Dual boot problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter JP Bless
  • Start date Start date
J

JP Bless

I have WIN2000 and XP installation in two physical drives. I recently
reformated my c: drive and reinstalled win2000 (default operating system).
Though the WINXP installation is still intact on my second hard drive I no
longer get option to boot to WIN2000 or XP during bootup. What do I need to
do to fix this problem?

Many thanks in advance
 
A repair installation of XP into the same directory its in now.This will
reset the dual boot.
By formatting the C drive you deleted the boot sector that XP placed there
for the dual boot.

peter
 
How do I repair the XP installation without corrupting the XP's registry and
applications/settings/windows updates etc? Please help
 
JP Bless said:
I have WIN2000 and XP installation in two physical drives. I recently
reformated my c: drive and reinstalled win2000 (default operating system).
Though the WINXP installation is still intact on my second hard drive I no
longer get option to boot to WIN2000 or XP during bootup. What do I need to
do to fix this problem?

Many thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Do this:
1. Boot into Win2000.
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD.
4. Run this command via the Start / Run facility:
notepad c:\boot.ini.
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

x must be 0 or 1. y is most likely 1 but could be 2.

There is no need to repair anything in WinXP because
nothing is broken.
 
There is no need to perform a repair installation since
nothing is broken. The OP simply needs to restore his
WinXP boot files.
 
Yeah, I was just to lazy to talk about replacing the boot files and editing
the boot.ini.

--
Manny Borges
MCSE NT4-2003 (+ Security)
MCT, Certified Cheese Master

There are 10 kinds of people in the world. Those who do understand binary
and those who don't.
 
Thanks all for helping...

RE:
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD
I am sorry, but I have no idea how to replace these files... Please help

RE:
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

I opened C:\boot.ini... the file was empty... I have XP installation on Disk
2 partition
How should the entry on c:\boot.ini look like?

Again, thanks for your help
 
See below.

JP Bless said:
Thanks all for helping...

RE:
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD
I am sorry, but I have no idea how to replace these files... Please help
Click to expand...

Use Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy those files
from the i386 folder of your CD to c:\.

RE:
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect
Click to expand...

If the file c:\boot.ini was empty then Windows would complain
bitterly when starting up. Here is what the file should look like:

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
 
First of all, my apology... I am not an expert in system
configuration/Operating system, so I am pretty sure I am not getting
something right...

I searched c:\ after setting browser to "Show hidden and system files" but
did not find (any) NTLDR or NTDETECT in c:

I found AutoExec.bat and Config.sys as the only hidden files in C:\
Don't know if this means anything...

Anyway, I copied the files (NTLDR and NTDETECT) from XP Disc\i386 to c:\

Then changed the blank boot.ini files in c:\ to
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Restarted system and still could not have option to select WIN2000 or XP
I am wondering what to do next

Thanks in advance.


Pegasus (MVP) said:
See below.

JP Bless said:
Thanks all for helping...

RE:
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD
I am sorry, but I have no idea how to replace these files... Please help
Click to expand...

Use Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy those files
from the i386 folder of your CD to c:\.

RE:
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect
Click to expand...

If the file c:\boot.ini was empty then Windows would complain
bitterly when starting up. Here is what the file should look like:

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

I opened C:\boot.ini... the file was empty... I have XP installation on Disk
2 partition
How should the entry on c:\boot.ini look like?

Again, thanks for your help
Click to expand...
drive
I
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
JP Bless said:
Then changed the blank boot.ini files in c:\ to
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
Click to expand...


If Windows XP is on partition 1 of the 2nd HD in the system,
the last entry should have x=1 and y=1.

*TimDaniels*
 
Everything you report says that you're looking in the wrong
place. If you can't find \boot.ini and if you can't find the
hidden files ntldr and ntdetect.com and if your newly created
boot.ini file has no effect then you either don't look in the
root directory or else you're looking at the wrong drive.
You must look at the root directory of ***every*** drive
you have until you find these files!

Click Start / Run, then type diskmgmt.msc {OK}. Now
check which of your drives is set to "active". This is the drive
where the missing boot files reside.


JP Bless said:
First of all, my apology... I am not an expert in system
configuration/Operating system, so I am pretty sure I am not getting
something right...

I searched c:\ after setting browser to "Show hidden and system files" but
did not find (any) NTLDR or NTDETECT in c:

I found AutoExec.bat and Config.sys as the only hidden files in C:\
Don't know if this means anything...

Anyway, I copied the files (NTLDR and NTDETECT) from XP Disc\i386 to c:\

Then changed the blank boot.ini files in c:\ to
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Restarted system and still could not have option to select WIN2000 or XP
I am wondering what to do next

Thanks in advance.


Pegasus (MVP) said:
See below.

JP Bless said:
Thanks all for helping...

RE:
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD
I am sorry, but I have no idea how to replace these files... Please
Click to expand...
help

Use Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy those files
from the i386 folder of your CD to c:\.

RE:
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect
Click to expand...

If the file c:\boot.ini was empty then Windows would complain
bitterly when starting up. Here is what the file should look like:

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

I opened C:\boot.ini... the file was empty... I have XP installation
Click to expand...
on
Disk
2 partition
How should the entry on c:\boot.ini look like?

Again, thanks for your help




I have WIN2000 and XP installation in two physical drives. I recently
reformated my c: drive and reinstalled win2000 (default operating
system).
Though the WINXP installation is still intact on my second hard
Click to expand...
drive
I
no
longer get option to boot to WIN2000 or XP during bootup. What do
Click to expand...
I
need
to
do to fix this problem?

Many thanks in advance



Do this:
1. Boot into Win2000.
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD.
4. Run this command via the Start / Run facility:
notepad c:\boot.ini.
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

x must be 0 or 1. y is most likely 1 but could be 2.

There is no need to repair anything in WinXP because
nothing is broken.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thank you very much. I appreciate your help and patience. Actually I had
been thinking I was using alien computer from outer space or something.
Having checked the disk management I realized the active drive is Disk2
Partion1 (Partition1 of my second hard drive)

Indeed I have 2 physical hard disks ; Disk 1 has 2 partitions while Disk2
has 3.
Disk2 Partition1 (drive d:) is the active direction.

So I have replaced NTLDR or NTDETECT in that path (drive d:) with copies
from my XP disk. I have amended the INI file to

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(1)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Restarted the system still I am not getting option to boot to XP

Please help...

Thank you



Pegasus (MVP) said:
Everything you report says that you're looking in the wrong
place. If you can't find \boot.ini and if you can't find the
hidden files ntldr and ntdetect.com and if your newly created
boot.ini file has no effect then you either don't look in the
root directory or else you're looking at the wrong drive.
You must look at the root directory of ***every*** drive
you have until you find these files!

Click Start / Run, then type diskmgmt.msc {OK}. Now
check which of your drives is set to "active". This is the drive
where the missing boot files reside.


JP Bless said:
First of all, my apology... I am not an expert in system
configuration/Operating system, so I am pretty sure I am not getting
something right...

I searched c:\ after setting browser to "Show hidden and system files" but
did not find (any) NTLDR or NTDETECT in c:

I found AutoExec.bat and Config.sys as the only hidden files in C:\
Don't know if this means anything...

Anyway, I copied the files (NTLDR and NTDETECT) from XP Disc\i386 to c:\

Then changed the blank boot.ini files in c:\ to
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Restarted system and still could not have option to select WIN2000 or XP
I am wondering what to do next

Thanks in advance.


Pegasus (MVP) said:
See below.

Thanks all for helping...

RE:
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD
I am sorry, but I have no idea how to replace these files... Please help

Use Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy those files
from the i386 folder of your CD to c:\.


RE:
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

If the file c:\boot.ini was empty then Windows would complain
bitterly when starting up. Here is what the file should look like:

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn


I opened C:\boot.ini... the file was empty... I have XP installation on
Disk
2 partition
How should the entry on c:\boot.ini look like?

Again, thanks for your help




I have WIN2000 and XP installation in two physical drives. I recently
reformated my c: drive and reinstalled win2000 (default operating
system).
Though the WINXP installation is still intact on my second hard drive
I
no
longer get option to boot to WIN2000 or XP during bootup. What
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
do
I
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
You amended the wrong boot.ini file!


JP Bless said:
Thank you very much. I appreciate your help and patience. Actually I had
been thinking I was using alien computer from outer space or something.
Having checked the disk management I realized the active drive is Disk2
Partion1 (Partition1 of my second hard drive)

Indeed I have 2 physical hard disks ; Disk 1 has 2 partitions while Disk2
has 3.
Disk2 Partition1 (drive d:) is the active direction.

So I have replaced NTLDR or NTDETECT in that path (drive d:) with copies
from my XP disk. I have amended the INI file to

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(1)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Restarted the system still I am not getting option to boot to XP

Please help...

Thank you



Pegasus (MVP) said:
Everything you report says that you're looking in the wrong
place. If you can't find \boot.ini and if you can't find the
hidden files ntldr and ntdetect.com and if your newly created
boot.ini file has no effect then you either don't look in the
root directory or else you're looking at the wrong drive.
You must look at the root directory of ***every*** drive
you have until you find these files!

Click Start / Run, then type diskmgmt.msc {OK}. Now
check which of your drives is set to "active". This is the drive
where the missing boot files reside.


JP Bless said:
First of all, my apology... I am not an expert in system
configuration/Operating system, so I am pretty sure I am not getting
something right...

I searched c:\ after setting browser to "Show hidden and system files" but
did not find (any) NTLDR or NTDETECT in c:

I found AutoExec.bat and Config.sys as the only hidden files in C:\
Don't know if this means anything...

Anyway, I copied the files (NTLDR and NTDETECT) from XP Disc\i386 to c:\

Then changed the blank boot.ini files in c:\ to
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Restarted system and still could not have option to select WIN2000 or XP
I am wondering what to do next

Thanks in advance.


See below.

Thanks all for helping...

RE:
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD
I am sorry, but I have no idea how to replace these files...
Click to expand...
Please
help
Use Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy those files
from the i386 folder of your CD to c:\.


RE:
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Windows
XP
Professional" /fastdetect

If the file c:\boot.ini was empty then Windows would complain
bitterly when starting up. Here is what the file should look like:

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn


I opened C:\boot.ini... the file was empty... I have XP
Click to expand...
installation
on
Disk
2 partition
How should the entry on c:\boot.ini look like?

Again, thanks for your help




I have WIN2000 and XP installation in two physical drives. I
recently
reformated my c: drive and reinstalled win2000 (default operating
system).
Though the WINXP installation is still intact on my second hard
drive
I
no
longer get option to boot to WIN2000 or XP during bootup. What
Click to expand...
do
I
need
to
do to fix this problem?

Many thanks in advance



Do this:
1. Boot into Win2000.
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD.
4. Run this command via the Start / Run facility:
notepad c:\boot.ini.
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

x must be 0 or 1. y is most likely 1 but could be 2.

There is no need to repair anything in WinXP because
nothing is broken.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I amended boot.ini file located in the active partition Disk2 Partition1
(drive d:).

The boot.ini located in c: was empty when I opened it... But just to be
sure, I also amended the boot.ini in c:\ too. Now I have the same data
boot.ini files (one in the active partition and the other in c:

Honestly I sure don't know what I am doing wrongly.

Is the entry below good for Win XP installed to Disk2 Partion1?

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


JP Bless said:
Thank you very much. I appreciate your help and patience. Actually I had
been thinking I was using alien computer from outer space or something.
Having checked the disk management I realized the active drive is Disk2
Partion1 (Partition1 of my second hard drive)

Indeed I have 2 physical hard disks ; Disk 1 has 2 partitions while Disk2
has 3.
Disk2 Partition1 (drive d:) is the active direction.

So I have replaced NTLDR or NTDETECT in that path (drive d:) with copies
from my XP disk. I have amended the INI file to

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
Click to expand...
Restarted the system still I am not getting option to boot to XP

Please help...

Thank you



Pegasus (MVP) said:
Everything you report says that you're looking in the wrong
place. If you can't find \boot.ini and if you can't find the
hidden files ntldr and ntdetect.com and if your newly created
boot.ini file has no effect then you either don't look in the
root directory or else you're looking at the wrong drive.
You must look at the root directory of ***every*** drive
you have until you find these files!

Click Start / Run, then type diskmgmt.msc {OK}. Now
check which of your drives is set to "active". This is the drive
where the missing boot files reside.


JP Bless said:
First of all, my apology... I am not an expert in system
configuration/Operating system, so I am pretty sure I am not getting
something right...

I searched c:\ after setting browser to "Show hidden and system files" but
did not find (any) NTLDR or NTDETECT in c:

I found AutoExec.bat and Config.sys as the only hidden files in C:\
Don't know if this means anything...

Anyway, I copied the files (NTLDR and NTDETECT) from XP Disc\i386 to c:\

Then changed the blank boot.ini files in c:\ to
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Restarted system and still could not have option to select WIN2000 or XP
I am wondering what to do next

Thanks in advance.


See below.

Thanks all for helping...

RE:
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD
I am sorry, but I have no idea how to replace these files...
Click to expand...
Please
help
Use Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy those files
from the i386 folder of your CD to c:\.


RE:
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Windows
XP
Professional" /fastdetect

If the file c:\boot.ini was empty then Windows would complain
bitterly when starting up. Here is what the file should look like:

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn


I opened C:\boot.ini... the file was empty... I have XP
Click to expand...
installation
on
Disk
2 partition
How should the entry on c:\boot.ini look like?

Again, thanks for your help




I have WIN2000 and XP installation in two physical drives. I
recently
reformated my c: drive and reinstalled win2000 (default operating
system).
Though the WINXP installation is still intact on my second hard
drive
I
no
longer get option to boot to WIN2000 or XP during bootup. What
Click to expand...
do
I
need
to
do to fix this problem?

Many thanks in advance



Do this:
1. Boot into Win2000.
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD.
4. Run this command via the Start / Run facility:
notepad c:\boot.ini.
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

x must be 0 or 1. y is most likely 1 but could be 2.

There is no need to repair anything in WinXP because
nothing is broken.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Your entry looks correct.

It is very easy for you to find out which copy of boot.ini is
active. Simply edit all your boot.ini files like so:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows 2000 on Drive C"
/fastdetect

in one file, and

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Windows 2000 on Drive D"
/fastdetect

in the other file. Now reboot the machine and check on the screen
what it says, "Drive C" or "Drive D". When you know which file is
active then you can add the WinXP boot line.

If you're still confused then you'll have to create a Windows
boot diskette in order to get some clarity.


JP Bless said:
I amended boot.ini file located in the active partition Disk2 Partition1
(drive d:).

The boot.ini located in c: was empty when I opened it... But just to be
sure, I also amended the boot.ini in c:\ too. Now I have the same data
boot.ini files (one in the active partition and the other in c:

Honestly I sure don't know what I am doing wrongly.

Is the entry below good for Win XP installed to Disk2 Partion1?

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


JP Bless said:
Thank you very much. I appreciate your help and patience. Actually I had
been thinking I was using alien computer from outer space or something.
Having checked the disk management I realized the active drive is Disk2
Partion1 (Partition1 of my second hard drive)

Indeed I have 2 physical hard disks ; Disk 1 has 2 partitions while Disk2
has 3.
Disk2 Partition1 (drive d:) is the active direction.

So I have replaced NTLDR or NTDETECT in that path (drive d:) with copies
from my XP disk. I have amended the INI file to

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000
Professional" /fastdetect
Click to expand...
Restarted the system still I am not getting option to boot to XP

Please help...

Thank you



Pegasus (MVP) said:
Everything you report says that you're looking in the wrong
place. If you can't find \boot.ini and if you can't find the
hidden files ntldr and ntdetect.com and if your newly created
boot.ini file has no effect then you either don't look in the
root directory or else you're looking at the wrong drive.
You must look at the root directory of ***every*** drive
you have until you find these files!

Click Start / Run, then type diskmgmt.msc {OK}. Now
check which of your drives is set to "active". This is the drive
where the missing boot files reside.


First of all, my apology... I am not an expert in system
configuration/Operating system, so I am pretty sure I am not getting
something right...

I searched c:\ after setting browser to "Show hidden and system
Click to expand...
files"
but
did not find (any) NTLDR or NTDETECT in c:

I found AutoExec.bat and Config.sys as the only hidden files in C:\
Don't know if this means anything...

Anyway, I copied the files (NTLDR and NTDETECT) from XP Disc\i386 to c:\

Then changed the blank boot.ini files in c:\ to
[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Click to expand...
Windows
XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Restarted system and still could not have option to select WIN2000
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
or
XP
I am wondering what to do next

Thanks in advance.


See below.

Thanks all for helping...

RE:
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD
I am sorry, but I have no idea how to replace these files... Please
help

Use Windows Explorer or My Computer to copy those files
from the i386 folder of your CD to c:\.


RE:
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft
Click to expand...
Windows
XP
Professional" /fastdetect

If the file c:\boot.ini was empty then Windows would complain
bitterly when starting up. Here is what the file should look like:

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2001
Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn


I opened C:\boot.ini... the file was empty... I have XP installation
on
Disk
2 partition
How should the entry on c:\boot.ini look like?

Again, thanks for your help




I have WIN2000 and XP installation in two physical drives. I
recently
reformated my c: drive and reinstalled win2000 (default operating
system).
Though the WINXP installation is still intact on my second hard
drive
I
no
longer get option to boot to WIN2000 or XP during bootup.
Click to expand...
What
do
I
need
to
do to fix this problem?

Many thanks in advance



Do this:
1. Boot into Win2000.
2. Unhide the two hidden files c:\ntldr and c:\ntdetect.com.
3. Replace these two files with their equivalents from your
WinXP CD.
4. Run this command via the Start / Run facility:
notepad c:\boot.ini.
5. Insert an extra line at the bottom:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(x)partition(y)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

x must be 0 or 1. y is most likely 1 but could be 2.

There is no need to repair anything in WinXP because
nothing is broken.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
John John said:
Shouldn't that be:

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

John
Click to expand...

It depends on where the OP's OSs reside. There appears
to be considerable confusion about this question. However,
right now he is not even given a choice at boot time, which
implies that he modified an inactive boot.ini file.
 
John John said:
Shouldn't that be:

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

John
Click to expand...

That's the right entry... got it wrong until I read this post... Working now
 
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