Solved Acer Aspire D255, dualboot XP/Win 7 S: Win 7 inaccessible

[jazzl]

Dear All,

I am trying to make a netbook with both win 7 starter (which is preinstalled) and xp. I need XP because of certain compatibility issues between visual basic and internet explorer under win 7. At some point I may remove win 7 completely and buy another netbook/laptop for that, but at the moment, I want to keep both OS´s.
So I shrinked the 4th partition on the netbook with 20 GB, and created a new one. I then installed XP on the 20 GB partition, and all went well.
Except for one thing: The bootloader (I hope that´s the right word) of Win 7 Starter is replaced by that of XP. Not really so strange after all I guess, but the problem is that if I create an entry in XP´s multiboot editor for win 7 starter, it won´t boot into it. It just hangs on a black screen with a cursor in the top left corner, where I cannot even just press the power button or CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart, but need to remove and put back the battery.
Does anyone know how I can either:
1. Make a boot entry for win 7 work from an XP multiboot menu
2. Get back the old bootloader, so I can create a multiboot where XP is added from within Win 7?



Thanks in advance!

Best Regards

Jazzl

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Post a screen shot of Windows Disk Management so we can see what's going on with your partitions.

 

[jazzl]

Ok, that I wil do later today when back home. But I can tell you that it´s the default installation that comes with the computer, where you have 4 partitions. 1 for Android, one for XP and some system reserved stuff.

 

[seavixen32]

where you have 4 partitions. 1 for Android, one for XP and some system reserved stuff.

Your reply suggests you only have three partitions. What was on the fourth before before you shrunk it? This means you probably have five partitions and every possibility you may have converted the drive to a dynamic drive.

The original error occurred because you installed XP after Windows 7, meaning XP has overwritten the Windows 7 bootloader.

We really need to wait and see your disk management layout before we can offer the best advice.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Ok, that I wil do later today when back home. But I can tell you that it´s the default installation that comes with the computer, where you have 4 partitions. 1 for Android, one for XP and some system reserved stuff.

I hope for your sake that these are not "dynamic" disks.

If they are, drink a bottle of bourbon, put a knife in your teeth, and prepare for frustration.

 

[jazzl]

There were 4, where the 4th is Win 7.
Í´m pretty sure it´s the same as in this thread:

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...5-removing-android-installing-second-win.html

Where there´s a snapshot of the disc management overview:

http://www.sevenforums.com/attachme...g-android-installing-second-win-partition.jpg

 

[seavixen32]

I can't see the screenshot, it's too small.

This article offers a solution, but we really need to see your disk management layout first.

Windows no longer starts after you install an earlier version of the Windows operating system in a dual-boot configuration

 

[jazzl]

Thanks, will first try the link you posted, and then get back if I have no success with it.
Well.. I´ll get back in any case, just to make sure others can learn from the eventual solution to this.

 

[Kaktussoft]

Dear All,

I am trying to make a netbook with both win 7 starter (which is preinstalled) and xp. I need XP because of certain compatibility issues between visual basic and internet explorer under win 7. At some point I may remove win 7 completely and buy another netbook/laptop for that, but at the moment, I want to keep both OS´s.
So I shrinked the 4th partition on the netbook with 20 GB, and created a new one. I then installed XP on the 20 GB partition, and all went well.
Except for one thing: The bootloader (I hope that´s the right word) of Win 7 Starter is replaced by that of XP. Not really so strange after all I guess, but the problem is that if I create an entry in XP´s multiboot editor for win 7 starter, it won´t boot into it. It just hangs on a black screen with a cursor in the top left corner, where I cannot even just press the power button or CTRL+ALT+DEL to restart, but need to remove and put back the battery.
Does anyone know how I can either:
1. Make a boot entry for win 7 work from an XP multiboot menu
2. Get back the old bootloader, so I can create a multiboot where XP is added from within Win 7?



Thanks in advance!

Best Regards

Jazzl

1. Make XP-boot menu the way it was originally.
2. Check if XP still boot boots
3. Boot from WIN7 install DVD or "system repair disk" and perform a "startup repair". Eventually 3 times with reboots in between.

Can win7 boot now? Post diskmanagement screenshot anyway.

 

[gregrocker]

Would you please post back a screenshot of the maximized Disk Management drive map with listings, using the Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

If disk is still basic and it is still Primary then set System Reserved to Active and run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 starts on its own.

Then install EasyBCD (free Download at bottom of page - no name or email required) to add the other OS's on Add OS Entry tab.

 

[jazzl]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I reinstalled Win 7 over the old one. A bit clumsy method, but since there´s not really alot of stuff installed on the netbook that I can´t install again, it´s acceptable like that.
This automatically created a boot menu from which I could select both the xp installation and the new win 7 starter.

Thanks again!

 

[gregrocker]

Good solution, since a clean reinstall is always a good thing - especially if you aim to make it perfect: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

You can mark the thread Solved at top when ready.