"Otherwise, mark the Win7 active and run startup repair 2-3 times until it starts. If that fails, boot back into Repair Command Line and run "bootrec.exe /fixboot" and "bootrec.exe /fixmbr" or if those don't work "Bootsect.exe /nt60 all /force".
Once you get your Win7 running, try EasyBCD again to add XP."
True, windows 7 wasn't marked as active.
I'll try this now.
OK found the answer here:
Install Win7 to Logical partition?
SIW2 is one the best resources on this board. If he says Paragon Partition Pro can convert logical to primary so it can be marked active and made to boot, then it is gold!
I had forgotten all about this issue I had with an office computer.
Problem is, there is also a boot folder in one of the storage drives, and it won't let me delete it.
Is there a way to unmark a partition "active", so that the computer won't access those files at boot?
"That is the fly in the ointment. You need to get that boot folder out of there"
It wouldn't let me delete that folder, so I just pulled the power cable for that HD. Then I ran startup repair, and it seems that the 7 startup is working fine now.
Paragon partition demo won't let me convert the XP logical partition to primary. Do you think I should try anyway and add it with easybcd?
[quote=Eviellan;318087]"That is the fly in the ointment. You need to get that boot folder out of there"Great now you have Win7 to test drive and troubleshoot while you consider your options for XP.It wouldn't let me delete that folder, so I just pulled the power cable for that HD. Then I ran startup repair, and it seems that the 7 startup is working fine now.
Paragon partition demo won't let me convert the XP logical partition to primary. Do you think I should try anyway and add it with easybcd?
Can you copy your files over from XP, or did you already?
The blockage should now be gone for EasyBCD to do it's job if it can Add a logical partition.
[quote=gregrocker;318094]Nah, the backup would take over 2 hours, so I thought I'd try other options before.
I'll do this now:
1 - do the XP backup, just in case
2 - try to add it using easybcd
3 - if it fails, which is likely, copy all the files to a new primary partition and try easybcd again
Man, this's being a bumpy ride...
I just meant drag your files via explorer from XP into their folders in Windows 7. You are going to leave XP behind anyway, probably sooner rather than later with your level of ability.
Logical drive CAN be added to a dual boot, so EasyBCD should work now that the boot has been removed from that storage drive and added to 7.
Last edited by gregrocker; 20 Oct 2009 at 18:50.
Okay, I added XP to easybcd and it shows up in the dual boot menu, but when I select it it says that "ntldr is missing" and takes me back to the boot menu, so I'm guessing the XP boot is screwed up as well.
I suppose I could fix this by copying the files to a primary partition and having the XP install disk repair the boot, but then I won't be able to access 7, and I don't want to reinstall it since that's what caused all this mess in the first place.
That said, I did get rid of the boot folder in the storage partition, so it should work all right now... Might be worth a try, I guess.
"You are going to leave XP behind anyway, probably sooner rather than later with your level of ability."
Don't know... I don't like 7 too much, but I've only been using it for two days. And I feel I've already gone too far to give up now...
I'll try what I said above, and if it doesn't work, I really don't have any more ideas, so I'll have to give up anyway.
Thanks a lot for your help!
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