Master Boot Record Blues

[Powertrip]

Like a lot of computer technicians like myself the time has come to learn vista, but a dual boot with xp is also a must have. Troubleshooting with people over the phone, etc. (not to mention the apps I still use in XP that don't run in vista yet).

I added a 3rd hard drive to my PC before installing vista. When I installed vista I pointed to the 120 GB partition on my newly installed 120 GB drive.

My objective was a dual boot with the screen on startup that says Windows Vista 32 bit, or Windows XP Pro. Well something happened and the only way I can get into XP is to switch my hard disk boot priority in CMOS. This is a pain because it seems by MBR is moving around like crazy and it's almost trial and error. What worries me is weather or not someday I won't be either to get into XP or Vista or both!

I had ubuntu's boot loader booting me into ubuntu or XP but one day after going into XP and rebooting the ubuntu boot loader disapeared and it just booted into XP (sometimes giving me blue screens but always going after a while).

Basically the ubuntu is all gone (well at least the partition) and I want to know how to get my MBR's fixed or both put onto the same drive so If the time ever comes I can pull out one of my 3 drives and not lose one or both of my OS's.

Thanks. I can do up a screen shot of my partitions if need be.

[Powertrip]

Here are my Hard Drives and Partitions. I will tell you what I know. leighsdrives.jpg

Drive I (Disk 0): is my old windows XP Pro Boot/System Partition that used to be dual booted with ubuntu (see the unpartitioned space on the same drive)
Drive C (Disk 1): is my 120 GB Samsung which is the newest drive that contains my windows Vista Partition
Drives D, E & F (Disk 2): are on my 200 GB Seagate which I use as a big file storage which can be accessed trough either OS. (Drivers mostly)

So Disk 0 is a SATA 80 GB WD which I though had my MBR for XP Pro on it, but it doesn't (or at least I don't think)
Disk 1: I believe has my Vista MBR on it (when it is my first boot device vista always boots) which makes sence.
and Disk 2: has to be above Disk 0 to boot into XP (So I think somehow my XP MBR is on my 200 GB Seagate)

help!

lol

[pam123]

ARRGGHH....
You went and did XP, Linux and Vista and Vista isn't friendly about other operating systems.
For XP and Vista go here : http://www.windowstalk.org/dual_boot_vista.htm

But the warning about Vista and dual booting went out last August : http://apcmag.com/3895/how_vista_scr...ooting_nirvana

Vista’s dominance of the MBR makes the process something of a one-way street. Once Vista is introduced to any system you have to play ball according to Vista Rules.

http://www.apcstart.com/4054/how_to_...t_xp_and_vista

[Powertrip]

Thanks pam. I'll have to brave it out some rainy sunday, another thorn in my side via microsoft.