Dual Boot problem

[clanpitt]

Hi all,

I had a dual boot with XP and Vista that was working fine until i had a major problem with XP this week and had to re-format and re-load it.

Now of course i can't see my Vista option on the load screen anymore.

Does anyone know how to get it back ?

Both op systems are on different hard discs and i know Vista was unaffected by the problems i had with XP and is still there.

Sometime ago i loaded a small programme that i'm sure had a three letter title. This managed all boot issues, allowed you to change the order of the operating sytems on the boot screen and the time the options were available and was great but i can't rememeber what it was called and can't seem to find it anymore so fear it was on my C drive which of course i have wiped.

Any help would be appreciated ,

regards

The Dagger

 

[Dave3d]

Was the app called GAG ?

Here is a search for boot managers:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=boot+manager&btnG=Google+Search&cts=1235177374343&aq=f&oq=

Maybe you can find the one you had before.

 

[NECyclone]

In order to get vista to startup again you might have to use the vista install disk to do a "repair". Once you have vista going again the boot manager I use is "Vista Boot Pro 3.3" and it works for me pretty well. You can set the default os you want to start and the time out it takes before loading that os. Good Luck.

 

[BinarySynapse]

XP and Vista use different boot methods. When you reinstalled, you overwrote Vista's bootloader with XP's, which can't see Vista. Put in your Vista DVD and select the repair option. It should find the problem and offer to fix it for you.

 

[Roberty]

I was under the impression that Vista doesn't have a repair option like XP does. I've never tried it though...

 

[clanpitt]

Thanks for all your help

Easy BCD did indeed help

and the last suggestion to reload Vista DVD was spot on

thanks again

 

[Nenu]

To Prevent the problem happneing again, next time you install an OS, change the primary boot drive in your CMOS to the one you want to install the OS to.
This will then put the boot files for the OS on the same drive the OS is put on, neither OS can interfere with the other then.

Once done, to change OS, change the boot drive in the CMOS.

 

[BinarySynapse]

I was under the impression that Vista doesn't have a repair option like XP does. I've never tried it though...

It does. When it gets to the windows where you can click "Install Now", there's two more options at the bottom that say "What to know before installing Windows" and "Repair your Computer". It's MUCH better than any previous version of Windows at actually repairing the system. The few times I've used it, it found the problems and actually fixed them rather than dumb copy original files and registry settings over the problem.

To Prevent the problem happneing again, next time you install an OS, change the primary boot drive in your CMOS to the one you want to install the OS to.
This will then put the boot files for the OS on the same drive the OS is put on, neither OS can interfere with the other then.

Once done, to change OS, change the boot drive in the CMOS.

The best option is to completely unplug the hard drive you're not installing to. That way there's no chance the OS install will interfere with others.

 

[Nenu]

The best option is to completely unplug the hard drive you're not installing to. That way there's no chance the OS install will interfere with others.

Agreed, I couldnt be asked to write any more as it usually gets an annoying response from someone and you have to explain it all again anyway