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Thread: Fixing a dual-boot issue

  1. #1
    explorer.exe
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    Fixing a dual-boot issue

    Hi,

    I had my PC dual-booting between XP and Vista on separate partitions. I bought a new HDD and decided to have XP and Vista on the separate drives. So, using the hard drive management software, I migrated my XP install onto the new drive, and reformatted/repartitioned the old drive for Vista use.

    Now whenever I start the computer I am presented with a dual boot screen. Both options say "Windows (default)" and both of them run the XP installation (the only OS I have atm). The boot screen style is the older xp-style (not the screen Vista gave you with the smaller, cleaner text).

    I've looked at the boot.ini, but this only has 1 OS in it. I've tried using the "d:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt52 ALL /force" command to undo a Vista dual-boot (found on this site: http://www.istartedsomething.com/200...-boot-with-xp/ ). I've tried using both "fixboot" and "fixmbr" in the recovery console, and neither have fixed it.

    I have not yet attempted to re-install Vista, as I want to get this sorted so that it doesn't become a problem after Vista has gone in.

    Any ideas?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    Sexual Force johnny02004976's Avatar
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    mate, when i went to dual boot XP with XP64 (one OS per SATA drive) i had to re-write the boot.ini file on the primary boot disk as shown below

    Code:
    [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="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
    multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
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  3. #3
    explorer.exe
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    My boot.ini looks like this:

    Code:
    ;
    ;Warning: Boot.ini is used on Windows XP and earlier operating systems.
    ;Warning: Use BCDEDIT.exe to modify Windows Vista boot options.
    ;
    [boot loader]
    timeout=30
    default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\windows
    [operating systems]
    I don't think it's using the boot.ini file, and it's going elsewhere. Is there any way of getting windows to let me view these hidden boot files, so I can see what might be happening?

  4. #4
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    • tinners's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Intel P35 Shuttle
      • CPU:
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      • Memory:
      • OCZ - 2Gb + Corsair TwinX 2Gb
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    Have you tried VistaBootPro ?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by tinners View Post
    Have you tried VistaBootPro ?
    Hes only got XP installed at the moment (see first post).

    I wouls have thought using the FIXMBR and FIXBOOT commands would have fixed it.

    Edit you boot.ini file to this:

    [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="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
    Last edited by s_kinton; 03-10-2006 at 10:54 AM.

  6. #6
    explorer.exe
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    Did that, and now I've got a 'hal.dll' error. After a bit of googling, I'm using the "bootcfg /rebuild" command in the recovery console.

    I'll update if that works.

    UPDATE: It did. Thanks to everyone for their help.
    Last edited by Silent Shark; 03-10-2006 at 09:41 PM.

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