Problem installing Windows 7 to dual boot with XP SP3

SQI · 30 Jan 2010

Hi guys! I have to say that you are my last hope, I really don't know what to do

Anyway, I have Windows XP with SP3 and I wanted to install Windows 7 Ultimate today, as my secondary OS. The problem is, after the installation, computer reboots (as it should) and gives me this message in Windows boot manager: "Windows failed to start. A recent hardware or software change might be the cause."

It also tells me that there is a problem with Windows\System32\winload.exe Trying to repair it didn't help. Also, I borrowed my friend's copy of Windows 7, but I had the same problem, so I'm sure that the disc is not the issue.
I've tried to do clean install, even disconnected my secondary HDD and all other stuff I could, but it's always the same. I've even tried to use optimized BIOS and fail safe BIOS settings, but to no avail.

I did Windows 7 compatibility test, and it says that all of my hardware is compatible with it.

gregrocker · 30 Jan 2010

Boot into the Win7 DVD repair console to see if there is an installation to repair. If so, try running Startup Repair up to 3 separate times to get it started up.

If Win7 won't start up, then boot the XP CD to do a Repair Install. It will not be the first "R" for repair option; you need to continue with setup until it discovers an installation to repair, then select R for repair. Google XP repair install for exact steps.

Whichever OS you boot into, post back a screenshot of full DIsk Mgmt drive map so we can advise you further. In Win7 use Snipping tool in Start Menu, attach file with paper clip in Reply box.

SQI · 30 Jan 2010

Maybe I wasn't clear enough.

The thing is, I'm installing Windows 7 as secondary OS, and after the first reboot, I get to the new boot menu, which looks like this https://www.sevenforums.com/attachmen...mple.jpg?ltr=D

I don't have any troubles starting XP or working with it, but if I try Windows 7, I get that winload.exe error saying that the file is missing or corrupt.

I've tried startup repair from Windows 7 repair console, and I get the message that it's not possible, even thought it find Windows 7. I don't need to use repair option in XP CD, because there's nothing wrong with it. I do however use Repair on XP CD to run fixboot, so I can get rid of that Windows 7 boot menu and remove the rest of that failed Windows 7 installation from the hard drive.

I hope this is the screen you need.

theog · 30 Jan 2010

Take a look at this:

Repair Install

gregrocker · 30 Jan 2010

Win7 needs to be marked Active for Startup Repair to work when repeatedly run up to 3 separate times with reboots. The best tool to do this is free Partition Wizard bootable CD, since if you mark Win7 active in XP disk mgnt, you will lose the ability to boot XP until XP is marked active again - all of which Partition Wizard can do, or Diskpart commands from booted Win7 installer.

Once you get Win7 started up, the Repair Install or EasyBCD 2.0 beta can correctly configure a dual boot with XP.

Saltgrass · 30 Jan 2010

I need to understand, you keep saying after reboot. Do you mean after the full install has finished, or you think has finished? Just in case, the install reboots several times and does not need to be messed with. It goes through the screen where it checks off tasks, has it gone through all of those?

Have you ever gotten Win 7 running?

SQI · 31 Jan 2010

Saltgrass said:

I need to understand, you keep saying after reboot. Do you mean after the full install has finished, or you think has finished?

I've never before seen the complete Windows 7 installation procedure. The thing is, the installation starts, and after some point, it needs to reset. I mean, it's not forced reset because of hardware/software error, but the installation says that it needs to reboot or something like that. After that I get to new boot management screen created by Windows 7, but I can't start it, because I get that winload.exe error.

Just in case, the install reboots several times and does not need to be messed with. It goes through the screen where it checks off tasks, has it gone through all of those?

No. After the first reboot, it won't continue.

Have you ever gotten Win 7 running?

No, that's what I keep on saying. After the first reboot, I can't continue installation.

gregrocker said:

Please post back a screenshot of your full XP DIsk Management drive map, so we can see what the problem is with Win7 install and if it can still be configured into a Dual Boot.

Isn't the screenshot I posted full XP Disk Management drive map?

gregrocker · 31 Jan 2010

If D is the Win7 target partition, it needs to be changed from an extended logical partition to a Primary partition.

Try deleting it using the Win7 DVD Custom>Drive tools, then Create a New Partition to format before install.

It may be necessary to delete it using the manager with which you created it.

SQI · 31 Jan 2010

gregrocker said:

If D is the Win7 target partition, it needs to be changed from an extended logical partition to a Primary partition.

Try deleting it using the Win7 DVD Custom>Drive tools, then Create a New Partition to format before install.

It may be necessary to delete it using the manager with which you created it.

I don't know how that partition was created, because someone did it for me few years ago.

Anyway, if I understand you, I should boot Windows 7 installation, delete partion D and then make it again, all within Windows 7 installation? Why not, I'll try it now, just after I backup drive D.

EDIT: gregrocker, you really are Seven Guru :) Deleting D:\ and creating it again inside Windows 7 boot disc helped me install it eventually, since I had few more problems.

Here are the steps I made:

1. I chose custom installation in Windows 7 setup, and then I deleted my D:\ After that, I've created the partition again and formatted it. After that, I've started Windows 7 installation, and all was going well, no winload.exe error!

2. I had new problem after the reboot that comes after setting clock and some other stuff. Boot manager never appeared. I've tried to fix the problem using system recovery options/startup 3 times, but the problem stayed.

3. Since I had no other choice, I used Windows XP boot disc and inside it Repair Console. Fixboot command worked, so I could at least get back to Windows XP, even though I couldn't enter Seven.

4. I've rebooted my PC, and then I entered Windows 7 boot disc again and chose startup repair. This time however, it has found and error and fixed it! After that, I could finally boot into Windows.

So, Windows 7 is on D:\, though it shows me that it's drive C:\. I know that it was the case while I had Windows 98 and Windows XP on dualboot, so I don't care about it :)

Thanks again for your help, Sevenforums is my first bookmark in Windows 7 :)

gregrocker · 31 Jan 2010

For future reference, the tool to use if you have both OS's working but no Dual Boot menu is EasyBCD 2.0 beta, which is automated and will add the other OS using Add/Remove tab.

Glad you got it working. Now be sure to save a Win7 Backup Image externally so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage the HD or a replacement using Win7 DVD.