Boot problem

Simps · 22 Nov 2006 at 17:43

I have XP on C:\ and I installed Vista on D:\
I formatted over the weekend and now I dont have the boot options at startup to get back on to Vista

Does anyone know how I can get back onto Vista please ?

Cheers.

Cob · 22 Nov 2006 at 17:47

Is D a seperate drive or just a partition?

Simps · 22 Nov 2006 at 17:52

Cob said:
Is D a seperate drive or just a partition?

I have a 37GB raptor just for my OSwhich is on C:\
D:\ is a partition of a 120 GB WD

Cob · 22 Nov 2006 at 17:55

Ah good. Set your BIOS to boot off 120 GB WD. It should boot into Vista.

Then download and install VistaBootPro and use it to add your XP drive to Vistas bootloader. Reboot and you should have your boot menu back.

Simps · 22 Nov 2006 at 17:57

Thank you for your help, I will give that a try right now.

Cob · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:03

Remember that when you're in Vista, Vista will probably be on C and XP will probably be on D.

These were my settings to add x64 XP to my Vista bootloader. You can move XP to the top of the list if you want XP to be the default OS.

Simps · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:10

It won't boot from D.
In bios I have "Boot from hard Disk" I cannot choose which Hard Drive.
I tryed unplugging the raptor and that did not work either.

Cob · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:11

Which motherboard?

Simps · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:12

Abit av8 3rd eye.. Old school

Cob · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:15

What about the Hard Disk Boot Priority option? Does it list your Vista drive?

Simps · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:21

Just says "Bootable add-in cards" no other options.
Sorry to be a pain

Cob · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:24

Odd. I'm not familiar with the board or the chipset tbh.

Is the drive listed in the Standard CMOS Features screen?

Simps · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:25

No it only lists the 2 hard drives, not individual drives.

Cob · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:29

Is the WD 120 listed as IDE Channel 1 Master?

Simps · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:29

Hmm looks like i'm buggered hehe

"No, it would impossible to reinstall XP again after you’ve installed Vista and keep the Vista boot manager. The XP install will overwrite your boot sectors. You’ll have to subsequently reinstall Vista because the boot manager is complete overhauled, there’s no way to ‘repair’ it. "

Ahh well, thanks for your help anyways mate.

Cob · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:33

Si Lad said:
"No, it would impossible to reinstall XP again after you’ve installed Vista and keep the Vista boot manager. The XP install will overwrite your boot sectors. You’ll have to subsequently reinstall Vista because the boot manager is complete overhauled, there’s no way to ‘repair’ it."

I'm pretty sure that only applies when both OS's are on the same drive. It's an issue I came across a while back.

I would boot from the Vista cd and run a repair. It may rewrite the Vista bootloader.

Simps · 22 Nov 2006 at 18:35

Ahh that was going to be my next question "shall i try repair"
But you already answered it.

Cheers I will give that a go now.
Thanks again.