I messed up my Os installation

[freaksavior]

So i got windows 2k and installed it on my maxtor 40gb hdd and i already had xp amd vista on my wd 120gb hd. now since i installed w2k xp, and vista won't boot, it says windows 2000 file system arn't there please reistall. thats what it says when i boot of the wd hdd. how can i fix it to were xp and vista boot off the wd and w2k boot off the maxtor?

 

[muon]

So i got windows 2k and installed it on my maxtor 40gb hdd and i already had xp amd vista on my wd 120gb hd. now since i installed w2k xp, and vista won't boot, it says windows 2000 file system arn't there please reistall. thats what it says when i boot of the wd hdd. how can i fix it to were xp and vista boot off the wd and w2k boot off the maxtor?

Should be able to set priority of drives in the BIOS.

 

[freaksavior]

I did that. If i set it on the maxtor drive it says"ntldr loader is missing" and i unplug the maxtor drive and try to boot off the wd drive it says files are missing reinstall w2k. should i add the ntldr loader to the maxtor drive like it said? if so do i just do run do a repair console and put it on the drive?

 

[Deleted member 3]

I suggest you change the topic title.

 

[freaksavior]

ok i changed it. if git rid of the partition w/ 2k could that fix it?

 

[Alec§taar]

Usually, you should install OS' from Microsoft, in order of OLDEST first, to NEWEST last...

(The reasoning for this is because of bootup problems (usually, there are other potential issues like IE versions & personal folders, etc. @ times w/ diff. apps, etc.)).

What I would do, were I you @ this point (no, I haven't read everyone's reply here yet, so if I restate what they did? Pardon me... thanks!)...??

* Run RECOVERY CONSOLE from your XP install Cd & use the FIXBOOT command... it SHOULD correct it for BOTH XP & 2000 to bootup again, properly!

(Also: Be sure you have diskettes w/ RAID drivers (etc., anything you need for esoteric disk types &/or controllers) ready too, as you will need them if you run RAID's etc. when it asks for F6 pressing for drivers etc. et al)

APK

 

[Jonnycat]

Installing Windows to a drive if there is another drive (with it's own OS loaded) connected to the system always messes with the pre-existing OS. Look at the boot.ini file, and rebuild it using "bootcfg /rebuild".

 

[Alec§taar]

Installing Windows to a drive if there is another drive (with it's own OS loaded) connected to the system always messes with the pre-existing OS. Look at the boot.ini file, and rebuild it using "bootcfg /rebuild".

I've never done it that way, but it sounds like the RIGHT thing to try, ontop of what I wrote...



* Good call JC...

APK

 

[freaksavior]

So use the xp disc go into repair console and hit repair bootcfg?

 

[freaksavior]

Ok so i did the bootcfg /rebuild and it found two os's on the wd and one on the maxtor. So 2000 on the maxtor and xp and vista on the other. now in the boot loader it shows


ALL
ALL
Microsoft Windows 2000

So i take it it found the 2k installation but how can i get it to find the vista and xp installation????
Thanks
Aaron

 

[Alec§taar]

Ok so i did the bootcfg /rebuild and it found two os's on the wd and one on the maxtor. So 2000 on the maxtor and xp and vista on the other. now in the boot loader it shows


ALL
ALL
Microsoft Windows 2000

So i take it it found the 2k installation but how can i get it to find the vista and xp installation????
Thanks
Aaron

VISTA doesn't use "C:\boot.ini", only NT/2000/XP/Server 2003 do...



* Try this instead, from VISTA's toolset: BCDEDIT

(You'll have to logon to VISTA as "Administrator" to use it though)

http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/85cd5efe-c349-427c-b035-c2719d4af7781033.mspx

This MAY help also:

http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/driver/tips/Debug_Vista.mspx

APK

P.S.=> You have to work w/ the NEWEST Os' tools @ this point... apk

 

[freaksavior]

thanks for all your help i decided to scratch vista and so i have xp and 2k on my system now. so i will just wait till i can get my bro to get me vista at a student discount and then i will triple boot my system.

So thanks again problem solved

 

[Alec§taar]

thanks for all your help i decided to scratch vista and so i have xp and 2k on my system now. so i will just wait till i can get my bro to get me vista at a student discount and then i will triple boot my system.

So thanks again problem solved

Cool... & I guess it's wise to note to everyone, that VISTA no longer uses C:\BOOT.INI & that "bcdedit" as noted above, controls its boot process!



APK

 

[Jonnycat]

Thanks for the infos, Alex. First I had to ditch the autoexec when MS came out with the boot.ini stuff, now it looks like I'm'a gonna hafta learn about the BCEDIT thing, too.

Why do they keep fixing things that ain't broke?

 

[Alec§taar]

Thanks for the infos, Alex.

You're welcome...

First I had to ditch the autoexec when MS came out with the boot.ini stuff, now it looks like I'm'a gonna hafta learn about the BCEDIT thing, too.

fun, Fun, FUN...!!!

(lol, constant change...)

Why do they keep fixing things that ain't broke?

To sell new software primarily... imo, software oem's like MS' #1 goal? To make MONIES... large amounts, of course, because they are in business & do answer to stockholders screaming "make me more ca$h" next quarter!!!

(And yes, to fix things that ARE broken, or vulnerable, that you don't even realize are "potentially broken (into)"... VISTA has many improvements in it, beneath the "pretty skin" its new interface offers, for security!)



* And, to keep us "tech geeks" ahead of the pack of users, knowing stuff they DON'T, & keeping us pay worthy, lol... the TRULY "bright-side" imo!

(Employeability: Nothing like it in the WHOLE world, lol! Well, almost nothing!)

APK