Dual boot issue problem on second partition

[sonxEr77]

My PC runs Vista on first 80G partition. I've just installed winXP on the second 80G partition but now the PC boots straight to XP without showing the option for Vista. Not sure how to configure it to show both options. Well the BIOS doesn't show partitions, shows only the detected HDD.

I also went to startup & recovery option to view the boot file...

[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 Professional" /FASTDETECT /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN

help will do!

 

[Aardvark]

Hi sonxEr77
What really works is first to intall xp and then vista.
Vista understands xp but not the other way round
Cheers
Aardvark

 

[Boodles]

/ change your 'timeout' to 3 secs or something like that...

 

[NoRulez]

/ change your 'timeout' to 3 secs or something like that...

Timeout won't solve anything...
Aardvark is right - XP first, then Vista

 

[ghalied]

oldest OS first, always

 

[martmeister]

are you not able to find a dual boot ini off the net and alter it to point to both which would give you the option to select either at startup...

http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic9371.html

[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="XP on primary drive" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="XP on backup drive" /fastdetect
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

Now baring in mind you got 2 partitions and this guy has 2 HDD, the config would be slightly different...

just my 2 cents...

 

[Boodles]

... '/' - thats why i had the off topic character there. lol.

 

[Claymore]

Installing XP will overwrite the Vista boot info. You need to boot off the Vista DVD and repair the boot stuff.

 

[sonxEr77]

oldest OS first, always

This is an Acer PC (Pentium D) which comes with the drive partitioned to two by default with Vista on, rather stupid i think. Anyway, incredible connection doesn't even give you an original Vista DVD/CDs. But then after completing Vista installation (came partially installed) it asks you to create a Vista recovery disc. Now my attempt of installing XP on the second partition i guess it overrides boot for XP. Putting back Vista recovery disc to re-install vista without deleting/formatting XP it takes me back to square one (booting straight to vista). So this means whatever installation i make last gains the boot priority without giving option for dual boot.

I attempted making the XP partition active in Vista, now i get an error "NTLDR missing, restart PC".... Am stuck with no OS starting up...