Vista/XP Dual System
Discussion
Other half has a computer where the hd has been partitioned, and one half is running XP Pro, and the other half Vista Home Premium.
when he turns the computer on, unless he hits the button to tell it to boot into XP, it automatically boots into Vista, is there anyway of telling the computer that he wants XP to be the default boot up, or will Vista always think it take priority?
Many thanks
when he turns the computer on, unless he hits the button to tell it to boot into XP, it automatically boots into Vista, is there anyway of telling the computer that he wants XP to be the default boot up, or will Vista always think it take priority?
Many thanks
You have to use BCDEDIT.exe for that which isn't so straightforward.
Run command prompt as administrator, type in bcdedit.exe
that will give you a list including your two operating systems (XP and Vista)
You have to take down the identifier key of the XP loader entry, then type bcdedit -set {ID key} DESCRIPTION "Windows XP"
The ID key will be a bunch of mixed numbers and letters. I'd say it wasn't worth it. There might be an easier way, if so I don't know of it.
I miss the ease of the XP bootloader.
Run command prompt as administrator, type in bcdedit.exe
that will give you a list including your two operating systems (XP and Vista)
You have to take down the identifier key of the XP loader entry, then type bcdedit -set {ID key} DESCRIPTION "Windows XP"
The ID key will be a bunch of mixed numbers and letters. I'd say it wasn't worth it. There might be an easier way, if so I don't know of it.
I miss the ease of the XP bootloader.
LOGiK said:
I tried using the XP bootloader to load vista and win7
DOES NOT WORK.
Oh it kicks in the OS fine, then it just reboots.
Instead I now use the bios bootloader with separate HD's.
Correct because XP Bootloader is older than the new BCD system in W7/Vista so it cant actually read it as it is not aware of it. The correct offical way to do this is to install XP first then vista and allow the vista bootloader to handle it. Handy if you only have one disk. DOES NOT WORK.
Oh it kicks in the OS fine, then it just reboots.
Instead I now use the bios bootloader with separate HD's.
Had same issue running 2003/2007 on my test lab machine.
But as you have identified alterations using BCD Edit are a complete pain, hence why so many new tools such as Easy BCD are popping up.
Gassing Station | Computers, Gadgets & Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff