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View Full Version : Vista gave BOOTMGR missing after XP install on different HDD..


jas420221
05-09-2007, 08:18 AM
I have 2 HDD:

C:\ Vista
D:\ Storage
-- -- -- -- -- -- --
F:\ Page File
G:\ Backup Images
H:\ XP

I split G in half and made H: for XP. Loaded XP. Went to boot into Vista said BOOTLGR missing. I used the Vista disk to repair the install. It still does it. I can reboot most of the time it works. When I power off, it doesnt work.

I merged G and H, and reformatted (long) them. Still the same.

1. How do I prevent this from coming up?
2. How do I get that option to choose between OS's?
3. Whats the best way to go about making both (1 and 2) happen?

Thanks!
big poppa pump
05-09-2007, 09:14 AM
Give some details on the type of hdd's and how your hdd's are connected to the mobo - like

1) PATA or SATA hdd's.

2) PATA - Primary or Secondary, Master or Slave.

3) SATA - then channel numbers (1-4)
jas420221
05-09-2007, 10:23 AM
Sorry!

All sata on ports 3-4 (so they are locked so I can o/c)

3 has vista, 4 has the xp partition.

see sig (thoguh no raid let me change that)

*changed
big poppa pump
05-09-2007, 12:59 PM
Disconnect your hdd from sata port 4 and see if you are able to bootup without any problems.
jas420221
05-09-2007, 01:24 PM
Disconnect your hdd from sata port 4 and see if you are able to bootup without any problems.Will do.

And if I can.......? (reformat that drive?)

And if I cant......? (reformat that drive?)

I will report back in about an hour...thx in advnace for your help!
jas420221
05-10-2007, 04:26 AM
Ok, so it worked, however for some reason it reactivated my windows and it didnt go through. Now its stating in teh bottomn right corner that this copy of windows is not genuine WTmofoH?

PS- It is a legit, school bought copy.

I reactivated it, it syas succesful, but that writing is still there. Now imn pissed.
big poppa pump
05-10-2007, 08:00 AM
So with only one hard drive attached, use vista to fix the boot loader and make sure that all the boot files are written to that single hard drive. Once you are up and running attach the 2nd hdd again and you should be good to go.
If you are still having problems activating your vista copy online, call up M$ and they should be able to help you out!
jas420221
05-10-2007, 09:21 AM
So with only one hard drive attached, use vista to fix the boot loader and make sure that all the boot files are written to that single hard drive. Once you are up and running attach the 2nd hdd again and you should be good to go.
If you are still having problems activating your vista copy online, call up M$ and they should be able to help you out!Ok, now how do I properly get a dual boot setup then? Ive never had any trouble doing this before...:confused:
big poppa pump
05-10-2007, 11:59 AM
Its always recommended to install the older OS first and then the newer one. In this case it should be XP first and then Vista. For some reason or other when you installed XP on your 2nd HDD, vista now thinks that the boot hdd is your 2nd hard disk instead of the one where Vista is installed now.
As a rule of thumb, I disable all hdd's in my system except the one I am going to install windows. This way I never have to deal with any of this HDD Boot order crap.
lawrywild
05-10-2007, 02:54 PM
^ Correct, XP first then Vista, as Vista no longer uses boot.ini it screws things up pretty badly installing XP after.
jas420221
05-10-2007, 04:11 PM
Crap. I dont want to reinstall Vista completely for a dual boot. Is there anyway around that? I have all the nifty business backup/restore tools.

VM any better at this point? lol
lawrywild
05-12-2007, 01:20 PM
Crap. I dont want to reinstall Vista completely for a dual boot. Is there anyway around that? I have all the nifty business backup/restore tools.

VM any better at this point? lol

There was a way around it, if you installed windows 2000 after XP, so there maybe a way around XP after Vista. Just google around a bit and keep fingers crossed.
jas420221
05-13-2007, 08:40 AM
There was a way around it, if you installed windows 2000 after XP, so there maybe a way around XP after Vista. Just google around a bit and keep fingers crossed.Thx, no luck so far though... :(

I think Im just going to have to install XP, install Vista, then restore the whole PC from a complete backup..... :(
RealTelstar
06-01-2007, 06:11 PM
Vista cd is able to recover the boot sector, just do a repair install.
jas420221
06-03-2007, 05:53 AM
Vista cd is able to recover the boot sector, just do a repair install.Did that already....it didnt work until....

I had to completely remove the other drive, THEN do the repair, then reattach. ;)
RealTelstar
06-04-2007, 07:50 AM
Yeah, I implied removing the other drive.

I had this issue when I had to install 2003 server on another drive to run dell raid utility. Hopefully I have a sata bay with a switch to power on or off the drive :)
Funnily I thought that being the first "drive" a scsi array win2k3 wouldnt have messed with its boot. I was wrong :)