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Need to undo Vista/XP dual boot
I need some help.
I have a dual boot setup that has Vista on one sata hard drive and Windows XP on another sata hard drive. If I remember correctly, I installed XP 1st and than Vista. I now want to keep the current system running with XP and remove the Vista hard drive and install it in a new computer I am building. I'm guessing I will have bootup issues on boot on both pc's once I remove the Vista hard drive. Thanks |
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Need to undo Vista/XP dual boot
Set the XP drive as first in boot priority (probably already is). Download
and install on the XP os either EasyBCD or VistaBootPro. Use the function to restore the XP boot. Reboot into XP and you should be set to remove the Vista drive. "JimB" wrote in message ... I need some help. I have a dual boot setup that has Vista on one sata hard drive and Windows XP on another sata hard drive. If I remember correctly, I installed XP 1st and than Vista. I now want to keep the current system running with XP and remove the Vista hard drive and install it in a new computer I am building. I'm guessing I will have bootup issues on boot on both pc's once I remove the Vista hard drive. Thanks |
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Need to undo Vista/XP dual boot
Thanks for the response John.
Actually Vista is the first boot priority. I'm not at the machine right now, how do I go about making the XP drive 1st priority? Once that is down and run EasyBCD or VistaBP I can install the Vista drivein the new pc and should boot right up? "John Barnes" wrote: Set the XP drive as first in boot priority (probably already is). Download and install on the XP os either EasyBCD or VistaBootPro. Use the function to restore the XP boot. Reboot into XP and you should be set to remove the Vista drive. "JimB" wrote in message ... I need some help. I have a dual boot setup that has Vista on one sata hard drive and Windows XP on another sata hard drive. If I remember correctly, I installed XP 1st and than Vista. I now want to keep the current system running with XP and remove the Vista hard drive and install it in a new computer I am building. I'm guessing I will have bootup issues on boot on both pc's once I remove the Vista hard drive. Thanks |
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Need to undo Vista/XP dual boot
So there is no misunderstanding, first in boot priority would be the drive
which shows up in Disk Management as your 'system drive'. It has nothing to do with boot menu or default boot os. If your Vista drive is the system drive, check your XP drive and make sure you have 3 files on it. You will need the ntldr NTDETECT.COM and boot.ini files on your XP drive. They may be hidden files on the root of the drive. Either search with system and hidden files or set them to show. It probably would be best if you checked the exact status of your drives, these files, which drive is the 'system' drive and which drive (0 or 1) has Vista and XP on them and check back for specific instructions. Use drive 0 and drive 1 and not letters. My original answer was based on the normal install you suggested where you set up your drives, install XP on the first drive, and then without changing the BIOS you install Vista second. In that case all boot files would be on the XP drive, both XP and Vista and you would boot thru the Vista boot menu. As to your second question, if you have an OEM version of Vista it is tied to the original machine and can't be moved. If it is a full retail, you will be able to install on the second machine, but you will have to activate by telephone and stay on line for an operator since it is currently active on the old machine. An upgrade version would not be in compliance with the licensing agreement as your XP license becomes subsumed within the Vista license when Vista is installed. "JimB" wrote in message ... Thanks for the response John. Actually Vista is the first boot priority. I'm not at the machine right now, how do I go about making the XP drive 1st priority? Once that is down and run EasyBCD or VistaBP I can install the Vista drivein the new pc and should boot right up? "John Barnes" wrote: Set the XP drive as first in boot priority (probably already is). Download and install on the XP os either EasyBCD or VistaBootPro. Use the function to restore the XP boot. Reboot into XP and you should be set to remove the Vista drive. "JimB" wrote in message ... I need some help. I have a dual boot setup that has Vista on one sata hard drive and Windows XP on another sata hard drive. If I remember correctly, I installed XP 1st and than Vista. I now want to keep the current system running with XP and remove the Vista hard drive and install it in a new computer I am building. I'm guessing I will have bootup issues on boot on both pc's once I remove the Vista hard drive. Thanks |
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Need to undo Vista/XP dual boot
If XP was installed first then you can restore the XP bootloader by running the bootsect.exe utility (found in the "boot" folder on your Vista install media). Insert your Vista CD/DVD then open a command prompt (cmd.exe). Change directories and navigate to the "boot" folder mentioned above. From there (assuming XP is installed on the C:\ drive) the command you would run is as follows: bootsect.exe /nt52 C: Be aware that once you run this you will no longer be able to dual-boot to Vista on that machine, but you should be free to remove the drive with Vista and move it to the other PC. You should be able to do a "repair install" on that machine by booting it from the Vista install disk. You will probably have to reactivate Vista on the new hardware, so you will need to have your key handy, and as the previous reply indicated, all bets are off if you are using an OEM copy of Vista that came pre-installed on the old machine. -- mkprilliman - Core 2 Quad Q6600 (O.C. to 2.8 Ghz) - MSI P6N Diamond - Onboard Creative X-Fi 7.1 - 4 x 1 GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 - 2 x MSI NX8600GTS (256 MB) - 150 GB WD Raptor (system drive) - 2 x 500 GB Barracudas (RAID 0) - 1 x Dell 2407WFP surrounded by 2 x Dell 2001FPs - Logitech Z-5500http://blog.prilliman.com |