btcarney
asked on
XP System Disk Failing - Is first of Dual Boot w/Vista - How do I Boot Vista and Throw Away XP
How can I Remove an XP Drive that is the Base Drive of a Dual Boot System with Vista on a Second Drive - but the Boot Info for Vista is on the XP (first) drive.
The drive is failing but still allows me to boot Vista off the second drive, probably because all that's important on the system drive is the Vista stuff that used to be in XP's Boot.ini)
The drive is failing but still allows me to boot Vista off the second drive, probably because all that's important on the system drive is the Vista stuff that used to be in XP's Boot.ini)
The reason for the "repair" above is to change the BOOTSECT.WXP and vista files to match the size and sector arrangement of the new drive. On the old drive, it is set for the capacity of the old, not new drive.
Since you are using different drives, it might work fine without the repair from the DVD. There are also 3rd party utilities that will automatically change the BOOTSECT.WXP or Vista file for you. But the DVD will too.
Since you are using different drives, it might work fine without the repair from the DVD. There are also 3rd party utilities that will automatically change the BOOTSECT.WXP or Vista file for you. But the DVD will too.
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Hi noxcho!
I agree. this will resolve his problem.
I agree. this will resolve his problem.
ASKER
Thank you all for the suggestions - and I expect I will attempt the basic idea of removing the bad drive, booting Vista DVD, repairing the Vista install it finds on the remaining PC. Meanwhile - I was able to sucessfully NortonGhost the first drive, after several failed attempts - by doing a thorough CHKDSK on the drive with instructions to repair. Since I want first to get back to work, I will defer attempting any of the suggested solutions until I can get a new drive to NGhost my second, Vista drive before attempting the repair of that drive. I'll do this over the weekend.
After I do the Repair, if it works, I'll deal with the points award. If it doesn't, I'll try DualBoot and then deal with the points award.
After I do the Repair, if it works, I'll deal with the points award. If it doesn't, I'll try DualBoot and then deal with the points award.
btcarney, any feedback?
BOOT.INI
NTDETECT.COM
NTLDR
In the BOOT.INI file, you will have to change the lines involving these commands --
default=multi(0)disk(1)rdi
to this -- default=multi(0)disk(0)rdi
You see that drive (1) in the original configuration (second drive) now becomes drive(0) first drive.
Then you will have to remove the bad drive, jumper the good one as master and reboot with your VISTA DVD in the drive, and do a repair.