Problem with Dual-boot, installed XP on a computer with Windows 7

[manwelb6]

I am writing this on another computer. I can assure you, that I have never found myself in this kind of frustration when it comes to computers. I have a computer which has Windows 7 installed on it. I have some old games and applications I've always wanted to use, but couldn't because of compatibility issues. I decided to follow a tutorial here on this forum to install Windows XP using dual boot. Now, my computer has two internal drives. An SSD of 120GB with Windows 7 on it, and a 1TB drive which I split into two partitions in order to be able to install Windows XP. I have also supposedly slipstreamed the drivers into the installation. All went fine in the setup, until it had to restart. It restarted and I was greeted by the Windows XP Pro loading screen. I was proud of myself that I had managed to do it.... oh wait... only 3 seconds passed, and this beast BSOD pops up. Error code 0x07B. I tried to restart again, and noticed I am stuck on Windows XP now, something that has to do with the bootloader from what I've read. I tried inserting the Windows 7 OEM disk and performed a repair, used the bootrec commands (Kept saying no element found), made the partition active using diskpart, searched for COUNTLESS hours on the internet, maybe something on some forum could be of some help, nothing. And finally, MY WORST MISTAKE, was deleting the partition I "installed" Windows XP on. When I try to boot, I'm now stuck with: Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem. Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware. Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for addition information.

I tried using diskpart to change the drive letters back to the original ones, nothing. I think that this message I'm getting is coming from XP. I need some REAL help with this. How to get back to Windows 7? Are my files safe?? Will using an adapter to connect the harddrive as a USB to another computer get me back my files? I've done a backup, but I forgot that some more up to date files are in my 120GB SSD drive. I am in some real trouble and need some help ASAP. I know how to format, but I would like to keep that as a LAST resort.

Thanks

 

[gregrocker]

If you have separate hard drives then you should have unplugged the Win7 SSD to install XP on the other hard drive so this could not happen. Then boot your choice via the BIOS.

Now unplug all other drives and peripherals besides the Win7 SSD, confirm the 100mb System Reserved (if you have it) or the Win7 partition (if you don't) is Partition Marked Active,

Then run Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times until Win7 starts.

If you want to install XP, unplug all other drives except the drive you want it installed upon. Using the XP CD, I would delete its partition, create and full format new to make sure you have the XP partition table.

 

[manwelb6]

That problem is fixed, I formatted, but I have another problem. I connected the drives to an adapter and saved my files. Now, I installed windows 7 in the SSD, but in the bios, not only I can't see the SSD in the boot order, but it is also set to boot from the HDD not the SSD, but I'm sure I installed Windows in the SSD, and whenever I press F8 to boot from the SSD, I get BOOTMGR is missing. I literally don't know what's wrong. My computer also seems to be booting slower than normal.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you unplug all other hard drives during install as I just told you to do above?

Please post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image

 

[manwelb6]

I did not install XP, the bios is somehow set to boot from the 1TB HDD although Windows 7 is installed on the SSD. When I press F8 to choose what to boot from, I can see the SSD, but I can't see it in the boot order.