Xp/windows 7 dual boot

[toshmine]

I had Windows 7 installed on my PC. Today I installed Windows XP in another partition. But now when I restart my PC I dont get a DUAL BOOT mode screen. It automatically logs in XP. How do I log in WINDOWS 7 now?
Please help..

 

[Jonathan_King]

Edit your boot.ini file in XP to include the Win7 enty. Exact instructions how to do this can be found with a quick Google search.

 

[SIW2]

Sorry, that won't work.

You need to use 7 bootmgr and add XP to bcd.

There are several ways to do it.

One way is to run startup repair from 7 dvd - might take a few runs.

You should then be able to boot into 7.

Add XP entry to bcd by opening an elevated cmd prompt and typing ( press enter after each cmd):


bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d “XP”
bcdedit /set {ntldr} device boot
bcdedit /set {ntldr} path ntldr
bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast

put whatever name you like between the " ".

 

[Zardoc]

If code is too complicated

VistaBootPRO - Dual Boot Windows 7 or Vista with Windows XP

 

[SIW2]

Good point, Zardoc.

Unfortunately - they charge for VBPro now.

Happily, Mahmoud is still offering the excellent Easybcd free.

In fact I am on the NST Forum just now.

When you are back booted into 7, d/l it from the bottom of this page:

Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies


Use it to add XP entry to bcd, if you aren't comfortable with the command prompt.

Click Add/Remove entries.

Select The Active partition for the drive letter, and in the TYPE dropdown , select Windows NT/2K/XP/2K3.

Type the name you want , then click Add Entry.

 

[gregrocker]

EasyBCD should do it, but another way to is to run a repair install to the Win7 which will make it correctly installed second to XP, reasserting it's boot. A repair install is an upgrade of the same version over the existing O.S. Everything will remain exactly the same except for having to reactivate and re-edit any advanced graphics options.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Sorry, that won't work.

You need to use 7 bootmgr and add XP to bcd.

There are several ways to do it.

One way is to run startup repair from 7 dvd - might take a few runs.

You should then be able to boot into 7.

Add XP entry to bcd by opening an elevated cmd prompt and typing ( press enter after each cmd):


bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d “XP”
bcdedit /set {ntldr} device boot
bcdedit /set {ntldr} path ntldr
bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} /addlast

put whatever name you like between the " ".

I thought that bcdedit and the 7 repair features would only work with Vista on up. Am I incorrect in believing that the repair features won't recognize XP?

 

[Zardoc]

Good point, Zardoc.

Unfortunately - they charge for VBPro now.

Happily, Mahmoud is still offering the excellent Easybcd free.

In fact I am on the NST Forum just now.

When you are back booted into 7, d/l it from the bottom of this page:

Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies


Use it to add XP entry to bcd, if you aren't comfortable with the command prompt.

Click Add/Remove entries.

Select The Active partition for the drive letter, and in the TYPE dropdown , select Windows NT/2K/XP/2K3.

Type the name you want , then click Add Entry.

Are you serious? And they kept saying that it would stay free. Well were there is money to be made....

Yeah, EasyBCD is a good tool also.

 

[SIW2]

Hi Johnathan ,

You're right -7 startup repair won't repair XP - it dosn't need repairing in this case.

What needs repairing is the 7 startup. Then add XP to the 7 boot menu.

Do that either thru bcdedit or thru a tool like Easybcd.

Hi Zardoc,

Yes, it's a shame - they started charging for VBPro a little while ago.


Easybcd is great - and the new version - out soon - is even better.