Windows Vista Forums

Need help dual-booting Vista and XP
  1. #1


    Hiawatha Bray Guest

    Need help dual-booting Vista and XP

    I have a PC with two hard drives, one with XP, the other Vista. I had them
    dual-booting nicely, using the Windows Boot Manager that I installed when I
    first installed Vista. But I just did a complete reinstall of XP, and the
    boot manager is gone. I don't know how to reinstall the boot manager so I
    can dual-boot again. The machine just boots into XP. I want to use both.
    How can I reinstall the boot manager? Thanks.





      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  2. #2


    Jack Guest

    Re: Need help dual-booting Vista and XP

    1.
    Just copy out one executable file from Vista install DVD - bootsect.exe.
    Save it somewhere, for example on D:\. After you
    installed XP run this command from XP command line: d:\bootsect /nt60 c:
    /force. It will restore correct Vista bootsector and at the next restart
    you will see your previous Vista's bootmenu.
    You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr.
    2.
    If on C: drive you have a hidden \Boot catalog, then copy it out before
    formatting C: and restore it thereafter.
    Jack


    You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr. Sorry.
    "Hiawatha Bray" <watha@monitortan.com> wrote in message
    news:uDlfi.4961$pT4.2681@trndny06...
    >I have a PC with two hard drives, one with XP, the other Vista. I had them
    >dual-booting nicely, using the Windows Boot Manager that I installed when I
    >first installed Vista. But I just did a complete reinstall of XP, and the
    >boot manager is gone. I don't know how to reinstall the boot manager so I
    >can dual-boot again. The machine just boots into XP. I want to use both.
    >How can I reinstall the boot manager? Thanks.
    >




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  3. #3


    ...winston Guest

    Re: Need help dual-booting Vista and XP

    Install Vista Boot Pro or EasyBCD

    Here are some instructions that might help:
    VistaBoot Pro
    http://www.vistabootpro.org/
    Screenshots
    http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/al....php?cat_id=69
    Instructions
    http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=88231

    Easy BCD
    http://neosmart.net/gallery/v/neosmart/EasyBCD/1_60/
    FAQ's
    http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/FAQ
    Documentation
    http://neosmart.net/wiki/download/at...umentation.pdf

    Alternative..see the section Restoring Vista Dual Booting on this link for more EasyBCD info
    http://apcmag.com/5485/dualbooting_vista_and_xp


    ..winston



    "Hiawatha Bray" <watha@monitortan.com> wrote in message news:uDlfi.4961$pT4.2681@trndny06...
    :I have a PC with two hard drives, one with XP, the other Vista. I had them
    : dual-booting nicely, using the Windows Boot Manager that I installed when I
    : first installed Vista. But I just did a complete reinstall of XP, and the
    : boot manager is gone. I don't know how to reinstall the boot manager so I
    : can dual-boot again. The machine just boots into XP. I want to use both.
    : How can I reinstall the boot manager? Thanks.
    :
    :

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  4. #4


    Fishb8 Guest

    Re: Need help dual-booting Vista and XP




    Hi
    I'm no guru but have just done a Vista/XP dual boot. You need to download
    VistaBootPro 3.3 & .Net Framework 2.0 (from Microsoft, both free).
    Install the .NetFramework 2.0, first then the VistaBootPro.
    Open Vista BootPro, ignore the prompt to back up your BCD. Go to the
    Bootloader tab and "Re-install the Vista bootloader".
    Next, go the diagnostics tab and select "Run Diagnostics". Here you can
    rename both OS and select whichever one you want for default + the timer to
    chose, at boot-up.

    > You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr. Sorry.
    > "Hiawatha Bray" <watha@monitortan.com> wrote in message
    > news:uDlfi.4961$pT4.2681@trndny06...
    >>I have a PC with two hard drives, one with XP, the other Vista. I had
    >>them dual-booting nicely, using the Windows Boot Manager that I installed
    >>when I first installed Vista. But I just did a complete reinstall of XP,
    >>and the boot manager is gone. I don't know how to reinstall the boot
    >>manager so I can dual-boot again. The machine just boots into XP. I want
    >>to use both. How can I reinstall the boot manager? Thanks.
    >>

    >
    >




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  5. #5


    Hiawatha Bray Guest

    Re: Need help dual-booting Vista and XP

    I did everything you suggested, but it didn't work. Gonna try some of the
    other suggestions...thanks much.


    "Fishb8" <royandros@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
    news:uaCkb0htHHA.3504@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
    >
    >
    >
    > Hi
    > I'm no guru but have just done a Vista/XP dual boot. You need to download
    > VistaBootPro 3.3 & .Net Framework 2.0 (from Microsoft, both free).
    > Install the .NetFramework 2.0, first then the VistaBootPro.
    > Open Vista BootPro, ignore the prompt to back up your BCD. Go to the
    > Bootloader tab and "Re-install the Vista bootloader".
    > Next, go the diagnostics tab and select "Run Diagnostics". Here you can
    > rename both OS and select whichever one you want for default + the timer
    > to chose, at boot-up.
    >
    >> You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr. Sorry.
    >> "Hiawatha Bray" <watha@monitortan.com> wrote in message
    >> news:uDlfi.4961$pT4.2681@trndny06...
    >>>I have a PC with two hard drives, one with XP, the other Vista. I had
    >>>them dual-booting nicely, using the Windows Boot Manager that I installed
    >>>when I first installed Vista. But I just did a complete reinstall of XP,
    >>>and the boot manager is gone. I don't know how to reinstall the boot
    >>>manager so I can dual-boot again. The machine just boots into XP. I
    >>>want to use both. How can I reinstall the boot manager? Thanks.
    >>>

    >>
    >>

    >
    >




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  6. #6


    Hiawatha Bray Guest

    Re: Need help dual-booting Vista and XP

    I don't understand. I have to format my C drive? I don't wanna do that. I
    don't have a hidden \Boot catalog anyway.

    Can I just run the Vista command instead?


    "Jack" <replyto@it> wrote in message
    news:%23FD5xVhtHHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    > 1.
    > Just copy out one executable file from Vista install DVD - bootsect.exe.
    > Save it somewhere, for example on D:\. After you
    > installed XP run this command from XP command line: d:\bootsect /nt60 c:
    > /force. It will restore correct Vista bootsector and at the next restart
    > you will see your previous Vista's bootmenu.
    > You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr.
    > 2.
    > If on C: drive you have a hidden \Boot catalog, then copy it out before
    > formatting C: and restore it thereafter.
    > Jack
    >
    >
    > You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr. Sorry.
    > "Hiawatha Bray" <watha@monitortan.com> wrote in message
    > news:uDlfi.4961$pT4.2681@trndny06...
    >>I have a PC with two hard drives, one with XP, the other Vista. I had
    >>them dual-booting nicely, using the Windows Boot Manager that I installed
    >>when I first installed Vista. But I just did a complete reinstall of XP,
    >>and the boot manager is gone. I don't know how to reinstall the boot
    >>manager so I can dual-boot again. The machine just boots into XP. I want
    >>to use both. How can I reinstall the boot manager? Thanks.
    >>

    >
    >




      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  7. #7


    Don Guest

    Re: Need help dual-booting Vista and XP

    Hiawatha Bray wrote:
    > I did everything you suggested, but it didn't work. Gonna try some of the
    > other suggestions...thanks much.


    You also need to use the 'all disks' option in VistaBootPro when you
    install the Vista bootloader. It should work if you do that.

    >
    >
    > "Fishb8" <royandros@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
    > news:uaCkb0htHHA.3504@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
    >>
    >>
    >> Hi
    >> I'm no guru but have just done a Vista/XP dual boot. You need to download
    >> VistaBootPro 3.3 & .Net Framework 2.0 (from Microsoft, both free).
    >> Install the .NetFramework 2.0, first then the VistaBootPro.
    >> Open Vista BootPro, ignore the prompt to back up your BCD. Go to the
    >> Bootloader tab and "Re-install the Vista bootloader".
    >> Next, go the diagnostics tab and select "Run Diagnostics". Here you can
    >> rename both OS and select whichever one you want for default + the timer
    >> ...



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  8. #8


    Don Guest

    Re: Need help dual-booting Vista and XP

    Don wrote:
    > Hiawatha Bray wrote:
    >> I did everything you suggested, but it didn't work. Gonna try some of
    >> the other suggestions...thanks much.

    >
    > You also need to use the 'all disks' option in VistaBootPro when you
    > install the Vista bootloader. It should work if you do that.


    Oops, I should mentioned that VistaBootPro does exactly what Jack
    recommended about bootsect.exe, but with very slightly less effort.


      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  9. #9


    ...winston Guest

    Re: Need help dual-booting Vista and XP

    The easiest way to do this is with Vista Boot Pro or EasyBCD.
    Links for both and instructions provided in another post in this same thread.
    ...winston

    "Hiawatha Bray" <watha@monitortan.com> wrote in message news:lcCfi.5672$XH5.3825@trndny02...
    :I don't understand. I have to format my C drive? I don't wanna do that. I
    : don't have a hidden \Boot catalog anyway.
    :
    : Can I just run the Vista command instead?
    :
    :
    : "Jack" <replyto@it> wrote in message
    : news:%23FD5xVhtHHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    : > 1.
    : > Just copy out one executable file from Vista install DVD - bootsect.exe.
    : > Save it somewhere, for example on D:\. After you
    : > installed XP run this command from XP command line: d:\bootsect /nt60 c:
    : > /force. It will restore correct Vista bootsector and at the next restart
    : > you will see your previous Vista's bootmenu.
    : > You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr.
    : > 2.
    : > If on C: drive you have a hidden \Boot catalog, then copy it out before
    : > formatting C: and restore it thereafter.
    : > Jack
    : >
    : >
    : > You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr. Sorry.
    : > "Hiawatha Bray" <watha@monitortan.com> wrote in message
    : > news:uDlfi.4961$pT4.2681@trndny06...
    : >>I have a PC with two hard drives, one with XP, the other Vista. I had
    : >>them dual-booting nicely, using the Windows Boot Manager that I installed
    : >>when I first installed Vista. But I just did a complete reinstall of XP,
    : >>and the boot manager is gone. I don't know how to reinstall the boot
    : >>manager so I can dual-boot again. The machine just boots into XP. I want
    : >>to use both. How can I reinstall the boot manager? Thanks.
    : >>
    : >
    : >
    :
    :

      My System SpecsSystem Spec

  10. #10


    Hiawatha Bray Guest

    Re: Need help dual-booting Vista and XP

    I don't understand...I keep running Vista Boot Pro. It doesn't work. I
    didn the bootsect.exe thing too and it didn't work. I don't get it. What
    can I do? Thanks!


    "...winston" <merlin@druid9#.com> wrote in message
    news:urZsF3ttHHA.3404@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
    The easiest way to do this is with Vista Boot Pro or EasyBCD.
    Links for both and instructions provided in another post in this same
    thread.
    ...winston

    "Hiawatha Bray" <watha@monitortan.com> wrote in message
    news:lcCfi.5672$XH5.3825@trndny02...
    :I don't understand. I have to format my C drive? I don't wanna do that.
    I
    : don't have a hidden \Boot catalog anyway.
    :
    : Can I just run the Vista command instead?
    :
    :
    : "Jack" <replyto@it> wrote in message
    : news:%23FD5xVhtHHA.1164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    : > 1.
    : > Just copy out one executable file from Vista install DVD -
    bootsect.exe.
    : > Save it somewhere, for example on D:\. After you
    : > installed XP run this command from XP command line: d:\bootsect /nt60
    c:
    : > /force. It will restore correct Vista bootsector and at the next
    restart
    : > you will see your previous Vista's bootmenu.
    : > You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr.
    : > 2.
    : > If on C: drive you have a hidden \Boot catalog, then copy it out before
    : > formatting C: and restore it thereafter.
    : > Jack
    : >
    : >
    : > You must also copy out and restore a hidden file bootmgr. Sorry.
    : > "Hiawatha Bray" <watha@monitortan.com> wrote in message
    : > news:uDlfi.4961$pT4.2681@trndny06...
    : >>I have a PC with two hard drives, one with XP, the other Vista. I had
    : >>them dual-booting nicely, using the Windows Boot Manager that I
    installed
    : >>when I first installed Vista. But I just did a complete reinstall of
    XP,
    : >>and the boot manager is gone. I don't know how to reinstall the boot
    : >>manager so I can dual-boot again. The machine just boots into XP. I
    want
    : >>to use both. How can I reinstall the boot manager? Thanks.
    : >>
    : >
    : >
    :
    :



      My System SpecsSystem Spec

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