Dual Boot Problem

[johnny02004976]

im currently running a 250Gb SATA with XP SP2 installed, i decided to try MCE on my spare SATA drive, so i installed it and everything runs fine.

The problem i have now, is that i dont get a dual boot option, it ONLY runs the new MCE install. Ive tried removing the drive, removing the cable from the mobo dosent work at all, it just asks me to insert a bootable media.

Any ideas????

[EllTheGamer]

Since its a new install of windows you probably have a different boot.ini for each os or the same one on both hard drives (or it deleted the existing boot record and put one on the new os hdd so that when you take it out it has no boot record to load and is therefore asking you for bootable media) so you get get the option in the boot.ini on your master hdd what you need is a boot.ini that has both records in (one for xp one for mce),(im sure someone here must know or its off to google for that) OR you could switch to a different master drive everytime you want to switch.

If you just want a quick recovery to just your normal os if it IS win xp keep just the relevant hdd in and put in an xp disk and boot form the disk and go all the way to choosing a hdd to install on then select repair (dont use the automated system recovery unless you know whats whats in dos/command prompt)

[johnny02004976]

cheers mate - im going to edit the boot.ini file so to see if it will dual boot, but in not to sure what code to add, any ideas?? i currently have:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Media Center Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

[EllTheGamer]

The disk(0) number has to be changed to a 1 for the os that is on the secondary hard drive if it helps here is what is in my actual boot record:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=AlwaysOff

Later on when i get some time ill have a thorough look and figure it out for you if you havent had any luck.

[johnny02004976]

cheers mate, well i added some code to try modify it and i do now get dual boot option BUT when i select the XP it says it cant be booted - does it matter if the XP install is on another SATA HD??

[EllTheGamer]

It should be fine you just have to configure the values of the 0's in the ()'s to the right way round but like i say if you are still having trouble when i get back ill look at it properly.

[johnny02004976]

cheers mate

[EllTheGamer]

could i have a copy of your boot.ini for your mce pc please and i will do my best to make a dual boot record. Extremely relevat cos i jus installed xp64 on my second hard drive (after hearing your exp. i disconnected power from my main hdd and installed just to make sure) and it would be good if i could get dual boot working without having to switch settings around all the time.

[johnny02004976]

sure mate this is the code:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Media Center Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

[EllTheGamer]

sure mate this is the code:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Media Center Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

After a lot of fiddling i learned a decent amount and now if you change it to one of these:

-To have Xp normal as defult option in a dual boot setup (you choose os on startup) use:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Media Center Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Home Or Pro Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

-To have just your pc xp (home or pro) use:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Home Or Pro Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

[johnny02004976]

excellent i'll give it a go when i get in from work

apprecitate your efforts mate thanks

[EllTheGamer]

Thats perfectly alright anyway if it doesn't work then your install of windows no longer works cos that code (the dual boot one) is exactly right.

[johnny02004976]

mate just got back and tried it and it works a treat

thanks so much for your help

[EllTheGamer]

To tell you the truth im ecstatic cos i had a semi failure because my xp64 decided not to work in a dual boot as the slave boot hdd only as master.
Glad to help