Boot problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter microfox
  • Start date Start date
M

microfox

Hi


I installed Vista RC 1 when it came out on my PC. I installed it on
the first partition on my second HD while XP is installed on the first
partition of my first HD.

Everything was fine until I decided to try a new version of a Linux
distro just to see what it looked like. Before I installed Linux, I had
backed up my Vista partition. After my experiment was over, I restored
the Vista partition and apparently everything is fine except I don't
have a Vista option comes boot time.

I suppose my MBR is messed up. How can I get my machine to offer me a
choice to choose between XP and Vista when I start my computer ?


Thanks
 
Apologies for interjecting in this thread but you seem quite
knowledgeful and experienced in these matters.

I am toying with the idea of creating another logical partition on one
of the drives on this computer and using it to see what linux has to offer.

Should I install linux on a machine with XP Pro, Vista 64 bit and Vista
32 bit is there anyway to effectively manage choosing the OS (and
default OS) at boot?
 
You can install all those operating systems, but you have to do it in the
right order. Windows first then Linux. I don't know about state of
compatibility between Linux bootloaders such as GRUB and LILO at the moment
with BCDEdit which the new Boot loader in Vista which replaces Boot.ini.
But, your best bet is to install Windows first then Linux.
 
Assuming that the first partition on the first drive is the "System"
partition as well as being the "boot" partition for the XP installation, if
there is a folder called "boot" under the root, this should contain some
folders and files like:
EFI (folder)
BCD
BCD.LOG

that were put there by the Vista installation. If the "boot" folder is not
there and you don't have a backup of it, not sure what you can do except do
a repair installation of Vista.

If the boot folder is still there, try these instructions - substitute the
DVD drive letter for "x"

1. boot to XP
2. put the Vista DVD in the DVD drive
3. open a Command Prompt
4. key the command x:
5. key the command cd x:\boot
6. key the command bootsect /nt60 sys

You should get a response saying (approximately) that the Bootcode was
updated.

--
Bruce Sanderson (bsanders)
MVP Printing
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders
(e-mail address removed)

It is perfectly useless to know the right answer to the wrong question.
 
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