Vista Multiboot problem

[Gray]

Hi,

I have three separate hard drives - one with XP that I use for all my apps, one with XP that just used for gaming, and the final one that I have instaled Vista onto.

I've been playing around with EasyBCD for a couple of days now, and now have three options, one for each drive. The first option (the default) is Vista. I can select this and Vista boots up no problem. The second option is XP. This also boots up no problem. The third option is Gaming, and this just boots up into XP (as if I'd clicked the second option). I've changed settings and all sorts, but it still boots up into my XP drive.

What have I done wrong? Is there a definitive guide somewhere that I just can't seem to find?

Why on Earth did they get rid of boot.ini??!!

[joaodanet]

ABOUT BOOT.INI DEFINITIONS

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/102873

My Advice:

1 - INstall all windows in HD separate, but, install 1 hd only!

a ) Install HD XP games, install windows ( note ) UNINSTALL HD FROM PC

b ) Install HD XP app, install windows ( note ) UNINSTALL HD FROM PC

ALL WILL BE DRIVE C (default)

c ) install all HD, but, drive C will be hd EMPTY for install VISTA (as drive C)

Maybe, this help!

For test, experiment use VMWare for simulation install with 3 HD (install only basic system each one)

OR, try change parameters from boot.ini of XPs intallation

Boot.ini for XP default

;

;Warning: Boot.ini is used on Windows XP and earlier operating systems.

;Warning: Use BCDEDIT.exe to modify Windows Vista boot options.

;

[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

+

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /FASTDETECT /NoExecute=OptIn

the value = disk in system

For SCSI disks

[boot loader]

timeout=30

Default= scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\winnt

[operating systems]

scsi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\winnt="Windows NT"

IF you use multi disk boot (IDE, EIDE, ESDI, SCCI) use MULTI(0)

EXAMPLE:

[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="Windows Server 2003"

Edited February 11, 2007 by joaodanet

[Gray]

There's no way I want to re-install EVERYTHING, that's just totally unrealistic.

And I don't really want to have to choose the Win XP option, and then press another button for the type of XP (app or games) which is what i will need to do if I go down the boot.ini route.

There must be a way using the BCD to just have 3 options, one for each bootable hdd.

Does anyone know?

It seems strange to me that I've got Vista working from option 1, XP Apps from option 2 but option 3 XP games just loads XP Apps as if I'd selected option 2.

[wfunction]

That's because they both boot into the NTLdr. Have a BCD option for "NTLDR", and edit Boot.ini on your very first partition to boot into what you want.

[ripken204]

ya like said above, edit the boot.ini for the xp drive. you need to have it give u the option for xp or games, and you will select what to boot from here.

you could also give this a try:

http://www.vistabootpro.org/

[Gray]

That's because they both boot into the NTLdr. Have a BCD option for "NTLDR", and edit Boot.ini on your very first partition to boot into what you want.

So you can't have the option of booting into a choice of ntldr's?

1. Vista

2. Windows (apps)

3. Windown (games)

I have to have just:

1. Vista

2. Windows

and from option 2 ANOTHER two options like:

1. Windows (apps)

2. Windows (games)

That's crazy.

I've tried EasyBCD and VistaBootPro by the way, and they are more or less identical. Both of which don't do what I want anyway (