UtherIV
Member
Hello. Recently, I recieved a netbook with XP Pro SP3 and a local Linux distro pre-installed. As I wanted the Linux alternative, replaced that distro for Ubuntu 11.04; ended up with a GRUB2 dual-boot which worked perfectly.
A few days ago, I decided to try Windows 7 in a separate partition (about 10 GB)- its MBR wiped out GRUB2, along with any possibility of booting into XP.
After many mistakes, I got EasyBCD, which seemed like a savior. Unfortunately, it doesn't support GRUB2, and I made an erratic entry for the XP partition. Then, managed to get GRUB2 working once again.
So, now I have a GRUB2 loader which shows all 3 systems, but can't boot XP; and, when "Windows 7 (loader)" is selected, a BCD menu showing both 7 and XP, yet here XP does boot.
Problem is, when XP is booting and it reaches the "log on phase", it starts looping logging in and out over and over again.
I heard it has to do with userinit.exe being rather corrupted or mislead by the registry: this points the file as being in C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,.
Thing is, as Seven was the last Windows OS in being installed, it took the "C:\" drive for itself, leaving XP with the "D:\" one and corrupting it somehow.
All in all, I'd like to recover that XP partition as it is the most important one to me. And, if possible, would like to get rid of the BCD and boot all OSs directly from GRUB2.
I'd aprecciate any help.
Thanks
PS: A few more facts:
PARTITIONS:
- XP Pro SP3 --> 1st (/dev/sda1) [~90 GB]
- Ubuntu 11.04 --> 2nd (/dev/sda2) [~50 GB]
- 7 Ultimate SP1 --> 3rd (/dev/sda3) [~10 GB]
BOOT:
1st: GRUB2 loads. Shows all 3 systems. XP does not work here (a BCD's error message appears).
2nd (when Windows 7 is chosen): BCD appears. Shows 7 and XP. XP does boot, yet it never logs on.
DRIVES:
XP = D:\ - Detected as just a data partition from within Seven.
7 = C:\ - Active
Hope this helps
A few days ago, I decided to try Windows 7 in a separate partition (about 10 GB)- its MBR wiped out GRUB2, along with any possibility of booting into XP.
After many mistakes, I got EasyBCD, which seemed like a savior. Unfortunately, it doesn't support GRUB2, and I made an erratic entry for the XP partition. Then, managed to get GRUB2 working once again.
So, now I have a GRUB2 loader which shows all 3 systems, but can't boot XP; and, when "Windows 7 (loader)" is selected, a BCD menu showing both 7 and XP, yet here XP does boot.
Problem is, when XP is booting and it reaches the "log on phase", it starts looping logging in and out over and over again.
I heard it has to do with userinit.exe being rather corrupted or mislead by the registry: this points the file as being in C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,.
Thing is, as Seven was the last Windows OS in being installed, it took the "C:\" drive for itself, leaving XP with the "D:\" one and corrupting it somehow.
All in all, I'd like to recover that XP partition as it is the most important one to me. And, if possible, would like to get rid of the BCD and boot all OSs directly from GRUB2.
I'd aprecciate any help.
Thanks
PS: A few more facts:
PARTITIONS:
- XP Pro SP3 --> 1st (/dev/sda1) [~90 GB]
- Ubuntu 11.04 --> 2nd (/dev/sda2) [~50 GB]
- 7 Ultimate SP1 --> 3rd (/dev/sda3) [~10 GB]
BOOT:
1st: GRUB2 loads. Shows all 3 systems. XP does not work here (a BCD's error message appears).
2nd (when Windows 7 is chosen): BCD appears. Shows 7 and XP. XP does boot, yet it never logs on.
DRIVES:
XP = D:\ - Detected as just a data partition from within Seven.
7 = C:\ - Active
Hope this helps