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Thread ID: 83018 2007-09-16 06:33:00 dual boot vista/xp help! lisamarie01 (6731) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
591630 2007-09-16 06:33:00 ok i had originally installed xp and vista earlier this yr,i have two hard drives one is a 120gig with three partitions and vista on the main partition, the second hard drive is 40gig sata drive with windows xp on it, i decided to reinstall xp as it was having heaps of problems so unplugged my vista hard drive and re installed xp, then i started having problems as it lost the dual boot part i got them both to boot fine if i change the order in bios but i want to be able to choose, i used the information on this website www.pro-networks.org now when i re boot i can see the two options to boot into either xp or vista but when i choose xp it comes up with an error boot.ini missing, on that site i have seen info on finding it but i cant find it on my hard drive,i have found one boot.ini file but cant look at or edit the file it says "access is denied" i have seen info on how to create a boot.ini file but it all depends on my hard drives and im not sure how to do that, can anyone help? i think i just need the boot.ini file on my xp hard drive and all should be fine. thanks lisamarie01 (6731)
591631 2007-09-17 22:19:00 Bump. wratterus (105)
591632 2007-09-18 01:32:00 As you have found out the boot loader is altered with vista and XP. The best way to install is XP first, then install Vista so it will alter the Boot loader and allow both systems to boot correctly.

Take a look at This page (www.pro-networks.org) & This page (apcmag.com) for instructions on how to do it.

I have done this before - disconnect the Vista Drive, repair the boot loader in XP so that boots normally, then reconnect the Vista Drive, install the DVD and tell it to fix the Computer. That sometimes will alter the boot loader and allow duel booting .
If it doesn't work, make sure XP will boot on its own, you can then attach the Vista drive and reinstall vista to that drive, that will change the bootloader correctly.
But remember if you have two drives they must be both connected for the duel boot to work other wise it goes looking for adrive and cant find it and sometimes causes trouble. If both systems are on the same drive - no worries.
You can also get thrid party programs that wil allow duel booting - you just have to search google for them.
wainuitech (129)
591633 2007-09-18 07:10:00 I think you mean DUAL! PENTIUM (426)
591634 2007-09-18 07:27:00 I think you mean DUAL!

One little typo - big deal, who cares many peopel spell things wrong - and YES I spelt that wrong on purpose. This is a help forum - not a spelling Bee:p
wainuitech (129)
591635 2007-09-18 15:28:00 thanks wainuitech, your post was very helpful and i don't care about the spelling mistakes :) thanks!:) lisamarie01 (6731)
591636 2007-09-18 20:11:00 I think you mean DUAL!

No. Definitely duel.

This as all the fans of whatever O/S seem to try and convert others to their way of thinking.
Sweep (90)
591637 2007-09-18 22:30:00 Hey, I partitioned my hard drive and made it a dual boot with xp and vista. XP was my original install and has my antivirus on it, is there any way to get vista to run the anti virus thats already installed on xp or do i install another AV on the vista partition or leave it without an AV? Oh is the dual boot on a single HD a bad idea? Cheers for any information :) loftie (12835)
591638 2007-09-18 22:34:00 Hey, I partitioned my hard drive and made it a dual boot with xp and vista. XP was my original install and has my antivirus on it, is there any way to get vista to run the anti virus thats already installed on xp or do i install another AV on the vista partition or leave it without an AV? Oh is the dual boot on a single HD a bad idea? Cheers for any information :)

You'll need to install all your software again, especially anti virus on the Vista partition. Having two partitons and dual booting on the same hard disk is fine.

Welcome to PressF1 :thumbs:

For future reference, you will have a better chance of getting help if you start a new thread about your question, rather than piggyback on an old one. :cool:
wratterus (105)
591639 2007-09-18 23:07:00 Thanks wratterus, i was going to start a new thread but i figured since this one had seen activity today i thought i'd post in it, thanks again will now get installing! :) loftie (12835)
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