Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

gregrocker · 29 Jan 2012

This is rare since both drives should be visible to the other by default. Have you changed any settings that might at all affect this?

Try sharing the drive in it's Properties.

boscru · 29 Jan 2012

No option to share it while in XP. Shared it in W7 but in XP it still shows empty with the incorrect label.

gregrocker · 29 Jan 2012

I also got this from the tutorial author:

If for some reason his XP doesn't see the Windows 7 installation, then he might check to see if it's something like in the tutorial below where it may be hidden.

System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete - Vista Forums

Was there anything done differently during install or setup that might have blocked the normal default behavior of Explorer seeing the other OS's files?

boscru · 29 Jan 2012

I don't think I did anything they may have blocked the normal default behavior of Explorer seeing the other OS's files?
I did do the manual regedit to prevent XP from deleting W7 restore points.

gregrocker · 29 Jan 2012

Was this before the files stopped being visible?

Did you set a Restore Point?

If so I would undo the regedit to see if it changes.

boscru · 29 Jan 2012

I did not check it until after I did the regedit fix.I have done a couple of restore points in W7. If I change the XP registry back won't I lose my restore points in W7.

I went into Disk Management in both OSs and this is the way they are listed;

XP Disk Management shows the XP Drive as: XP (C) Healthy (System), W7 drive as (D) Healthy and spare as Spare (F) Healthy (Active).
W7 Disk Management shows the XP Drive as: XP (D) Healthy (System, Active, Primary Partition), W7 drive as W7(D) Healthy (Boot, Page File, Crash Dump, Primary Partition) and spare as Spare (F) Healthy (Active, Primary Partition).

I just noticed on the link you gave me on restore points.
System Restore Points - Stop XP Dual Boot Delete - Vista Forums

There is a warning "This does not actually fix the problem. It is a workaround that will stop XP from deleting the restore points and shadow copies. After you restart XP, you will not be able to access the volume Vista and/or Windows 7 is on from XP. However, you can still access the volume that XP is on from Vista and Windows 7."

So I guess it's a known problem without a fix at this point.

I logged into W7 and checked the Restore Points. There were 5. I then logged into XP and changed the registry back. I booted back into XP as the instructions said. I now see the folders and files on the W7 drive and the label was correct. I then booted into W7 and checked the restore points. There were none. I will change the registry back as I would rather have the restore points and deal with the viewing of the W7 drive problem.

gsternberg · 29 Jan 2012

Hi I am trying to install xp on laptop that already has windows 7 I followed instructions above and everytime my computer reboots with xp disk I get the blue screen of death it tells me it shut down before any damage can take place and will go no further I cant even get to the installation part. Any ideas?

theog · 30 Jan 2012

gsternberg said:

Hi I am trying to install xp on laptop that already has windows 7 I followed instructions above and everytime my computer reboots with xp disk I get the blue screen of death it tells me it shut down before any damage can take place and will go no further I cant even get to the installation part. Any ideas?

1) First check for all the Win XP drivers for your hardware on the manufacturer's web site.
2) Can you post a screen shot of Disk management?
3) For better help with problems, Can you post your specs.

dean42mvg · 31 Jan 2012

gregrocker said:

First try booting the XP CD to see if you can create a partition there and full Format NTFS. Report back exactly what happens including verbatim error messages.

no go. when i remove the boot option of my dvd drive, i just get a blinking cursor after after i boot from XP Installation CD and it partitions / full formats / copies the XP install files / reboots on it's own

would using this type of HD cause a roblem ?

Western Digital Caviar Blue 320 GB Bulk/OEM Hard Drive 3.5 Inch, 16 MB Cache, 7200 RPM SATA II WD3200AAKS

gregrocker · 31 Jan 2012

I dont' know why the HD would be the problem, it's the SATA controller driver which is not in the XP CD typically.

But since the CD sees your HD and formats a partition on it, then it must be something else. Are you using an SP3 XP CD? Are you sure it's only completed copying the files when it reboots and hangs? If so, try pulling out the CD as it reboots.

Have you also tried setting HD first to boot, then triggering the CD to boot using the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key given on first boot screen?

You can try another (perhaps older) HD to see. Having XP on a separate HD installed with the other HD unplugged is a much better Dual Boot solution, anyway.