I'm having a problem with dual booting XP and Windows 7

[MFP]

I have a problem and would greatly appreciate any help.

I'm using a new hard drive, and doing a completely fresh install. I started with Windows 7 - all went fine. After sorting out drivers, rebooting a few times etc, I created the partition for XP, rebooted and installed. Told XP setup to install to the new partition. It got to the point where it finished copying all the files and rebooted. Then I got the "error loading operating system" error.

It will load neither XP nor 7. I tried booting from the 7 disc and doing a startup repair so I can fix things within 7 using EasyBCD, but it didn't work - the repair software says it can't find a problem, and upon rebooting I still can't get into XP or 7.

Any suggestions?


edit: I tried the advice in this post, but it didn't help: http://forums.techarena.in/operating-systems/1142651.htm#post4306972

edit2: For some reason, Windows 7 startup repair utility detects its installation as being on F: - my DVD drive, when it is in fact installed to C:. XP is installed onto a partion allocated to G:, and its own repair console recognises that correctly, as well as also detecting 7 as being on F:.

edit3: The driver letters keep changing. I've just gone into the XP partition setup in the recovery console and in the install menu both a couple of times in a row, and they keep changing! Also the boot order just got changed in the BIOS, and my OS drive somehow moved to the lowest priority hard drive below my two storage drives.

 

[MFP]

Well, I got back into Windows 7 by deleting the XP partition. All ship-shape in disk management. Not sure what to do now to get XP running as well, though.

 

[gregrocker]

Use Win7 Disk managment to shrink Win7 to make room, but not to create the partition for XP.

Use XP installer to create and format the XP partition, which has a slightly different partition table.

Once XP is installed to its partition, use EasyBCD 2.0 beta (after doing quick registration to use beta) to add XP to dual boot menu on Add/Remove tab: accept offered boot files, Add OS, Save, reboot to dual boot menu.

 

[Saltgrass]

I will assume you have the 100 mb System Reserved Partition for Win 7??? If that is the case, there is a way to install XP but it takes a couple of tricks.

Let us know.

 

[MFP]

Use Win7 Disk managment to shrink Win7 to make room, but not to create the partition for XP.

Use XP installer to create and format the XP partition, which has a slightly different partition table.

Once XP is installed to its partition, use EasyBCD 2.0 beta (after doing quick registration to use beta) to add XP to dual boot menu on Add/Remove tab: accept offered boot files, Add OS, Save, reboot to dual boot menu.

Thanks - I did this, with the added step of assigning a drive letter to the system reserved partition before installing XP, and it worked. Did the EasyBCD steps in Windows 7, and all is now ship-shape.

2 further questions if you don't mind:

1. Some people seem to have all their drive letters change when they switch OS, but with me both see 7 as being on C:, but differ about XP - 7 says it's G: and XP says it's H:. Is that unusual?

2. What's the best way to go about checkdisking with this setup? Do I need to avoid boot-time checkdisks?

 

[gregrocker]

The drive letter is nearly irrelevant in this case. Allow it to concern you only if it presents any problems.

You can run Chkdsk for each drive from the other drive to avoid boot mode chkdsk - only a convenience. Right click HD in computer>Properties>Tools>Check Now>tick both boxes.

 

[FZ21Z]

I tried the advice in this post, but it didn't help: Installed Windows 7 to dual boot with XP but now cant log into XP - HELP - Operating Systems

Hi.

Have you tried this guide - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

 

[MFP]

The drive letter is nearly irrelevant in this case. Allow it to concern you only if it presents any problems.

'You can run Chkdsk for each drive from the other drive to avoid boot mode chkdsk - only a convenience. Right click HD in computer>Properties>Tools>Check Now>tick both boxes.

So a boot mode chkdsk with two OSes has not potential for harm or anything?

I tried the advice in this post, but it didn't help: Installed Windows 7 to dual boot with XP but now cant log into XP - HELP - Operating Systems

Hi.

Have you tried this guide - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html

That was the guide I used in the first place. It omits the extra steps I took to get it to work - perhaps it should be updated?