Solved 2 hd old 1 xp pro new w7pro not given a choice when booting

[jebliving]

Xp pro used to give me a selection between the 2 hd now I must choose the 1 I want in BIOS.
I'm keeping xp while I test my software in w7.
Thanks for any suggestions
jeb

 

[Night Hawk]

Hello jebliving Welcome to the Seven Forums!

Apparently something has altered your boot information on one of the drives. One guide that covers setting up a dual boot between XP and 7 also advises on the use of a free program called EasyBCD as well as explaining how to correct the other problems that can appear. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

With the newer version's boot loader made default the boot entry editor in EasyBCD or in the boot tab found in the msconfig you can set which OS will be the default while booted into 7 since any change there will effect the newer version's BCD store which holds the boot entries.

Meanwhile some actually prefer to keep each OS when installed onto separate drives totally separate and simply use the boot device menu option at post time to select the drive rather then the OS depending on which version is to be booted into. Some refer to that as a "Bios Managed Dual Boot".

(Helps when booting Windows with a Linux distro and no worry about Grub trashing the Windows mbr! )

 

[jebliving]

Gave that a read it didn't seem to help with separate HDs but I'll go back and try that ap.
Thanks for the quick reply I was about to give up for the night.
jeb

 

[tman69]

see this link--look at option 2--a process to fix the master boot record is explained there--hope this helps.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

 

[Night Hawk]

The Method Two will cover installing XP after 7 which is what you will want to pay the most attention to. That covers the XP install replacing the 7 mbr entries and not seeing 7 load.

In Method One however that will cover separate drives starting in Step #3 there.

 

[jebliving]

Sweet
Thanks Hawk
Easy ABC was indeed. Very user friendly. Didn't understand most of it but was able to do the job in about 10min. I'm sending them a few $.
If you enjoy photography google my photos
Something about path32 may have been the problem but all gone now.
You rock.

 

[Night Hawk]

Glad to see you were able to get that cleared up. The guide there is a great reference to go by now and even later if you ever want to set up another dual boot but differently.

The EasyBCD program itself is extensively tested and generally one of the most reliable programs of this type. I think you will find better then 90% of those who have been dual booting 7 with a previous version are only well too familiar with it.

It certainly makes editing the 7 boot loader much easier and includes the option of restoring the 7 mbr as well.