Win 7 / XP dual boot problem

[WhiteDragon32]

So, I have XP pro. I got Win 7 Ultimate and installed it on a different partition. Boot loader sees Win 7 and sees "an older OS". I select the other OS and it gives me an error of "Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: Windows\System32\Hal.dll ". I know about EasyBC, but I don't want to use it because I need to know how to fix this type of stuff manually (network admin here).

I found a reference on how to fix this if using XP ("Invalid Boot.ini" or "Windows could not start" error messages when you start your computer), but I am unsure if this will over-write the MBR and then make Win 7 unusable.

Does anyone know how to fix this issue and get Win 7 pointing to the correct partition via manually (non 3rd party tools).

 

[Arc]

Hi WhiteDragon32, welcome to SF

Way earlier, when I was a newbie, I have seen SIW2 to use this technique .

At first, make your system reserved partition visible in disk management (Right click, and then give it a drive letter , say "S").

Now download View attachment xpbtfiles.zip , extract the three files, and copy them in "S" .

Open an http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/783-elevated-command-prompt.html ,

Type bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d "Windows XP" hit enter
Type bcdedit /set {ntldr} device boot hit enter
Type bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr hit enter
Type bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast hit enter .

Close the command prompt, and restart your PC .

If you ask me , I'd say that it is easier to use EasyBCD

 

[gregrocker]

Install EasyBCD 2.0 to Win7, Add XP, accept offered Boot Files, let autocomplete, Save, restart.

If this fails, please post back a screenshot of your full Disk Management drive map using Snipping Tool in Start Menu.

 

[Arc]

Install EasyBCD 2.0 to Win7, Add XP, accept offered Boot Files, let autocomplete, Save, restart.

Hi Greg !
White Dragon wants to do it manually He dont want to use EasyBCD

I know about EasyBC, but I don't want to use it because I need to know how to fix this type of stuff manually (network admin here).


Does anyone know how to fix this issue and get Win 7 pointing to the correct partition via manually (non 3rd party tools).

 

[Night Hawk]

There's one option for setting the default OS along with renaming the XP entry but is not able to add new boot entries into the BCD store called BellaVista.

That will display all entries and allow you to change the description. It also requires no installation being a stand alone BCD editing tool.

The Hall.dll file can manually be expanded from the I386 folder while booted to the recovery console on the XP cd when first selecting R when first booting up with the disk. An old blog provides the command to use at the dos like command prompt window you see there. Restore Hal.dll - How To Restore Hal.dll From the Windows XP CD - Hal.dll

If simply replacing the missing file still fails to see XP start up since the entry to boot XP is already present you might have to perform a repair or fresh install to repair the problem as a last resort. That would mean using the startup repair tool for seeing 7 running again once the mbr is rewritten for XP.