Dual Boot Installation with Windows 7 and XP

@debugged At this point, I just can't delete/format/corrupt my win 7 - It would be an epic catastrophe for me :/

@gregrocker Converted XP partition to Primary (all went smooth), but still can't add a new entry with Win XP.

If not, try running an XP Repair Install to load XP's boot files into its partition. PC Support - By Category

More or less, but basically this looks like re-installing the whole system - but I guess it is the only available option for me.

[+]
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/operat...prepair1_4.htm

What about Recovery Console, could it be any use for me?

Try Rebuild MBR on PW CD Disk tab, then try adding XP again.

You can also boot Repair CD or DVD Repair to run Startup Repair to see if it finds any issues to resolve. These two operations may restore the MBR to where XP can be added.

Reconsidering Repair Install, I'd do it from Win7 desktop to give Win7 the chance to correctly configure the Dual Boot as it does when it's installed last. Repair Install

If this fails, you can assume the boot sector is corrupted requiring the HD to be wiped before reinstalling XP and then Win7. SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

I'm after the xp repair/reinstalling. Still no luck. Opened EasyBCD (under xp):

Code:

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=C:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default                 {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
displayorder            {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 30

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=F:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
recoverysequence        {0f07142d-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=F:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
nx                      OptIn

I've tried to add xp entry - same error as before. I've tried add another win 7 entry - Entry #2 looked almost the same as the one above (it was one or two lines shorter). Reboot. XP auto booting. I had to run again win 7 dvd to fix win 7 booting. Now I run EasyBCD under win 7 a still the same dead end.

Here's a screen from driver manager from xp:


I have two thoughts:
1. I'm guessing that the thing that made xp partition Logical during the first installation, was the quick ntsc format during pre-instaltion, coz thats the only thing that I didn't done during the second time - now the partition is Primary.
2. Maybe all the problem is because of the folder name - WINXP. Maybe the "add new entry" option can't handle this situation, where win xp is in WINXP folder instead of WINDOWS?

bolekilolek said:

I'm after the xp repair/reinstalling. Still no luck. Opened EasyBCD (under xp):

Code:

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=C:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default                 {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
displayorder            {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 30
 
Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=F:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
recoverysequence        {0f07142d-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=F:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
nx                      OptIn

I've tried to add xp entry - same error as before. I've tried add another win 7 entry - Entry #2 looked almost the same as the one above (it was one or two lines shorter). Reboot. XP auto booting. I had to run again win 7 dvd to fix win 7 booting. Now I run EasyBCD under win 7 a still the same dead end.

Here's a screen from driver manager from xp:


I have two thoughts:
1. I'm guessing that the thing that made xp partition Logical during the first installation, was the quick ntsc format during pre-instaltion, coz thats the only thing that I didn't done during the second time - now the partition is Primary.
2. Maybe all the problem is because of the folder name - WINXP. Maybe the "add new entry" option can't handle this situation, where win xp is in WINXP folder instead of WINDOWS?

Your System Reserved partition should not be C:

Works now. :)

I had to borrow diffrent copy of win xp, one with system folder name WINDOWS instead of WINXP.

I've installed winxp, booted with win 7 dvd, fixed autoboot, loaded win 7, opened EasyBCD and added a new entry:

EeasyBCD log from Win XP:

Code:

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=C:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default                 {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
displayorder            {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
                        {0f071433-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 30
displaybootmenu         Yes

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=G:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
recoverysequence        {0f07142d-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=G:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
nx                      OptIn

Real-mode Boot Sector
---------------------
identifier              {0f071433-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=G:
path                    \NST\ntldr
description             Windows XP

and log from Win 7:

Code:

Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume1
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default                 {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
displayorder            {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
                        {0f071433-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 30
displaybootmenu         Yes

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {0f07142c-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
recoverysequence        {0f07142d-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
recoveryenabled         Yes
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {0f07142b-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
nx                      OptIn

Real-mode Boot Sector
---------------------
identifier              {0f071433-323b-11e0-9522-f7a3e052e6be}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \NST\ntldr
description             Windows XP

Your System Reserved partition should not be C:

Unfortunately (or not), this part looks exactly the same as in the previous installation. But it works perfectly. I have switched between both systems few times and can't see any downsides of this situation.

toobyteme said:

Hi, I have windows 7 on my laptop. I created a primary partition for XP but when I try to load it I get a message that says "windows can not find any drives on this computer". What part of the tutorial did I miss?

Someone replied to my query, and said that I had too many partitions (thank you). I reformatted to 3 partitions(see attachment), and still get the same message. The laptop is a Gateway CX2618 with a SATA drive. I inserted the drivers with nLite as per the first page....no luck. Please help.

toobyteme said:

toobyteme said:

Hi, I have windows 7 on my laptop. I created a primary partition for XP but when I try to load it I get a message that says "windows can not find any drives on this computer". What part of the tutorial did I miss?

Someone replied to my query, and said that I had too many partitions (thank you). I reformatted to 3 partitions(see attachment), and still get the same message. The laptop is a Gateway CX2618 with a SATA drive. I inserted the drivers with nLite as per the first page....no luck. Please help.

Your PC has Intel 915 chipset, no need to any sata drivers, Partitions are oki.

You need to Bring Windows XP SP3 CD to Install Windows XP on That Laptop. Your CD does not contain necessary Drivers.

Hey Brink, I've Successfully installed WinXP Pro on the second HDD using your "Method 2" Tutorial. TKS very much, But now I have a small problem . On the "Boot Manager" Screen lists Win 7 and 2 Win XP Pro's, all 3 listing work I must have hit the add button twice not realizing EasyBCD had already finished. How do I delete one?? I've tried "administrative Tools/Boot But win XP Pro is not listed. Any Ideas??
TKS RJBuild

In EasyBCD:
1. "View Settings" button: look here first to make sure you know which entry you want to get rid of.
2. "Edit Boot Menu" button. Delete the redundant entry.
3. "Save Settings" button.