Dual boot config with two copies of XP Pro

One copy is my personal use machine. The other is for beating the **** out of with Virtual PC and such.


I have XP Pro installed on the C: and D: drive. Here is what the boot.ini looks like:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
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Since the last one to be installed is going to take the default position, which in this case is the one for Virtual PC on Disk 1, it should be set active.


I'm getting an error on startup: Disk Boot Failure: Insert system disk and hit any key.

What's up with that? The Boot.ini looks ok. Is this something I should try recovery console on? I did a fixboot on D: it didn't help.


Thanks in advance.

 

This may be a function of the cut and paste into the page, but:

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOW S

should be:

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS

Forget that - obviously it is a problem with the page as my entry has done the same.

 

Are you saying that you made the hard drive with the second installed XP the boot hard drive? You moved it to the master position and made the first XP drive the secondary/slave? If so then that is your problem. The first installed XP has to remain as the boot hard drive in the computer’s bios, as this is the only XP that has the boot files to boot both installs.

 

I've since removed the D: drive. went to recovery console and did a fixboot and a fixmbr. I can boot to the C: drive now. Machine is acting very strange right now. I'm getting IRQL-NOT LESS or EQUAL message on the blue screen.


EDIT: Getting this blue screen in mid-backup.





IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL


TECHNICAL INFORMATION:


***STOP: 0X0000000A,0XE0C10E9C,0X00000001,0X804E40D5


Beginning dump of physical memory.
Phisical memory dump complete.

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I havn't a clue on this