I am trying to install a dual boot system win 7 x64 and xp x86

[Bassman_soundking]

Help, I have windows 7 64 bit and I tried to install xp on a separate partition. Both are installed now, but xp is now drive C: and 7 is now drive D: I can no longer get onto windows 7 at all. I deleted windows xp hoping 7 would be default now. It just sD:ys now that files are missing on xp and I can not boot up. I have screwed up my win7 install now! I am typing from Asus xpress gate, a motherboard bios utility. Can anyone please help me to restore windows 7 without deleting data and re-installing?

 

[brandonwh64]

i used grub to do a dual boot back in the day!

 

[Niarod]

Hi bassman, first of all don't panic!
Before you installed xp was seven the only os present in your hard drive?
How did u "delete" windows xp?

 

[Bassman_soundking]

Ok, I am back! I used win 7 dvd to repair the corrupt startup. I had to do it a few times b4 it worked.
I have a projector that I am trying to use in my Theater. It used to recognize my dvi output, not it does not. I sent it in and got a replacement. I still cant get the pj to see the dvi, even though the pc sees it. I can use any othe input besides the dvi. I installed xp as a last resort to see if the pj would see the dvi from that os.

The way I deleted xp was I used the xp disk and acted like I was gonna install xp then deleted the xp partition, assuming the 7 would be default again, buit that didnt work obviously.

Anyway I guess I dont really need help on this area of the forum anymore. I need to find an area here that ppl can help me make my pj detect and run from the dvi input.

 

[Mussels]

The way I deleted xp was I used the xp disk and acted like I was gonna install xp then deleted the xp partition, assuming the 7 would be default again, buit that didnt work obviously.

the boot files for both OS's are put on the partition where your first OS was installed. you erased your boot files.

 

[Bassman_soundking]

I read somewhere there is a boot.ini file that neede to be separated from the os partition or something. I dont understand it though. What happened was the win 7 was called Cdrive, then xp labeled itself as C, so then 7 got renamed D. I guess because the boot file was not separated the system just the last installed os?

 

[Mussels]

I read somewhere there is a boot.ini file that neede to be separated from the os partition or something. I dont understand it though. What happened was the win 7 was called Cdrive, then xp labeled itself as C, so then 7 got renamed D. I guess because the boot file was not separated the system just the last installed os?

the boot file goes to the first partition. not the one labelled C:


when installing an OS, disconnect all other HDD's.
When you want to change OS's, change the boot order in your BIOS (or use the quick boot menu, they all have one these days)

 

[Bassman_soundking]

the boot file goes to the first partition. not the one labelled C:


when installing an OS, disconnect all other HDD's.
When you want to change OS's, change the boot order in your BIOS (or use the quick boot menu, they all have one these days)

I am only using one hdd right now, and so both os's were on same hdd. When I booted up it didnt give me the screen to choose which I want for some reason. When I tried to do a dual os with win 7 32 and 64 bit it gave me a choice to choose either one then.

 

[slyfox2151]

If you want to dual boot Windows 7 and XP, you MUST install XP then install Windows 7, not the otherway around (what you did without knowing )

the XP boot manager is not compatible with windows 7, but 7s is compatible with XP. so if u install 7 it fill fix up XP.

to sum that up,

Insert XP disk, setup the partitions. one for XP one for Windows 7.
Install XP.
Shutdown/Reboot.
insert 7 Disk.
Install to the other partition.

now if all goes well it will give you the option to boot either XP or 7 when u boot your PC up.

 

[Mussels]

I am only using one hdd right now, and so both os's were on same hdd. When I booted up it didnt give me the screen to choose which I want for some reason. When I tried to do a dual os with win 7 32 and 64 bit it gave me a choice to choose either one then.

i advice against that. you should use seperate drives.

 

[slyfox2151]

i advice against that. you should use seperate drives.

Why, whats wrong with doing that?

 

[Mussels]

Why, whats wrong with doing that?

more of the same as what he's already experiencing. the loss of one OS tends to result in the loss of both, due to the sharing boot files.

you also lose both OS's if you get hit by a virus or drive failure as well.

 

[Bassman_soundking]

I do have another hdd, it is an external one that I use to store movies music games pics. I coul;d use that To hold one of the os's I guess.

 

[Mussels]

I do have another hdd, it is an external one that I use to store movies music games pics. I coul;d use that To hold one of the os's I guess.

wont work too well on an external, and if you use it for storage i suggest leaving it as is. why risk the data?

 

[Bassman_soundking]

wont work too well on an external, and if you use it for storage i suggest leaving it as is. why risk the data?

Yeah that is what I though. I am waiting to have money at the same time newegg has a good sale on hdd's. I plan on getting a few. I have an old ide hdd and dvd-rw drive and want to remedy that soon...lol.

 

[slyfox2151]

that is correct mussels,

however inserting the 7 disk should fix any boot issues if it gets corrupted.

and he should have backups "external HDD" so even if his drive dies he wont lose anything.


EDIT: Double post
he also has the "INSTANT OS" feature on his mobo for browsing ECT.

better yet, grab ubuntu or somthing and install that onto a USB if you want a real Backup OS.

 

[Mussels]

that is correct mussels,

however inserting the 7 disk should fix any boot issues if it gets corrupted.

and he should have backups "external HDD" so even if his drive dies he wont lose anything.

but theres no guarantee the 7 disk wont find the XP install, for example. if the XP install is corrupt, he has to reinstall XP first, then reinstall 7.

 

[slyfox2151]

there is a risk that it wont find XP yes,

but there are some simple tools to fix that, BCD for example.

after you install windows 7, create a backup of your boot files and save it somewhere safe.
that way if windows 7 does not find XP. you can boot into 7, run BCD and replace the BOOT.\



you are correct and i do agree with you mussels. however atm he cannot afford a 2nd HDD, i am simply informing him of a workaround for the time being untill he can buy a separate HDD. yes there is some risks involved, but its no different then what he has atm. if his HDD goes down with 1 OS, he still cant boot.

 

[Mussels]

there is a risk that it wont find XP yes,

but there are some simple tools to fix that, BCD for example.

after you install windows 7, create a backup of your boot files and save it somewhere safe.
that way if windows 7 does not find XP. you can boot into 7, run BCD and replace the BOOT.\



you are correct and i do agree with you mussels. however atm he cannot afford a 2nd HDD, i am simply informing him of a workaround for the time being untill he can buy a separate HDD. yes there is some risks involved, but its no different then what he has atm. if his HDD goes down with 1 OS, he still cant boot.

all a waste of time that can be avoided by doing it my way.

 

[Bassman_soundking]

wow, confusing to me....

 

[slyfox2151]

all a waste of time that can be avoided by doing it my way.

Your way does not solve his problem right now.

he has already said he cannot afford a new HDD.

its upto him to choose what way he will go, wait till he can afford a new HDD or follow the directions i gave him.

 

[Mussels]

Your way does not solve his problem right now.

he has already said he cannot afford a new HDD.

indeed. but it is how to prevent this situation occuring again.

 

[slyfox2151]

well Bassman_soundking, its upto you, follow what i said and read up on BCD and how windows boots.

or wait untill you can afford a new HDD.

 

[Bassman_soundking]

I appreciate everyone's help, and I will do some research on windows before I decide where to go from here.

 

[johndept1]

i think your cd have problem.