Installing XP after Vista is installed

Tech Support Forum Windows OS's
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Seems like many people got trouble with it, so I’ll put a small tut here about it:

Warning: Before doing anything, please backup you data. If something goes wrong, then you might not be able to boot in either OS!

  1. Install XP

Then in XP, run the following command:

bootsect /NT60 ALL

(Copy bootsect.exe from the boot folder of your Windows Vista DVD and paste it into your Windows XP Windows\system32 folder)

This pulls all Windows operating systems into the Windows Vista boot menu and makes the Vista bootloader active.

Reboot the computer

The Vista bootloader should now appear. If XP is not listed (or Older Operating System), then read further.

  1. Create a BCD (Boot Configuration Data) entry for XP by specifying the following(bcdedit.exe is located in the \Windows\System32 directory of the Windows Vista partition. To access bcdedit.exe from within Windows XP you need to use the Command Prompt and point to bcdedit.exe:

bcdedit /create {ntldr} /d “Windows XP”

bcdedit /set {ntldr} device partition=C: (the partition of XP should be provided here. I entered C:, but it could be on a different partition)

bcdedit /set {ntldr} path \ntldr

bcdedit /displayorder {ntldr} -addlast

*You can change ‘Windows XP’ into any name you wish (Xp Pro, xp home etc.)

  1. Restart the computer in order for the changes to take effect.

You could also use this tut to install Win2000 or Win2003 (server) instead of XP.
This could also be done by using other OSes, but that OS should be installed on a partition that Vista supports (for using the drive letters). For example: If you would install linux on a Reiser FS partition, then Vista can’t recognise the file-system and can therefore not put that OS in the boot menu. So you should install it on a FAT32 or EXT2 (might need this program in Vista) partition (installing GRUB or LILO on the linux partition and NOT on the MBR (where Vista is installed). You then just need to perform step 3 from within Vista, and then instead of ntldr you put something like linux. Then at the part where you define the location of that entry, just enter the drive letter that Vista uses to get access to the linux partition.

Removing Vista

I’ll also provide this item.

Logon to Vista. Go to the partition where you installed XP, Win2000 or 2003 (server), and open the file BOOT.INI. Look for the entry TIMEOUT. If it is formatted like ;timeout, then change it to timeout (removing the ; -sign). (Remember to save the file). Now go to Command Prompt, and enter the following command:

Bootsect.exe –NT52 All.

Now reboot. Now XP, 2000 or 2003 should load (or the bootloader of it). Then you just need to format the Vista partition.

2

Using VistaBootPRO

I’ll do the same as above, but now on the VistaBootPro way.

  1. Download VistaBootPRO
  2. Install it (this tut is for vista users that are now stuck into XP).
    The program should start showing messages about “you are not running Vista” and blablabla. Just ignore that, and click on OK.
  3. Now the most important thing, click on Backup and create backup of the bootloader.
    * Make sure you know on what partition XP is installed
  4. Go to Bootloader, select “Reinstall Vista bootloader” and click on Apply:
    Pic
  5. You should now get a message to reboot, so click on Yes.
  6. If everything should be right, then Vista should be loading. If you can directly see XP in the list, then you’re done. Otherwise keep reading.
  1. Load VistaBootPRO (now from Vista)
  2. Go to Manage OS Entries. Vista should be listed there.
  3. Select “Add a new operating system entry”
  4. Select “Windows Legacy”. Now enter the name of XP (enter anything here ; this name will help you see the difference between Vista and XP at the boot menu).
  5. Choose the drive letter where XP is installed. Now provide the time when the bootloader chooses the default OS if nothing is selected.
  6. Click on Apply. Now you can change the order of OSes with the arrow buttons. The highest entry shall be the default OS. Then click on Apply again.
    Now reboot:
    Pic
    Done.

Removing Vista

You got Vista and XP in a dual boot. But if you want to remove Vista, then do the following:

  1. In Vista, load VistaBootPRO.
  2. Create a backup
  3. Go to Bootloader, select Uninstall the Vista Bootloader, and click on Apply:
    Pic
    Now reboot.