Dual Boot XP and XP Boot.ini settings

[$uperman]

hi guys, I have a bit of a problem.
I built myself a computer hoping that my parents would use the old computer but they are refusing to have their own computer and would like to use my new one.

I have been happily using my computer but my parents are lost without their seperate user accounts and their custom desktop icons. EG: HOTMAIL.COM (FOR E-MAIL) GOOGLE(FOR SEARCHING).

I was hoping to install their harddrive in my computer and setup a dual boot but I'm having a problem getting the 2nd harddrive to boot to XP, I get an error when I select it from the boot select screen.

The 2nd Hard drive has 2 Partitions on it, one for Backup and 2nd is Windows XP Install.

heres my boot ini:

[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="Verns XP Install" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect multi(0)disk(2)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Dad & Jacques XP Install" /fastdetect

Can someone help me out with the right parameters for this line

multi(0)disk(2)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Dad & Jacques XP Install" /fastdetect

The XP install is on the first partition. I tried disk(1) as I take it disk 0 is my hardrive but still no luck :P

please help

[Gimpy]

"The 2nd Hard drive has 2 Partitions on it, one for Backup and 2nd is Windows XP Install."

I may be wrong, but if the XP install on the second hard drive is on the second partition, I would think it would have to look like this:

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Dad & Jacques XP Install" /fastdetect

HTH

[$uperman]

The XP install is on the first partition. I tried disk(1) as I take it disk 0 is my hardrive but still no luck :P

but ill try yours anyway

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(0)\WINDOWS="Dad & Jacques XP Install" /fastdetect

is on partition 1 maybe the first partition is called 0?

[$uperman]

[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="VERNS VIPER" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="DAD & JACQUES VIPER" /fastdetect


I dont get it, someone tell me, what the HELL is wrong with that boot.ini?

[Gimpy]

I don't believe so. On my dual boot (on the same hard drive) it shows partition(1) and partition(2) respectively.

[$uperman]

Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem. Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware. Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.

the cause: Windows XP is not installed in the location specified in the Boot.ini file

Fix:
Edit the Boot.ini file to restore or correct the Default entry and to ensure that the other entries in the [Operating Systems] section of the Boot.ini file point to the appropriate directories.

Ok, so windows I want to boot is located in:
G:\WINDOWS

My other drives are:

C:\WINDOWS current install
D:\DVDROM
E:\DVDR
F:\WINDOWS other install

I don't understand what is wrong with

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="VERNS VIPER" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="DAD & JACQUES VIPER" /fastdetect

even if it booted from F:\WINDOWS other install, I wouldnt mind, then I can work out which partiton is G:\

Both F:\ and G:\ are on the same drive and should be bootable, maybe I should delete F:\ ?

[macko72]

Ok, so windows I want to boot is located in: G:\WINDOWS

So if you wonted to boot from G:\ then it should look like this:
multi(0)disk(1)partiton(2)\WINDOWS="DAD&JACQUES VIPER" /fastdetect

[stylin19]

Is 2 HD on the same controller ?
the 2nd HD is define with rdisk switch.

might want to try something like this:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="VERNS VIPER" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="DAD & JACQUES VIPER" /fastdetect


here is a good short & sweet for the switches:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)

multi(x) = Number of the IDE disk controller or the SCSI adapter with BIOS. (Always 0)

disk(x) = Only for SCSI - ID disk. When using multi - this setup is always 0.

rdisk(x) = Disk number on the IDE EIDE controllers (0 first, 1 second, 2 ....) for SCSI always 0

partition(x) = partition number 1,2,3,4... (primary partitions are always before extended partitions and logical disks)

not much...good luck

[stylin19]

P.S. you could try and rebuild the boot.ini file and let the system determine who does what to whom

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/291980/

[$uperman]

Was the rdisk switch managed to find an explanation on google but thanks anyway stylin

the working one

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="DAD & JACQUES VIPER" /fastdetect

cheers guys