Dual Boot With XP

KingofLodis · 08-03-2009, 08:19 PM

Here's the deal, we have an HD that has Windows 2000 Pro already on it, and we can't really reformat it or anything.

We bought another HD, and we put XP on it while it was set as a slave. (The 2k pro hd was set as Master w/ Slave)

But Windows XP isn't showing up on the startup options, but Windows 2k pro is. (When you start up the computer and it asks you to pick what drive you want to use.)

We want to keep Windows 2k Pro as the default start up option, so changing the boot.ini file of XP won't do much (Unless it will???), and I don't think there's a boot.ini file in Windows 2k Pro...

Even if it does fix it, I don't know how to edit the boot.ini file to make it work.

I've checked the system settings in the control panel, and Windows XP doesn't show up as a start up option.

When I make Windows XP the master, it starts up XP, but Windows 2000 doesn't show up on the list of start up options.

and it doesnt show up in the control panel system options either. (Windows 2k pro doesn't while in XP)

What should I do?

Also: We want to switch between Windows XP and Windows 2k Pro WHILE it's running.

Is that possible? If not, the above question would be awesome if it was answered either way.

Stu_computer · 08-04-2009, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Also: We want to switch between Windows XP and Windows 2k Pro WHILE it's running. Is that possible?

not possible.

To change boot.ini to multi boot I suggest you download my BOOTini_Bats.zip (see below) and follow the guide.

Read Me First.txt

Quote:

This zip contains the following:

Directory folder 'BOOTini_Bats'

4 files:
Read Me First.txt (file your reading now)
Copy boot to floppy.bat **
Unhide BOOTini.bat
Hide BOOTini.bat

(** Should always make one. Handy if computer suddenly has BOOT.ini or NTDETECT.COM or NTLR errors **)

Recommended use...same order as they appear above.

How to use 'Copy boot to floppy.bat'.
1a/ format a floppy in A drive.
1b/ click 'Copy boot to floppy.bat' copies boot.ini, ntldr, and NTDETECT.COM to the floppy.
1c/ remove floppy.

Reason: In the event a boot file become corrupted (ie: you made a mistake editing boot.ini) this floppy can be used to boot the computer. (note: you may need to change first boot device to floppy, in bios setup.)

How to use 'Unhide BOOTini.bat'.
This will change the attributes of boot.ini so it is visible and can be edited with notepad.
2a/ Run 'Unhide BOOTini.bat' then right click on file C:\Boot.ini and select Edit.
2b/ Make your modifications to the text (see below for examples) and save.
2c/ Reboot to test new menu, if computer doesn't boot then use that new floppy to boot.

note: this bat also makes a backup copy of boot.ini named C:\Boot.orig

How to use'Hide BOOTini.bat'.
When you are satisfied with the results of your boot.ini modifications...
3a/ run 'Hide BOOTini.bat' to return Boot.ini to hidden status.
3b/ optional, remake the backup floppy from step 1 so it is updated too.

---------------------------------------------

Example of a Boot.ini modification to add Windows XP installed on a primary slave drive to an original Boot.ini for Windows 2000 on primary master drive.

The Windows 2000 C:\Boot.ini will look like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

We need to add one more line for Windows XP which is on the primary slave HDD:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

The result looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

Generally, there are only 3* parameters you usually need to modify for each menu selection

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(*)partition(1)\**="***" /fastdetect

* rdisk(which HDD was used?)
** Where is windows directory?
*** "Can write whatever you want here"

rdisk identifies the physical drives on the ide cables

rdisk(0) primary master
rdisk(1) primary slave
rdisk(2) secondary master
rdisk(3) secondary slave

Where is windows directory?
Typically, it's WINDOWS (except windows 2000 which uses WINNT).
Also, the user could have installed to a different directory, so verify first.

"Can write whatever you want here"
Personally, I like to change this part to something short but descriptive like "2000 Pro" and "XP Pro".

What if I installed XP on the primary drive in a partition instead?
then that's partition(2) so it would look like this:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

What if I installed XP on the primary drive with windows 2000? (yikes!)
well, win2000 would be in WINNT and winXP would be in WINDOWS so would look like this:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

Final note: timeout=30, and default operating system can easily be changed within windows 'Start up/Recovery' section so do it there and you won't have to worry about typo errors etc...

Good luck,
Stu_computer

johnswhite · 09-18-2009, 05:56 AM

Hi...
you should check the BIOS device or it may happen while installation some file contain may not load so problem may occur regarding that problem... also you can check it problem doing boot device option... Thanks for sharing the post...

catilley · 09-24-2009, 07:43 PM

You stated that you have 2000 pro and want to install XP Pro. When you load the XP installer, doesn't it give you the option to create a partition on the free space, if you have any. I've done three XP Pro installs with no problem. Or is it that there is not enough free space? That, I haven't had to deal with.

08-03-2009, 08:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
KingofLodis Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 211 OS: Windows 2000 Pro	Dual Boot With XP Here's the deal, we have an HD that has Windows 2000 Pro already on it, and we can't really reformat it or anything. We bought another HD, and we put XP on it while it was set as a slave. (The 2k pro hd was set as Master w/ Slave) But Windows XP isn't showing up on the startup options, but Windows 2k pro is. (When you start up the computer and it asks you to pick what drive you want to use.) We want to keep Windows 2k Pro as the default start up option, so changing the boot.ini file of XP won't do much (Unless it will???), and I don't think there's a boot.ini file in Windows 2k Pro... Even if it does fix it, I don't know how to edit the boot.ini file to make it work. I've checked the system settings in the control panel, and Windows XP doesn't show up as a start up option. When I make Windows XP the master, it starts up XP, but Windows 2000 doesn't show up on the list of start up options. and it doesnt show up in the control panel system options either. (Windows 2k pro doesn't while in XP) What should I do? Also: We want to switch between Windows XP and Windows 2k Pro WHILE it's running. Is that possible? If not, the above question would be awesome if it was answered either way.

09-18-2009, 05:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
johnswhite Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3 OS: Windows Vista	Re: Dual Boot With XP Hi... you should check the BIOS device or it may happen while installation some file contain may not load so problem may occur regarding that problem... also you can check it problem doing boot device option... Thanks for sharing the post... __________________ "A man who does not lose his reason over certain things has none to lose."

09-24-2009, 07:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
catilley Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2 OS: Linux Mint (Gloria)	Re: Dual Boot With XP You stated that you have 2000 pro and want to install XP Pro. When you load the XP installer, doesn't it give you the option to create a partition on the free space, if you have any. I've done three XP Pro installs with no problem. Or is it that there is not enough free space? That, I haven't had to deal with.