Dual Boot

[kallib85]

Hello, I have a Windows 7 and Windows 7 on my lap, and I cant get the computer to do a dual boot, I had Win 7 and just few hours I put a XP on the computer, Do you know how I can enable dual boot.

I can't get Win 7 to start, I have downloaded VistaBootPRO 3.2 and still can't get it to work. Pleas help me

 

[Barman58]

Hi kallib85, and welcome to the seven forums,

Many people have found the following tutorial of use to successfully dual boot Vista/Windows 7 with XP. The instructions are for Vista but as Windows 7 uses the same boot mechanism it works the same.

How to dual-boot Vista with XP (with XP installed first) - step-by-step guide with screenshots

EDIT This is the link I meant to post sorry

How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) -- the step-by-step guide with screenshots

 

[rkseagle]

That may be his problem, sounds like he installed the WindowsXP last.

WindowsXP doesn't use the boot manager but still uses ntldr.

He may be able to use boot manager to edit in a section that points to his WindowsXP installation. I've used boot manager in Windows 7 to change the name of the WindowsXP description. Windows 7 boot manager calls it "Previous Windows Installation" or something like that.

Might be tricky and he will have to get the disks/partitions correct but it should be doable.

 

[YupYup]

Do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html for windows 7 then run VistaBootPRO from windows 7 to add XP if needed.http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/681-startup-repair.html

 

[kallib85]

Well now I have managed to get into Win 7 but now I can't get into Windows XP, I get the dual boot menu, and when I want to go to Windows XP I allways get an error that says \ntldr is not right.

I have got VistaBootPro I can post the "Viwe BCD Registry settings" if somone can help me, or what ever you need to help me.

ps. have tried to do both above, and neither works

 

[YupYup]

Well now I have managed to get into Win 7 but now I can't get into Windows XP, I get the dual boot menu, and when I want to go to Windows XP I allways get an error that says \ntldr is not right.

I have got VistaBootPro I can post the "Viwe BCD Registry settings" if somone can help me, or what ever you need to help me.

ps. have tried to do both above, and neither works

Post the bcd settings along with a shot from computer management so we can see the drives/partitions, and a screenshot of Your XP root directory (makes sure you can see hidden files/folders and protected OS files). Plus the settngs from the XP boot.ini if it still exits.

 

[kallib85]

Well I found a very good help site online. And it made it easy for me to enablea dual boot.

The site is from PROnetworks

So I want to thank everybody who tried to help me.

ps. the Alternative Method to Create a Dual Boot Menu helped me so I hope it will help more peole

 

[YupYup]

Additional notes:

1. It does not matter where the files reside as long as the entries in BCD and boot.ini are correct

2. Install Operating Systems in order of age (oldest first, newest last). This will give you the correct settings for booting the Operatings Systems, avoiding the hassles of trying to correct them yourself.

 

[Cartmann]

Do I have to delete win 7 before installing xp? I have my software on c partition with win 7, how to setup dual boot (win 7 first and xp) without losing it?

 

[Barman58]

Hi Cartman

Have a look here ...


How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) -- the step-by-step guide with screenshots

It's for vista but as Seven uses the same boot method is applicable to Seven too

 

[ikilledkenny]

Use this. It's how I get to Fedora and 7.

EasyBCD

 

[YupYup]

Do I have to delete win 7 before installing xp? I have my software on c partition with win 7, how to setup dual boot (win 7 first and xp) without losing it?

No you do not have delete windows 7 before installing XP, it is just easier if you install XP first because you will not have to fix the bootloader.

 

[ikilledkenny]

Use this. It's how I get to Fedora and 7.

EasyBCD

Has anyone tried this, or did we just ignore it?

 

[YupYup]

Use this. It's how I get to Fedora and 7.

EasyBCD

Has anyone tried this, or did we just ignore it?

I have used it on many occasions, does the same thing as VistaBootPRO mentioned on the first page.

 

[ikilledkenny]

Oh, I thought it might be different. Should have used Google-Fu...

 

[Barman58]

I've used both VistaBootPro and EasyBCD and find easyBCD the better of the two of course my opinion only & YMMV

 

[Cartmann]

No you do not have delete windows 7 before installing XP, it is just easier if you install XP first because you will not have to fix the bootloader.

COL - crying out loud.

I have problem with XP install, try to solve but takes to many time so I decide to delete (format) main disk and 2nd disk and install first xp (becuse I borrow my vista dvd) than win7. I lost all my settings (win7 mail accounts, lost programs, cs4, office, windvd, adobe, antivir,..) but I manage to install XP sp2 (cd I find in my collection) and Win7, then install COD WOW but - COD refuse to work, same problem I had with win7.

I try everything (download few versions of directx, deamon, burn dvd,..), after few hours trying I decide to reboot and try from win7 - and it works. :shock::shock: