from the drive with XPs installed on it, then rebooted. Got message BOOTMGR is missing. Rebooted and ran the Repair Computer utility > Repair Startup from win7 install cd. It made some repairs then rebooted, and wala, it goes straight to load windows 7.

    Now that I'm able to get back into 7, I powered off and reconnected the second drive, rebooted, but the Boot menu again lists only the XP partitions. I rebooted from CD and upon running the Startup Repair again found yet another error "boot sector code for system disk partition is corrupt. Repair successfully".

    After rebooting, I get my old boot menu from before the second XP install! I load Win7 again without any issues.

    And as a last step, I found out EasyBCD works on Windows 7, but didn't for me on XP. With Easy BCD, I can rename the name of boot menu choice and change the drive it is linked to, as well as add new boot options. I can easily set the default boot option too!

    Now my boot options are for Win7, and two copies of WinXP work harmoniously with eachother.. phew.. and right before the week starts again tomorrow Monday morning..
      My Computer

  3.    #3

    You'd need EasyBCD to choose between your two XP's on the same HD, but the best method to boot when you have separate HD's is via the BIOS boot order or one-time BIOS Boot menu.

    This keeps the HD's independent to come and go as you please, each with its own boot files instead of one dependent upon and unable to boot without the other.
      My Computer


 

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