Multi-boot/Dual-Boot Windows XP on Windows 7

[SIW2]

I would use wintoflash to get 7 recovery onto flash drive.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srOoGhm-jcI

Don't know what the Xp install error is.

 

[XboxOmac]

Ok I'm back. So what do those links do?
Should I try first with the hal.dll and see?

 

[gregrocker]

What is it you want to do exactly?

The missing HAL.dll is best repaired by a repair install of XP, which I was trying to help you do.

If you want to copy it, it is copied from the XP installer, but what are you going to copy it to?

 

[XboxOmac]

I'm putting the hal.dll on every folder I can find for now. Formatted the partition, causing to install all over XP.

 

[XboxOmac]

What is it you want to do exactly?

The missing HAL.dll is best repaired by a repair install of XP, which I was trying to help you do.

If you want to copy it, it is copied from the XP installer, but what are you going to copy it to?

It wouldn't let me do a repair... or at least I don't know, but it took me to a command prompt thing.

 

[gregrocker]

Let's try each of these using first "R" for Repair choice after booting XP:

HAL.DLL is Missing - Updated by MVP Alex Nichol
Option 1:
Boot from your CD and follow the directions to start Recovery Console. Then:

Attrib -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
DEL C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild
Fixboot

Option 2:
Boot from your CD and follow the directions below to start Recovery Console.

Insert the Setup compact disc (CD) and restart the computer. If prompted, select any options required to boot from the CD.
When the text-based part of Setup begins, follow the prompts; choose the repair or recover option by pressing R.

If you have a dual-boot or multiple-boot system, choose the installation that you need to access from the Recovery Console.
When prompted, type the Administrator password. (if you didn't create one try pressing enter).

At the system prompt, type Recovery Console commands; type help for a list of commands, or help commandname for help on a specific command.

Most likely you will need to expand the file from the CD. The command would be expand d:\i386\hal.dl_ c:\windows\system32\hal.dll. Substitute d: for the drive letter of your CD. Once you have expanded the file type "exit" to exit the Recovery Console and restart the computer.

 

[gregrocker]

What is it you want to do exactly?

The missing HAL.dll is best repaired by a repair install of XP, which I was trying to help you do.

If you want to copy it, it is copied from the XP installer, but what are you going to copy it to?

It wouldn't let me do a repair... or at least I don't know, but it took me to a command prompt thing.

That's why I repeatedly said that you had to ignore the first "R" and proceed with Setup until it discovers if there is an XP installation to repair.

I spent over an hour trying to get you to do this earlier and it was extremely frustrating.

If you are willing to try doing this now, then we can see if there is even an XP installation to repair. If not we can run the commands given in my post above. But there are dozens of fixes for this error on the web, and we should at least know if there is an installation in there to repair since running a repair install is the best way to fix it.

 

[XboxOmac]

What is it you want to do exactly?

The missing HAL.dll is best repaired by a repair install of XP, which I was trying to help you do.

If you want to copy it, it is copied from the XP installer, but what are you going to copy it to?

It wouldn't let me do a repair... or at least I don't know, but it took me to a command prompt thing.

That's why I repeatedly said that you had to ignore the first "R" and proceed with Setup until it discovers if there is an XP installation to repair.

I spent over an hour trying to get you to do this earlier and it was extremely frustrating.

If you are willing to try doing this now, then we can see if there is even an XP installation to repair. If not we can run the commands given in my post above. But there are dozens of fixes for this error on the web, and we should at least know if there is an installation in there to repair since running a repair install is the best way to fix it.

We're going to have to run commands I guess. Please, give me a step-by-step.

Let me send the video I recorded to see if I'm doing something wrong.

 

[gregrocker]

1) boot xp installer

2) ignore first "r" for repair and proceed with setup.

3) see if installer discovers an installation (should be one win7 and possibly one xp), exactly what it says, and if it then gives a repair option when highlighting xp.

If not, try installing XP again there again by highlighting XP.

 

[XboxOmac]

1) boot xp installer

2) ignore first "r" for repair and proceed with setup.

3) see if installer discovers an installation (should be one win7 and possibly one xp), exactly what it says, and if it then gives a repair option when highlighting xp.

If not, try installing XP again there again by highlighting XP.

What I bolded is my confusion.

 

[gregrocker]

Ok Boot from the installer.

Then when you get to the screen where it asks if you want R for repair, DO NOT CHOOSE "R" instead choose to continue Setup by hitting Enter.

Then tell me what comes next as it happens.

 

[XboxOmac]

I think I understood it the second time.

Ignore the "R" in the Welcome message of the installation.
When selecting a partition, highlight the partition that has XP on it./ Or click the partition (detected OS warning).

Does not give me the option to repair. The only place that asks for the repair is the first one.

You know... I'm started to get freaked out and may want to give up on this. I just want Windows 7 back. Other people have multi-boot, but I have no idea why not me.

 

[XboxOmac]

On the welcome screen I read a message saying

"To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R."

 

[gregrocker]

One reason why I want to see what partitions it finds is to know for sure your Win7 is still there.

Can you at least go back to that screen?

Is there some reason why you aren't willing to do this? I've tried a dozen times to get you to do this. It was the next step in troubleshooting 3-4 hours ago.

After that we can make your bootable Win7 repair stick and get it started up.

 

[XboxOmac]

One reason why I want to see what partitions it finds is to know for sure your Win7 is still there.

Can you at least go back to that screen?

Is there some reason why you aren't willing to do this? I've tried a dozen times to get you to do this. It was the next step in troubleshooting 3-4 hours ago.

After that we can make your bootable Win7 repair stick and get it started up.

Yes, the Windows 7 partition (main drive) is still there. Along with partition 4 with the XP installation.

And the reason I feel unwilling to do this is because my dad will get piss at me if I lose Windows 7. It's "Starter" and it came with no disc at all. (Well I'm guessing because it has no CD Drive)

 

[gregrocker]

May I ask how old you are?

Win7 is fully recoverable, lost its boot because XP was installed, may be reparable.

 

[XboxOmac]

May I ask how old you are?

15.

And I'm guessing that Windows 7 doesn't boot up because the default OS is now XP, correct?

Well then, I guess I'll give up on this, and just revert back to Windows 7.

 

[gregrocker]

Well you're pretty smart for a 15 year old, could have fooled me!

You slipstreamed an XP and created a bootable flashstick! Not many 15 years olds could do that.

Does your Dad know you are doing this now?

Tell him that WIn7 is totally recoverable but lost its boot because XP was installed enought to take over the boot.

We only need to convert your bootable flashstick into a Window 7 repair stick to get Win7 back up and running.

 

[XboxOmac]

We only need to convert your bootable flashstick into a Window 7 repair stick to get Win7 back up and running.

Well then let's get to it!
I tell you, my future job deals with Microsoft, I'll tell you that.
And I would guess that people near me (friends, family, etc) do say I'm smart with computers and such. A technician here couldn't connect the internet. I had to do it myself. And I was 12-13 yrs old

I'm more into System Security anyways. And I plan to stay on these forums helping out people with security problems, so you'll find me there alot.

 

[gregrocker]

While you were gone, my teacher SIW2 posted links to download the Win7 repair console.

http://www.sevenforums.com/installa...oot-windows-xp-windows-7-a-16.html#post440486

Download the ISO. He suggests you use Win2Flash to put it on stick. That's what you used before to make the bootable stick, right? Can it use ISO file? if not you may need to extract files.

You could also first try writing the ISO to the stick using UltraISO trial version bootable tab which you downloaded yesterday.

He says WIn2Flash will work, tho. I just looked at the vid tutorial and it does ISO's. Looks easy.