I can't boot XP anymore after installation, I messed up

[sagebrushfire]

Okay so I installed Windows 7 after taking a break from the Beta.

Unfortunately it didn't do what it usually does and let me boot "an older version" or anything like that. It just booted Windows 7.

I read some stuff on this forum and ended up using bcdedit to try and fix it. These are the exact commands I entered:

bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Windows XP"

bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=C:

bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr

bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast

Note: C: Is where XP is. O: is where Win7 is.

After doing that I got a dual boot screen at start-up. When I select Windows 7 I start windows 7. When I select Windows XP it just restarts the computer and shows me the screen again.

Any suggestions? I don't know how to get back into XP now. I guess I could disable the SATA than Win7 is on and it would be forced to start up XP (which is on an IDE) but I really want to get this dual boot business fixed.

I would just say screw it and abandon XP for now except I password protected my files and now I can't get to them unless I transfer ownership one by one. :S


EDIT: I fixed my problem, and in an unexpected way. After I posted I was frantically trying to decide what was different this time (as I had gotten this setup to work before). I then remembered that I had set my SATA drive as the primary boot drive in the bios in my effort to get Windows 7 to work when the boot sector was corrupt. I changed it back to my IDE drive (the way it originally was) and the dual booting worked again.

I never would have thought that would be the problem. It doesn't explain other users who had the exact same problem though. I doubt very many people decided to play with the controllers in the bios.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Thanks for sharing your solution. Now others can learn from it as well.

 

[sagebrushfire]

^Yeah I figure the post isn't a total loss. I know I hate when I google a problem and I get forum threads with no answers or just people saying "Google it!"

Here's a synopsis for clarity:

If you install windows 7 on a partition or extra harddrive and you already have Windows XP installed, Windows 7 will usually set up dual-boot by itself. If something happens and your Windows 7 installation never gets to boot up for the first time just use the repair tool and DON'T change the Hard Drive Controller order in your BIOS. Use the Bcdedit fix that I quoted and it should work again.