35 Responses to “ How to: Install the Vista Bootloader on Windows XP ”

1. 1MikeJan. 28th, 2008 at 5:10 am

   I am looking for a tool like EasyBCD that will work on all systems from Win98 to XP for my old MS operating systems until I junk them and replace them with Linux. It would be nice if it also worked with Linux and Mac X. I am using Partition Magic (old) and (old) Ghost to capture the OEM image, dumping Vista, installing XP, ripping out all the junk and making my changes and saving the "system" I want. I think Vista sucks.

   If you happen to know of a product like this would you please send me the info. at the address listed above. I am looking for a tool that will let me make the changes I want and both Parition Magic (new version) and Ghost (new version) are increasing blocking my attempts to capture a system snapshot building image libraries and multi-boot systems. I am surveying a copy of system commander now and BartPE now.

   Thanks, Mike

2. 2Computer GuruJan. 28th, 2008 at 9:52 am

   If you follow the steps in this article on your PC(s), EasyBCD will do just that.

3. 3queFeb. 13th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

   thanks alot..

   i could install VistabootPro on the XP, and i also installed .Net freamwork 2.0 before i install the VistabootPro, but the problem was when i go to the System Bootloader tab, and select "Windows Vista Bootloader" in the first section and "All Drives" in the second section, then there is no "Install Bootloader's button" to click.. and also all the tabs are like this"without any buttons under the options"

   were u talking about this problem? and is EasyBCD the solution for this problem?

   thanks,

   Que, KL, Malaysia

4. 4Mahmoud Al-QudsiFeb. 13th, 2008 at 9:22 pm

   This feature is only available in EasyBCD, not in VistaBootPRO.

   VistaBootPRO is a broken and a poor imitation of EasyBCD. Grab yourself a copy of EasyBCD from http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1 and use it with the instructions above.

5. 5TeresaJun. 15th, 2008 at 4:27 pm

   I have a new laptop that came with vista preinstalled (drive C). I have installed WinXP on a separate partition (drive D).

   What I'd like to know is if I install the Easybcd's bootloader in XP will I set the the vista drive as "C" or do I follow the instructions above to add the vista boot folder to my XP installation?

   Also, more importantly, if I use XP to install the bootloader will it automatically recognize the vista install on drive C or will I have to reinstall vista again?

   I had tryed using Easybcd in the Vista installation but when I selected the XP os from the bootloader screen on startup I would get a "/ntldr missing" message. When I added the files as instructed per this website, and then selected the XP os from the bootloader screen I would get a very brief "loading windows from drive C:" message and then the screen stayed black and would never load any os.

   I'm afraid to keep reinstalling XP. I've activated it twice in three days and I'm certain MS will be after me for a phone call if I continue reinstalling the software.

   Thank you for your help.

6. 6MaryAnnJun. 30th, 2008 at 11:20 pm

   I have a new Dell Dimension E521 computer that came with vista preinstalled on(drive C). I have installed WinXP on a separate partition (drive D).

   What I'd like to know is if I install the Easybcd's bootloader in XP will I set the the vista drive as "C" or do I follow the instructions above to add the vista boot folder to my XP installation?

   I've tried boot repair CD's to fix my Vista startup problem but the screen stays black and won't go to the Vista Desktop. XP is so erratic that I'm afraid I'll mess IT up and then I won't be able to use by NEW computer!!

7. 7MaryAnnJun. 30th, 2008 at 11:26 pm

   I have a new Dell Dimension E521 computer that came with vista preinstalled on(drive)C but it is Windows Vista Home Premium, version 6 with SMBIOS and nVIDIA technology. I mean the display resolution is like, 1900 something by 1100 something. Which EASYBCD version will work on my vista?

8. 8Mahmoud Al-QudsiJul. 2nd, 2008 at 10:50 am

   All you have to do is follow the instructions at http://neosmart.net/wiki/display/EBCD/Windows+XP

9. 9AlduaOct. 5th, 2008 at 4:23 am

   Hi!! I looking for someone utility how EasyBCD but for Windows XP.. I wish add to my XP bootloader my Ubuntu, Kubuntu and Edubuntu (and yes Iam Ubuntuadict!! =P) but with East BCD I need the Boot vista files its correct?? or i can add my linux Distros to my XP boot loader with EasyBCD?? Greetings!! =P Aldus

10. 10Mahmoud Al-QudsiOct. 5th, 2008 at 4:45 pm

    After you follow these steps, you can use EasyBCD to set up the bootloader.

11. 11davidOct. 7th, 2008 at 10:19 am

    I have an hp compact presario sr5030nx. It's a year and a half old, and came with vista basic originally installed. It came with no vista installation disks. It came with sata, no slave/master. I installed a second sata harddrive. On the new drive, I installed xp pro on the first partition, using an xp boot disk. The new drives 2nd partiton is unallocated. I never got the dual boot screen. Status at this point, XP boots (see FIRST ATTEMPT). Then, I tried various things: selecting either drive using the escape key's boot screen, I get XP; Computer, properties, advanced, had only one selection for boot.ini file; Unplugging either drive or switching sata board plugs, etc. Eventually couldn't get into either drive.

    Then I read about EASYbcd. I reinstalled XP. I Configured EASYbcd in XP. In "manage bootloader" "reinstalled Vista Bootloader" then "write MBR". In "ADD/Remove Entries" selected XP, and added entry. Still no dual boot screen. Now Vista boots, but XP won't. I have access to its files through the Vista drive. Selecting XP drive in Boot menu/escape I get, "error loading OS". My boot setting priority in Bios I've never changed are, 1-floppy 2-cd/rom 3-harddrive group-1)Vista 2)XP. This is where I'm at now(see CURRENTLY). 
    
    I have read to, and also not to, change the boot order in the bios. Scary! EASYbcd is installed on both drives and I figure all I have to do is configure it on the Vista drive. Please advise!
    
    Additional info:
    I plan on updating xp/vista bios and installing missing xp drivers. I may split the new drive's unallocated partition, one for Umbutu, and one for data. If this is going to complicate the current situation; then I can skip it. 
    

    FIRST ATTEMPT

    Computer Management

    (top section)
    

    compact c: partition - - healthy(system) 141
    D: partition - - healthy(boot) 117 E: partition - - healthy 1.91

    recovery F: partition - - healthy 7.09

    ---

    (Bottom section)
        VISTA       |
    

    disk0 compact C: |recovery D: basic 141gb |7.0gb 149gb healthy(system) |healthy
    online | ...................................................................... XP PRO
    disk1 D: | basic 117gb | 233 healthy (boot) |116gb

    online |unallocated

    CURRENTLY

    Computer Management

    (top section)
    F:    simple - - healthy(active, primary partition)     117
    j:    simple - - healthy (primary partiton)         1.91
    

    compact c: simple - - healthy(system,boot,page,active,crash 141 dump,primary partition)

    Recovery d: simple - - healthy, (primary partition) 7.09

    ---

    (Bottom section)
        VISTA         |
    

    disk0 compact (C:) |recovery D: basic 141gb |7.0gb 149gb | online | healthy(system,boot,page,active, | crash dump,primary partition) |
    ......................................................................
    XP PRO
    disk1 (F:) | basic 117gb | 233gb healthy(active, primary | partition) |116gb

    online |unallocated

    disk3 (J) | removable |

    1.9gb |

    cd-rom ) |

    dvd (E) |

    EASYbcd properties in VISTA There is one entry in the Vista Bootloader. Bootloader Timeout: 30 seconds. Default OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Entry #1 Name: Microsoft Windows Vista BCD ID: {current} Drive: C:\ Bootloader Path: \Windows\system32\winload.exe Windows Directory: \Windows

12. 12coddyDec. 3rd, 2008 at 12:23 am

    Why would I do this? come on If I bought a mac I'd buy it for it's OS If I wanted XP i'd use my lappy.

13. 13PaulDec. 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 am

    I instlled xp first, vista second (separate partition's) crashed the winXP and reinstalled xp , now I cant boot to vista. I tried easyBCD 1.7.2 but it wont load from xp (the application failed to initialize properly (0x0000135) error

14. 14Mahmoud Al-QudsiDec. 22nd, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    Paul, install the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 before running EasyBCD on Windows XP.

15. 15taufiqJan. 11th, 2009 at 1:30 am

    I have XP SP3 on lappy with a hidden linux on two other partitions. The problem is that i can't repair the GRUB using CD/DVD since my drive is broken. I'll try using this software with the above tips. Wish me luck ;)

16. 16coddyJan. 11th, 2009 at 3:39 pm

    Good luck it might help. this hack job might work on my own OS i'll try it

17. 17ManishJan. 18th, 2009 at 2:53 am

    Hi,

    is it necessary to go online to download .net framework ..is there any other way i get the dump files...

18. 18catMar. 22nd, 2009 at 2:11 pm

    i actually have to disagree im a novice and i just installed vista onto an xp machine what i did first may have been why though, i ran vista from desktop i clicked on install,,now interestingly it downloaded and installed files (my guess would be the bootmgr files needed ) then it asked for it to then be ran from disk,ie reboot and install i did this and it all went fine,,,she has vista running on her xp machine without me taking files from my vista machine so yer ,maybe xp users could give this a try also

19. 19BarryAug. 20th, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    All works OK until I install EasyBCD in XP. I get error message, so tried installing in Win 7 and it worked.

20. 20DanSep. 9th, 2009 at 6:08 pm

    My registry hive is corrupt and no matter what I do I get an error message that says Missing OS or unformattede active partition.

    Can I use Easy BCD to fix this? Can I put the easybcd.exe on a cd and boot the file from a cd?

    Also I tried the Vista Recovery Disc .iso, but get the same message.

    I'd be extremely grateful for any help. Dan

21. 21DrknezzOct. 9th, 2009 at 4:45 pm

    Guys, help me out, EasyBCD wont start on my machine Dx 0xc0000135

22. 22Mahmoud Al-QudsiOct. 9th, 2009 at 9:01 pm

    Install .NET 2.0

23. 23Michael SandstromNov. 15th, 2009 at 10:24 am

    If I use EasyBCD as a Windows XP boot loader can I configure the loader to boot into XP as the default without input making Windows 7 the option?

24. 24Mahmoud Al-QudsiNov. 15th, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    Sure. You don't even need to add a Windows 7 entry.

25. 25tnxNov. 20th, 2009 at 10:37 pm

    This was very helpful!

26. 26blaneDec. 1st, 2009 at 12:31 am

    Can the different OS's be on different physical drives? If they are, so I even need the software, or should I just choose my boot drive from my bios?

    I will be booting XP and Win7.

    Thanks

27. 27FernandoDec. 15th, 2009 at 10:10 pm

    Hello Mahmoud Al-Qudsi!

    I've used your tool and I think its very good, I just would like to know if its possible to do the same that is explained here (Install vista/7 bootloader on XP) but only with Microsoft tools (bootsect, bcdedit) from a WinPE environment.

    Thanks in advance

28. 28robertJan. 22nd, 2010 at 3:16 am

    hey hey... maybe you could give me a link of a vista boot folder so i could download it and try this tweak... thanks

29. 29Mahmoud Al-QudsiJan. 22nd, 2010 at 5:58 pm

    Maybe not ;-)

30. 30DonaldJan. 28th, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    Will this work for XP inside a VHD?

    I understand native boot vhd is only officially supported for Win 7 and later guest OS, but I've read Vista SP1 and later can also be native booted inside vhd. Of course, the Win 7 bootmgr must be installed on the "outside" host and the bcd must be configured also on the outside host.

    What is the easiest way to native boot vhd with XP inside?

    Thanks in advance

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