Dual boot xp and win 7 boot manager problem.

[RileyRandom]

I had windows seven installed first then i tried to install windows xp, not knowing the xp boot manager would over right windows seven boot manager, now it boots straight into windows xp.
I have tried to use EasyBCD with no success.
I can't boot up from the win 7 dvd because i only have the .iso file.

What else is there to do besides backing up and reformatting with XP first?

 

[theog]

Have a read of this tutorial:

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

Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7.

EasyBCD 2.0 Beta Builds - The NeoSmart Forums

A bit more reading.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/58188-added-xp-7-but-now-wont-boot.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/58680-solve-dual-boot-problem-windows-7-a.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/57634-dual-boot.html

 

[RileyRandom]

Thanks for your input, but i'm stuck in the XP partition with no way to get to Seven.

 

[theog]

Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win XP, then in Win 7.

 

[gregrocker]

You will need to install Net Framework 2.0 to use EasyBCD 2.0 beta in XP: Download details: .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86)

Remove any Win7 listing in Easy2.0, Add again on Add/Remove tab.

If Dual boot menu fails to appear, burn Win7 ISO to DVD using ImgBurn at 4x speed with Verify, boot into Repair console, click through to Startup Repair to run up to 3 separate times with reboots to rewrite the MBR to Win7 partition.

Now install EasyBCD 2.0 in Win7 and add XP, accept offered boot files.

 

[RileyRandom]

Uhmmm, there is no windows 7 entry there is only windows vista(i think thats because when i replaced xp over vista, the name in the BCD didn't change.
Heres a picture of it. http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/3281/73805820.png

Also, i only have a cd burner, no dvd burner.

 

[gregrocker]

I would remove the Vista entry, add XP by name, type and correct drive letter. Then add Win7 the same way. Save both entries, remove Vista. See what happens.

You can create a Win7 flash stick installer from your ISO file using this: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html or this http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31541-windows-7-usb-dvd-download-tool.html?filter[2]=General%20Tips

Burn a Win7 Repair CD using the ISO download hosted here: Download Windows 7 System Recovery Discs — The NeoSmart Files

Boot the CD (or DVD Repair console) click through to Recovery Tools to run Startup Repair up to 3 separate times with reboots to restart Win7, then use EasyBCD 2.0 from Win7 if necessary to create Dual Boot.

 

[RileyRandom]

I created a repair disk, and ran start up repair, then shut down and it let me boot up into 7 then it need to install updates and shut back down, then it said something like "mbr is compressed press ctrl+alt+delete to restart". So i tried the start up repair again and it didn't work. so i went to the command prompt and was looking around bootsect and did "bootsect /nt52 C:" i think (C is xp) and it started to do the same thing it did in the first place. :/

 

[gregrocker]

Have you run Startup Repair 3 separate times with reboots so it could rewrite the MBR?

All of the boot recovery commands are automated in Startup Repair but you have to run it enough times. The only reason it will not start is if it is not marked active. Can you read it with a bootable partition manager?

As soon as you get back into Win7, please post back a screenshot of full Disk Mgmt drive map, using snipping tool in Start Menu, attaching file using paper clip in reply box.

 

[RileyRandom]

it doesnt detect anything wrong with windows 7 after the first time i do it, and how to i see the disk mgmt drive map?

 

[gregrocker]

You see the Disk Mgmt drive map in Disk Mgmt. Type it in the Start search box.

For the third time, please run Startup Repair 3 separate times with reboots to rewrite the MBR to Win7. You apparently have not done this and instead ran commands which are going to make it harder to recover when you finally follow the given correct procedure to restart Win7.

If it fails, choose Command line from recovery tools list, type:

DISKPART
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK # (# for Win7 HD)
LIST PARTITION
SELECT PARTITION # (for Win7 partition)
ACTIVE
EXIT

Now run Startup Repair again 3 separate times with reboots.

 

[RileyRandom]

Okay, i got the windows 7 boot manager to come up every time, but now it won't let me boot into XP, it says something like insert the disk and repair it, I've tried that but i don't see any repair options.

 

[gregrocker]

Did it offer you boot files when you added XP using EasyBCD?

If not, unhide System and Hidden files in Control Panel>Folder Options>View tab, then make sure boot.ini, ntdetect.com and ntldr are in the root of both OS drives. If not, copy.