Windows XP multi-boot setup: NTDETECT FAILED

E

engageei8ht

Member
Here's my setup:

HDD1: Vista x64
HDD2: Windows 7 and Windows XP

I configured EasyBCD to show Vista, 7, and XP just fine.
Vista and 7 function properly, however, Windows XP shows a black screen saying:

NTDETECT FAILED

I have read the sticky, the XP troubleshooting guide, and I downloaded EasyBCD 2.0 to automatically configure my BOOT.INI file (I was getting a BOOT.INI related error in XP before).
 
Hi engage, welcome to NST.
Can you copy/paste the contents of the EasyBCD "display settings" output (in debug mode) and a screenshot of your disk management display. (use snipping tool, save as .jpg, click "go advanced" below the quick reply dialogue box at the bottom of the thread and use the paperclip icon to attach the jpeg you saved.)
 
Sure thing Terry, I appreciate the help, thanks!

Code: 
Windows Boot Manager
--------------------
identifier              {9dea862c-5cdd-4e70-acc1-f32b344d4795}
device                  partition=\Device\HarddiskVolume2
path                    \bootmgr
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}
                        {3fbdc993-7fe8-11de-b776-e3842344f062}
                        {3fbdc99c-7fe8-11de-b776-e3842344f062}
toolsdisplayorder       {b2721d73-1db4-4c62-bf78-c548a880142d}
timeout                 5

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

Windows Boot Loader
-------------------
identifier              {3fbdc993-7fe8-11de-b776-e3842344f062}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \Windows\system32\winload.exe
description             Windows 7
locale                  en-US
osdevice                partition=C:
systemroot              \Windows
resumeobject            {d07bbade-8225-11de-be1b-806e6f6e6963}

Real-mode Boot Sector
---------------------
identifier              {3fbdc99c-7fe8-11de-b776-e3842344f062}
device                  partition=C:
path                    \NTLDR
description             Windows XP
 

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Last edited:
OK. Are you using the very latest build of EasyBCD 2.0 ?
Your Boot files are all in the "OLD-DATA" partition ("system" flag), but the XP entry is looking on the W7 partition.
Only the very latest build of Easy2 contains the code to handle the existence of the W7 "secret" unlettered boot partition.
Use build 63 and delete the XP entry then add it again and let Easy auto-configure it.
 
Ah I gotcha.
Will do and reply once I finish.

Addendum:

Alright, I just tried the newest build and I can *ALMOST* boot into XP.
When I choose XP, the screen just goes black -- no BSOD, no error messages, it's just black.

However, I find it strange that "OLD-DATA" is my system drive. I want to change it, because it's in my old partition that I never use and is not even assigned a drive letter.

Thanks for your help, Terry, we're getting close (I hope)!
 
Last edited:
The latest build is supposed to work with the unlettered partition (W7 installs the boot files separately if you let it allocate itself into empty space when you install it. To keep the boot files integrated, format the W7 partition yourself and point the install at it)
Not having experienced this scenario myself, I can't say how it does it or why it's not working for you.
Give the unlettered partition a letter in disk management, and delete/add the XP entry again.
If that doesn't work, post the "display settings" again.
 
Terry, you sir are a life-saver.
It's all up and working now!

Windows triple-boot heaven...
So can I take away that drive letter from OLD-DATA? I have no use for that partition, and I was wondering if it would do any harm to un-assign the letter.

THANK YOU!
 
I've never had that problem, so can't say. But you've got over 200Gb in there, you'll want to use it for something and you'll need a letter assigned to be able to access it in Explorer.
 
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