Cannot install XP as dual boot (Vista 64bit on drive C)

S

Schnitter

Member
I have 3 hard drives, C D and E (all NTSF formatted)
---------------------------------
C - Vista 64bit installed
D - Nothing
E - Nothing
---------------------------------
I tried to follow Installing XP After Vista - NeoSmart Technologies Wiki step by step but it goes wrong.

-insert XP bootable CD
-Press F8 to bring boot menu (so I choose boot from CD instead of hard drive)
-install XP on drive D format NTSF
-pc restarts
-instead of it continuing setup, I get "A disk read error occurred // Press Ctrl Alt Del to restart"
-insert XP bootable CD
-Repair Vista using "Startup Repair"
-pc restarts and automatically goes to Vista

Drive D has WINDOWS folder nothing else.

Addendum:

[boot loader]
timeout=1
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

Addendum:

Code: 
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=D:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default                 {e8709fb6-fa5f-11db-be4d-e219ece5282e}
displayorder            {e8709fb6-fa5f-11db-be4d-e219ece5282e}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 5

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {e8709fb6-fa5f-11db-be4d-e219ece5282e}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows Vista
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {e8709fb7-fa5f-11db-be4d-e219ece5282e}
nx                      OptOut


Addendum:

I just added the XP to the boot loader using EasyBCD even though XP didnt finish installing, this is how my boot manager looks now...

Code: 
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=D:
description             Windows Boot Manager
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {7ea2e1ac-2e61-4728-aaa3-896d9d0a9f0e}
default                 {e8709fb6-fa5f-11db-be4d-e219ece5282e}
displayorder            {e8709fb6-fa5f-11db-be4d-e219ece5282e}
                        {63d5a4d3-4b5e-11dc-9a12-0013d42e411c}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 5

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {e8709fb6-fa5f-11db-be4d-e219ece5282e}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows Vista
locale                  en-US
inherit                 {6efb52bf-1766-41db-a6b3-0ee5eff72bd7}
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {e8709fb7-fa5f-11db-be4d-e219ece5282e}
nx                      OptOut

Real-mode Boot Sector
---------------------
identifier              {63d5a4d3-4b5e-11dc-9a12-0013d42e411c}
device                  partition=D:
path                    \NTLDR
description             Microsoft Windows XP

Is it fine that way or should I have XP point to drive C (it is installed on drive D but one of the WIKI I think suggested having it point to C anyway.
 
Last edited:
You would have it point to C: since Vista was installed first. Even with it pointing to the right place, you probably still well not be able to boot XP due to the installation not completing properly. Try re-installing XP again or performing a repair install on the current installation if it doesn't work and go from there.
 
Last edited:
I think your problem is using F8 to boot from the optical drive. When the setup tries to restart, it won't be going back to the optical, but to the HDD.
Change your BIOS to put the DVD drive permanently above your HDDs. (It's best like that anyway, as it does nothing during a normal (empty tray) boot, but can rescue you when your HDD boot encounters problems).
Start again from scratch with the CD in the tray, boot the system "hit any key" when asked, then do the install to D:\ with a fresh format to start clean. When the setup reboots, it should find your CD OK and complete the install.

(The EasyBCD entry saying C:\ is correct btw. It's pointing to the boot files not the XP system)
 
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