Multiboot with 2 hard drives from diff comps.

OuTLawZ-GoSu · 01-06-2008, 08:51 PM

I got 2 hard drives from 2 different computer. Both of them have windows xp. I put them both in a computer as master/slave and it works.

But I can't multiboot. The only way I can boot from the other hard drive is to change the jumpers.

I would try to modify boot.ini, but I might mess up the hard drives.

How can I make it so they multiboot. (where both partitions are shown, and you can pick which one you want to boot from)

**Deleted090308** · 01-07-2008, 06:21 AM

Hi,

Boot the XP installation that's located on the master drive (C: drive).

Open boot.ini -
(Click Start > Run - type sysdm.cpl > click OK.
In system properties: Click the Advanced tab >
click Settings under Startup and Recovery >
Under System Startup, click Edit.)

Copy the text in boot.ini and include it in your next post.
Also include where the second XP is located (drive, partition) - then I'll edit the boot.ini

OuTLawZ-GoSu · 01-07-2008, 04:32 PM

Here's the boot.ini from both XPs.

Code:

XP 1

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons


XP 2

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

**Deleted090308** · 01-07-2008, 05:08 PM

If the XP installations are on different drives they can't both be on rdisk(0).

Please boot the XP installation you want to be the default OS - then copy the boot.ini.
And - look in Disk management: Drive/partition of the other XP installation.

OuTLawZ-GoSu · 01-07-2008, 05:10 PM

Ok, the XP1 is the default OS and in Disk Management, XP2 is Disk1, Partition 1.

**Deleted090308** · 01-07-2008, 05:21 PM

OK.

Open boot.ini - save a copy first. Then replace the text with this:

Quote:

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP 2" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

Save, close Notepad, the other windows and reboot.

**Deleted090308** · 01-08-2008, 10:44 AM

Is it working now?

OuTLawZ-GoSu · 01-10-2008, 02:46 AM

Sorry for the long reply, been away for a few days.

I put the information in xp1's Boot.ini and restarted. I can see the 3 partitions that I can boot from, Xp1, Xp2 and the restore partition. Xp1 and restore boot fine, but xp2 gets a blue screen and the pc restarts.

Am I supposed to modify xp2's boot.ini with the same information? I only changed xp1's boot.ini.

Oh ye, does the HD's company have anything to do with this? One is from hp and the otheris from compaq.

**Deleted090308** · 01-10-2008, 07:30 AM

XP2 starts to load, but gives you a BSOD?
That's because Windows on that drive was installed on another machine with different hardware.
Can you start XP2 in safe mode? If so - uninstall as many drivers as you can in Device manager and restart.
You may have to perform a repair install of XP2.

Boot.ini on XP2 doesn't have to be edited.

01-06-2008, 08:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
OuTLawZ-GoSu Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 137 OS: Windows Xp, Windows Vista	Multiboot with 2 hard drives from diff comps. I got 2 hard drives from 2 different computer. Both of them have windows xp. I put them both in a computer as master/slave and it works. But I can't multiboot. The only way I can boot from the other hard drive is to change the jumpers. I would try to modify boot.ini, but I might mess up the hard drives. How can I make it so they multiboot. (where both partitions are shown, and you can pick which one you want to boot from) Last edited by OuTLawZ-GoSu; 01-06-2008 at 08:54 PM.

01-07-2008, 06:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Multiboot with 2 hard drives from diff comps. Hi, Boot the XP installation that's located on the master drive (C: drive). Open boot.ini - (Click Start > Run - type sysdm.cpl > click OK. In system properties: Click the Advanced tab > click Settings under Startup and Recovery > Under System Startup, click Edit.) Copy the text in boot.ini and include it in your next post. Also include where the second XP is located (drive, partition) - then I'll edit the boot.ini

01-07-2008, 05:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Multiboot with 2 hard drives from diff comps. If the XP installations are on different drives they can't both be on rdisk(0). Please boot the XP installation you want to be the default OS - then copy the boot.ini. And - look in Disk management: Drive/partition of the other XP installation.

01-07-2008, 05:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
OuTLawZ-GoSu Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 137 OS: Windows Xp, Windows Vista	Re: Multiboot with 2 hard drives from diff comps. Ok, the XP1 is the default OS and in Disk Management, XP2 is Disk1, Partition 1.

01-08-2008, 10:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Multiboot with 2 hard drives from diff comps. Is it working now?

01-10-2008, 02:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
OuTLawZ-GoSu Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 137 OS: Windows Xp, Windows Vista	Re: Multiboot with 2 hard drives from diff comps. Sorry for the long reply, been away for a few days. I put the information in xp1's Boot.ini and restarted. I can see the 3 partitions that I can boot from, Xp1, Xp2 and the restore partition. Xp1 and restore boot fine, but xp2 gets a blue screen and the pc restarts. Am I supposed to modify xp2's boot.ini with the same information? I only changed xp1's boot.ini. Oh ye, does the HD's company have anything to do with this? One is from hp and the otheris from compaq.

01-10-2008, 07:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
Deleted090308 Not... Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 22,277 OS: Xp	Re: Multiboot with 2 hard drives from diff comps. XP2 starts to load, but gives you a BSOD? That's because Windows on that drive was installed on another machine with different hardware. Can you start XP2 in safe mode? If so - uninstall as many drivers as you can in Device manager and restart. You may have to perform a repair install of XP2. Boot.ini on XP2 doesn't have to be edited.