Installing a 2nd OS

[Boltonian]

Hi guys.

 

I am wanting to install another OS on my system. I have 2 hard drives in my computer, one of which is empty.

 

Is it just as simple as booting from the dvd drive with the XP disc in and then specifiying that i want the OS installed on the hard drive which is empty? And then to load XP, make sure the hard drive with XP installed is set to boot first?

 

I would appreciate anyone's help. :)

[Goku]

Yes, it is as simple as that Bolton. For more specific instructions, look here. :)

 

-- Goku

[Dalo Harkin]

What 2 OS are you planning on running XP and then VISTA has to be done in a specific order and setup correctly or you can end up in a huge mess

[Boltonian]

Well I don't even think I have 2 hard drives now because I looked in BIOS and it's only pickin up one HDD. I don't want to open the case yet because the warranty will be void.

 

In 'Computer' it shows 2 hard drives (C: & D:) :confused:

[Boltonian]

:confused:

[Guest Wolfeymole]

I think you are confusing a hard drive partition and thinking it's another physical hard drive.

 

Can you offer a screen shot of what it says in Disk Management please.

[Boltonian]

I think you are confusing a hard drive partition and thinking it's another physical hard drive.

 

Can you offer a screen shot of what it says in Disk Management please.

 

Yea you are right, i managed to work that out.

 

I am having problems now.

 

After watching some videos on youtube I decided to install XP on the spare partition. I have installed XP on the spare partition and it is working fine. However, when I shut down the computer and then start it up again, it is automatically loading XP, not giving me the option of which OS to start.

 

I would appreciate some help ASAP please!

[Guest Wolfeymole]

This is not logical.

 

All windows operating systems must be installed on one singular hard drive on one partition to permit dual booting.

 

Your profile indicates Vista as your main operating system, is this still the case?

[Boltonian]

Yes that's right

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Ok I don't know what's going on here but you cannot install another operating system to another partition and expect it to boot.

 

Are you saying that XP is the operating that boots now only, it may well be that you have eradicated Vista by accident.

 

Please provide a screen shot of Disk Management.

[Boltonian]

Well I have installed XP on the seperate partition and it is is booting up fine. Nothing has been erased from the partition that Vista is on, I have just checked that.

 

I need some advice on how to get Vista to boot again. Even if I have to erase XP somehow. Please help!

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Well if you would provide a screenshot then we will try.

 

Like mine ok.

 

http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn266/FPCH/dm2.png

[Boltonian]

Here it is, sorry

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Ok read this and post back what the results show Boltonian.

 

How to edit the Boot.ini file in Windows XP

[Boltonian]

I have saved a copy of the boot.ini file so do i need to do the section 'adding an operating system'?

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Post it here mate.

[Boltonian]

This article describes how to view and manually configure the Boot.ini file in Windows XP from within the Startup and Recovery dialog.

 

In Windows XP, you can quickly and easily locate the Boot.ini to verify and/or edit the file.

 

It is suggested to backup the Boot.ini file before editing. The first tasks will involve modifying folder option so as to view hidden files and then backing up the Boot.ini file.

 

 

 

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Save a Backup Copy of Boot.ini

 

1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. -or-
   Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
   
2. On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
   
3. Under System Startup, click Edit. This opens the file in Notepad ready for editing.
   
4. In Notepad, click File on the Menu bar, and then click Save As.
   
5. Right click in an empty area of the Save As dialog box, point to New in the context menu, and then click Folder.
   
6. Type a name for the new folder, for example temp, and then press the ENTER key to create the folder named temp.
   
7. Double-click the new folder named temp, and then click the Save button to save a backup copy of the Boot.ini file.
   

 

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Edit the Boot.ini File

 

To view and edit the Boot.ini file:

1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. -or-
   Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
   
2. On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
   
3. Under System Startup, click Edit.
   

 

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Sample Boot.ini File

 

This is a sample of a default Boot.ini file from a Windows XP Professional computer.

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

This is a sample of the above Boot.ini file with a previous installation of Windows 2000 on a separate partition.

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

 

 

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Modifying the Boot.ini

 

While you can modify the Boot.ini file using the Startup and Recovery dialog, where you can select the default operating system, change the timeout value, or manually edit the file, the following method uses the command line utility, Bootcfg.exe.

 

Note The Bootcfg.exe utility is only available in Windows XP Professional. This utility is not available in Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. Therefore, this section does not apply to Windows XP Home Edition.

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
   
2. In the Open text box, type cmd.
   
3. At the command prompt, type bootcfg /?.
   
4. The help and parameters for BOOTCFG.exe will display.
   

 

Adding an Operating System

 

At the command prompt, type:

bootcfg /copy /d Operating System Description /ID#

Where Operating System Description is a text description (e.g. Windows XP Home Edition), and where # specifies the boot entry ID in the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file from which the copy has to be made.

 

 

 

Removing an Operating System

 

At the command prompt, type:

bootcfg /delete /ID#

Where # specifies the boot entry ID that you want to be deleted from the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file (e.g. 2 for the second Operating system that is listed.

 

 

 

Setting the Default Operating System

 

At the command prompt, type:

bootcfg /default /ID#

Where # specifies the boot entry id in the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file to be made the default operating system.

 

 

 

Setting the Time Out

 

At the command prompt, type: bootcfg /timeout# Where # specifies the time in seconds after which default operating system will be loaded.

 

 

 

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Open the Boot.ini File to Verify Changes

 

1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. -or-
   Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
   
2. On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
   
3. Under System Startup, click Edit.
   

[Guest Wolfeymole]

I know what it says in the link.

 

What we want to know is what YOUR version of the below looks like.

 

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

 

 

 

Please post back what it says.

[Boltonian]

Oh ok sorry here it is:

 

[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Mmm this is indeed strange because C: states system which should contain Vista, but Vista is not showing in the boot ini file.

 

Format I: and get back to us.

 

In fact tell us exactly what you did to create this scenario in the beginning please.

[Boltonian]

It won't let me format it, 'format' is grey.

 

I booted my computer with the XP disc in and formated and installed XP on the 3rd partition (drive I).

 

Since then, every time I shut my computer down and turn it back on, XP loads and doesn't let me choose to load Vista.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Ok apparently this is an ACER machine yes, now they would not leave a spare partition reaching nearly 350GB on there.

 

Have you used some kind of partitioning software to create this partition?

[Boltonian]

No I haven't. The partition was already there

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Very well do you have the Vista disk to hand or have you made any Recovery disks?

[Boltonian]

I didn't get a Vista disk with the computer. But I downloaded Vista using BitTorrent the other day and I have burned that to a disk.