XP and Windows 7 Dual boot Issues

[Tester Ray]

Chances are something similar has been posted, but couldn't find any.

Have a system originally running XP/SP3. Added a second hard drive and did a clean install of Windows 7. When I try to start Windows 7 from the dual boot menu it starts a pre-boot disk check on the XP drive. If I allow the disk check to continue it makes both systems unbootable.

I then reinstalled Windows 7 but this time with the XP drive disconnected. The result was Windows XP and Windows 7 systems that work fine but I have to change the BIOS to switch systems. Tried adding a dual boot menu to the XP drive (EasyBCD & VistaBootPro) and had the same problem as before. Restored both drives without dual boot and then added a dual boot menu to the Windows 7 drive. Don’t have the disk check problem but selecting XP from the dual boot menu causes an immediate reboot and return to the menu.

Was able to do this with a second, similar system with no such problems.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Welcome!

First, disconnect the Windows 7 drive. Then make sure XP can boot without issue.

With the XP drive still connected, install Windows 7. When it is done, make sure the 7 drive is set to be the first in the boot order.

Then add XP manually to the BCD using EasyBCD 2.0. You will need to register first, but it is free.

 

[Tester Ray]

That eliminated the disk check problem. But did have one additional step. Windows 7 started OK from dual boot menu but XP got an \NTLDR error. Restarted Windows 7 and went to EasyBCD to look around. From the Tools menu I selected the Auto Configure boot.ini option. Dual Boot system now works great.

Thanks so much for your help - been fighting and reinstalling this for several days.

 

[Jonathan_King]

No problem, glad we could help.

If you have any more questions, we'll be happy to help.