Windows 7 boot.ini file

Hi,

I'm currently setting up a Dual Boot Windows 7 and Windows XP. I installed Windows 7 first, then installed XP second, both installed on seperate partitions. Windows 7 is on the first partition, and XP on the second. When XP installed it overwrote Windows 7's boot.ini with it's own and now I have to add in the Windows 7 boot option manually. I tried adding the line "multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows 7" but this hasn't worked for me.

In summary, could you please post the contents of your Windows 7 boot.ini file from the root of your drive so I can see how it is initially set up?

Thank you in advance,



sabrehagen

Windows Vista/7 doesn't use boot.ini. You have to repair your boot sector so that it loads Windows 7's bootmgr instead of Windows XP's ntldr. I don't really know how to do that, though. It involves the Windows 7 DVD.

Josh's comment is correct, but you will still need a boot.ini to load XP, pluss all the root files. These may still exist on the non boot partition.
An average Boot.ini reads:

[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect

You might have to adjust these parameters to suit your own setup.

The normal boot files in XP will also be
Autoexec.bat
Config.sys
IO.sys
Msdos.sys
NtDetect.com

As I said, these may exist on the no boot partition.
If you have them, search and download, EasyBcd (Free) and install it in Windows 7. It has options to repair a dual boot.

Since it seems to be a new install with both OS's, it might be best to just start again.

But this time, install XP first and then W7. That way W7 will pick up the boot manager function correctly.

I managed to fix it by using easybcd to put XP and Windows 7 in the startup list. I then copied boot.ini from the XP partition to the Windows 7 partition so that after selecting XP in the boot menu and it went looking for the boot file, it was on the first partition, i.e. the Windows 7 partition. Boot.ini then pointed to the second partition where XP is installed and now both dual boot successfully!

Hope this helps people in the same predicament in the future!


sabrehagen

All,

I have a Windows Vista (Production) and now along with it Windows 7, I seem to be liking the windows 7 and would want to do away with the Vista install.

I can delete the Windows.old partition on the C Drive and create enough disk space for my self; but the problem would be with the boot loader? How can I remove the otpion of selecting the OS from the inital boot screen and load Windows 7 by default?

Thanks
Ankur

Originally Posted by kheterpalankur

All,

I have a Windows Vista (Production) and now along with it Windows 7, I seem to be liking the windows 7 and would want to do away with the Vista install.

I can delete the Windows.old partition on the C Drive and create enough disk space for my self; but the problem would be with the boot loader? How can I remove the otpion of selecting the OS from the inital boot screen and load Windows 7 by default?

Thanks
Ankur

easy bcd has the option to copy/move the boot ini file onto another partition

Originally Posted by sabrehagen

I managed to fix it by using easybcd to put XP and Windows 7 in the startup list. I then copied boot.ini from the XP partition to the Windows 7 partition so that after selecting XP in the boot menu and it went looking for the boot file, it was on the first partition, i.e. the Windows 7 partition. Boot.ini then pointed to the second partition where XP is installed and now both dual boot successfully!

Hope this helps people in the same predicament in the future!


sabrehagen

How did you do this? May I have step by step instructions because i did the same thing!!

Thanks!

To install Easybcd on XP, you need to first download and install .NET Framework 2.0 from MS

Download details: .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86)

D/L and install Easybcd

Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

A. Click Manage Bootloader

Attachment 1093

B. Make sure "Reinstall Vista Bootloader" is selected, Click Write MBR

Attachment 1094

C. Select Add/Remove Entries

Attachment 1091

D. Select Windows NT/2k/XP/2k3 in Drop-down, Click Add Entry, Click Save

Attachment 1092

Don't worry it says Vista - NT6 compatible MBR is the same for Vista and 7.

You could do it with command line instead , if you are familiar with that.

Hello sir,

I was using Windows XP SP3 initially. Later I installed windows 7 evaluation pack in a different drive

Now I want to remove windows 7 and also want to remove the boot selection screen which ask for me to choose between XP and windows 7

I have the boot.ini as follows:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


Right now my boot screen offers me to boot in windows 7 by default. i.e after 30 seconds it starts loading windows 7

I am not a pro but still i guess something i missing here

Please let me know what to do to solve my problem

Also let me know what to edit in the boot.ini file

At least if i could make windows XP the default one that also would do my work.

Thanks & Regards

Niladri