Resolved: Windows XP Boot-Up Problems (Dual Boot...)

awatz · 04-30-2009

Hi All...
I made a stupid mistake - i decided to install and dual-boot Windows 2000 Professional, but didn't take into account that it would overwrite Windows XP's boot files and stop me from accessing Windows XP.

Basically... Can anybody tell me exactly how to get back into XP...
Should I Make A New Boot File? (How?)
Could i add XP to the 2000 boot-up entry?
I want XP to be my main OS...

Many Thanks
Andrew

snoopy8332 · 04-30-2009

Hello Watz, It can be done but its difficult . I will look into it, meanwhile, there are plenty of folks here that can and will help you.

Pgh · 04-30-2009

Hello and welcome to PCHelpForum

You should simply be able to edit boot.ini in Windows2000 and add your XP to the boot loader. Firstly you'll need to show hidden files in explorer and then back up your boot.ini which i think is located on your root drive.

There are instructions for this process here: How to edit the Boot.ini file in Windows 2000

jmarket · 04-30-2009

I think I have a solution. Follow these steps:

Install each operating system on a separate drive or disk partition.
Install Windows XP after you have installed Windows 2000.
When you perform a new installation of Windows XP (as opposed to an upgrade), by default, the installation is placed on a partition on which no other operating system is located. You can specify a different partition during Setup.
Don’t install Windows XP on a compressed drive unless the drive was compressed with the NTFS file system compression feature.
On any partition where you perform a new installation of Windows XP (as opposed to an upgrade), you will need to re-install any programs, such as word processing or e-mail software, after Setup is complete.
Install the programs used by each operating system on the partition with that system. If you want your programs to run with multiple operating systems, you need to install separate copies of the programs in each of the operating system partitions.
If the computer is on a Windows 2000 Server domain, each installation of Windows XP on that computer must have a different computer name.

Also,

Go to "Run" and type "msconfig". Go to "boot.ini" and select XP OS and make default OS. Reboot and it should work fine.

awatz · 04-30-2009

Hi... Thanks So Far...
Strangely enough... the boot.ini file is on my XP hard disk still but it is trying to use the 2000 'boot system'...
when i turn it on after changing it accord to what i need when i select "XP" it says it cannot find a file and gives up...
Any more help?
Andrew

snoopy8332 · 04-30-2009

did you follow the link in Pgh's post? That should fix it , if not then you can get your xp back by using the xp install disc. boot to the install disc and hit "R" to go into the recovery console, now its gonna ask for you to select which partition to work on . If xp is on 1 then type 1 and hit enter (if its on 2 then type 2 ect....) now type fixboot and hit enter now type fixmbr and hit enter now type exit and reboot and your xp should be fine but i dont think your 2000 will work. hope that helps!

awatz · 05-02-2009

I did a Windows XP CD repair and fixed the problem... Thanks for the help anyway... The "fixboot" and other commands didn't work by the way...

04-30-2009	#1
awatz Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Windows XP Boot-Up Problems (Dual Boot...) Hi All... I made a stupid mistake - i decided to install and dual-boot Windows 2000 Professional, but didn't take into account that it would overwrite Windows XP's boot files and stop me from accessing Windows XP. Basically... Can anybody tell me exactly how to get back into XP... Should I Make A New Boot File? (How?) Could i add XP to the 2000 boot-up entry? I want XP to be my main OS... Many Thanks Andrew

04-30-2009	#2
snoopy8332 Tech Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: U.S. but its' not my fault. Posts: 362 PC Experience: will always be learning!	Re: Windows XP Boot-Up Problems (Dual Boot... Hello Watz, It can be done but its difficult . I will look into it, meanwhile, there are plenty of folks here that can and will help you. __________________ http://www.ccleaner.com/ CCLEANER PREWORK http://www.pchelpforum.com/new-hijackthis-logs/11849-prework-follow-these-instructions-before-posting.html

04-30-2009	#3
Pgh Protector of the Cookies Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Watford, England Posts: 1,244 PC Experience: Keen to Learn	Re: Windows XP Boot-Up Problems (Dual Boot... Hello and welcome to PCHelpForum You should simply be able to edit boot.ini in Windows2000 and add your XP to the boot loader. Firstly you'll need to show hidden files in explorer and then back up your boot.ini which i think is located on your root drive. There are instructions for this process here: How to edit the Boot.ini file in Windows 2000 Comments on this post snoopy8332 agrees: excellent link on that!

04-30-2009	#4
jmarket Moderator Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Phoenix, Arizona USA Posts: 603 PC Experience: Learning a little more everyday...	Re: Windows XP Boot-Up Problems (Dual Boot... I think I have a solution. Follow these steps: Install each operating system on a separate drive or disk partition. Install Windows XP after you have installed Windows 2000. When you perform a new installation of Windows XP (as opposed to an upgrade), by default, the installation is placed on a partition on which no other operating system is located. You can specify a different partition during Setup. Don’t install Windows XP on a compressed drive unless the drive was compressed with the NTFS file system compression feature. On any partition where you perform a new installation of Windows XP (as opposed to an upgrade), you will need to re-install any programs, such as word processing or e-mail software, after Setup is complete. Install the programs used by each operating system on the partition with that system. If you want your programs to run with multiple operating systems, you need to install separate copies of the programs in each of the operating system partitions. If the computer is on a Windows 2000 Server domain, each installation of Windows XP on that computer must have a different computer name. Also, Go to "Run" and type "msconfig". Go to "boot.ini" and select XP OS and make default OS. Reboot and it should work fine. __________________ jmarket PreWork PCHF Rules JMarket's Site

04-30-2009	#5
awatz Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Re: Windows XP Boot-Up Problems (Dual Boot... Hi... Thanks So Far... Strangely enough... the boot.ini file is on my XP hard disk still but it is trying to use the 2000 'boot system'... when i turn it on after changing it accord to what i need when i select "XP" it says it cannot find a file and gives up... Any more help? Andrew

05-02-2009	#7
awatz Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 3 PC Experience: Very Experienced	Re: Windows XP Boot-Up Problems (Dual Boot... I did a Windows XP CD repair and fixed the problem... Thanks for the help anyway... The "fixboot" and other commands didn't work by the way...

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