Exercising the Dual-Boot Option with Windows Vista by Nick White Vista
Launch Team
http://blogs.technet.com/windowsvista/archive/2006/07/25/443428.aspx
I'd first just do a quick repair install on the XP boot if the F8 options
don't work and you have an XP CD with a product key for it--takes 35 minutes
of the world's longest and most one dimensional boring XP setup commercial.
1) Try 3 safe modes and last known good if you can get to them for the XP
install. If this is complicated by the dual boot and the damaged bootloader
then:
You can boot from an XP CD if you have a retail or OEM bootable (rarely
shipped) XP CD by putting the CD first in the bios setup boot order and then
following the simple steps for a repair install of XP.
From MVP Doug Knox:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx
From MSFT:
Method 2: Reinstall Windows XP by starting your computer from the Windows XP
CD
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341#XSLTH3127121122120121120120
Philosophy behind that is discussed in Chap. 28 of the Win XP Resource Kit
on line @ MSFT site or in
Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308041&Product=winxp
Then just type diskmgmt.msc in the run box and right click the drive/volume
where Vista is parked and format the previous build.
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2) You can follow these steps:
Reboot and Boot to your XP CD-ROM
1. Start the Recovery Console Screen shots are in link below and just sub XP
anytime Win 2K has been printed on that blue screen in the shots.
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/j_helmig/wxprcons.htm
2. Run Fixboot
3. Run fixmbr to reset the master boot record
4. Exit the Recovery Console
5. Reboot
6. To remove the extra entry, edit the boot.ini file to remove the
"Microsoft Windows Longhorn" entry.
7. Format Your Vista Partition
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3) You can try to repair using either of these which will probably be
successful and then simply format
Download Easy BCD from this link: (Click Download Link)
http://neosmart.net/forums/index.php?gettopic=81
Download Vista Boot Pro 2.0 from this link:
http://www.pro-networks.org/vistabootpro/intro.php
Goodl luck,
CH