Dual booting Error

[Navop]

Ok this is my setup,

c:\ = Window 7 ultimate 64 bit, formatted as NTFS, hdd = 350gig
D:\ = windows xp sp2 32 bit, formatted as NTFS, hdd = 450gig

E:\ = files, formatted as NTFS, hdd = 450gig
F:\ = Music\movies, formatted as NTFS, hdd = 450gig

Followed the instruction in thread

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

Method 2 windows 7 installed first

then installed window xp sp2 on 2nd hdd

Once xp installed and rebooting for the first time I get following error

Error loading operating system.

Can someone help me out?.....plz, not sure why i get an error following the above instruction to a tee...

 

[not so gray matter]

You could try running a system repair. Otherwise, maybe try installing XP first?

 

[seekermeister]

Are those partitions on 4 separate drives? If so, I would recommend only installing one OS per drive. Doing this, you would eliminate the use of a boot loader provided by an OS or third party source. You would then set your preferred OS as first in boot priority in the BIOS, and switch when needed by tapping F8 during the first boot screen to access the BBS Popup Menu, to select which drive to boot. This will provide a much more reliable method of dealing with multiple OSs than using a boot loader.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, while installing an OS on one drive, disconnect all others, so that as far as that installation is concerned, it is totally alone.

 

[Navop]

They are all separate drives.

 

[gregrocker]

Will XP start correctly if you unplug Win7 HD? Or vice versa? Have you attempted to create a Dual boot yet using EasyBCD?

Please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map, using Snipping Tool in Start Menu, attach file using paper clip in Reply box.

You can have either a BIOS managed Dual boot where you set one HD to boot first (after DVD) or trigger the other OS HD by using the shortcut key given on first BIOS splashscreen for Boot menu. This makes the HD's independent so they can come and go as you please.

Or you can have a Windows-managed Dual boot set up using EasyBCD 2.0 which will create a Boot Menu at startup, however the drives become interdependent and cannot be easily removed without recovering MBR.

Let us know which you want and we will give you the steps based on the screenshot.

 

[Navop]

tried the link in previous post and i never got it to run.

Now will install win 7 to first hdd, then will install window xp to
the next hdd.

But before i install win xp will go into computer bios and remove the hdd
that contains window 7.

once all is go will try re connecting the hdd and boot system.

 

[seekermeister]

But before i install win xp will go into computer bios and remove the hdd that contains window 7.

Just to be sure that I was clear, by disconnecting the harddrives, I was speaking of physically disconnecting them via a cable. Pull the power cable. The only thing that you do in the BIOS is to select the booting priority of the HDs, once the OSs are installed.

 

[seekermeister]

Checking Google, it appears that it depends on which Asus motherboard that you have, as to which key will produce the BBS Popup Menu. If F8 doesn't work, try Esc.

EDIT: It will probably tell you which key to use on the first BIOS screen.

 

[Saltgrass]

Boot to the Install DVD and go to repair, command prompt and type the following:

bootrec /fixmbr

hit enter and wait for response.

bootrec /fixboot

hit enter and wait for response.

exit out of repair and reboot.

 

[Navop]

ok installed windows 7 on one hdd and then I went to my bios and switch my drive 0 with drive 1

this is my bios setup

disk 0 = win 7
disk 1 = win xp

in the bios i just switch them around to which ever i want to boot first

here is a view of my hdd management

Now is thier a way to switch from one os to another without going into
thew bios and switch the drives .

 

[gregrocker]

Set preferred OS HD to boot first in BIOS setup, after DVD drive.

Then use the key given on first boot screen for Boot Menu to trigger the other OS HD instead. This could be F10, F12, ESC, F8 - it will be revealed on the first bootup screen.

If you cannot find which key, then post back your exact computer or mobo make/model and someone will look it up for you.

Your Disk Management drive map looks correct.

 

[Navop]

its F8 to select the drive, will try it and see what happens

 

[Navop]

Ok rebooted the system and to switch from one os to another I just use the F8 key and boot from the right disk.

Thanks