Dual Boot XP Pro 32 and XP64, looses Internet

With the purchase of a new primary drive, wanted to setup dual boot with Windows XP Pro (32bit) and XP-64 (64bit).

Setup a partition for XP Pro, separate one for XP64, and third for data files.

Installed XP Pro, loaded SP2 then Sp3, then Adobe then AVG virus software, last three from web.

Then proceeded to install XP64 on 2nd partition, then load SP1 update, then same Adobe and same AVG, all from web, no issue.

Restarted, got boot menu, go to XP Pro, and my Internet connection is dead.

I restart and got to XP64, the Internet connection is fine. Restart again, pick XP Pro and fails.

Now, have found maybe 1 in 3 or 4 restarts, I get the default MSN page under XP Pro, most of it loads. If I try to go to any link on it or another site, like Google or Yahoo for example, after delay get "page can not be displayed ".

If I unplug the Ethernet cable, I get the notice box on bottom saying so. I plug back in, says 100mg link. So XP is seeing the card and link, but IE and even pinging from DOS fails.

I have gone as far as to try and 'Repair' and even install XP Pro, no luck. I even did a format on the partition, did a new XP Pro install, no luck, still no Internet.


I have just completed a un-partition of both the XP Pro and XP64 parts, then did a new clean load of XP Pro without any issues. I now have Internet access again.

The only thing I found failing with XP Pro (32bit) after completing the XP-64 (64bit) setup, was that Internet Explorer and access to the web in general, seems to stop under XP Pro (32), but continues to work fine if I restart and try in XP-64.

I did this rebuild, wipe, reload and such, about 5 times now. Each time loading XP Pro 32, then Adobe and virus software, no issues. Then once loading XP-64, then Adobe and virus software (pulling from web), the XP Pro IE would die...


Any ideas? I know XP-64 itself will not run stuff so thus the dual boot plan. Why is it, with a clean and good install of XP Pro (32bit), all working fine including IE, it stops working once XP-64 is installed (on a separate partition)?


Frolin

 

You're not installing the NIC drivers on the data partition, are you?

 

Yes, am loading the drivers for the Marvel NIC card in both sides.

First install the XP Pro (32bit) OS, then NIC and video and audio drivers, then virus and Adobe (mainly to test). Then go to load XP-64 and do the same steps, drivers then programs.


As note, when I find XP Pro (32bit) not working, I can not 'disable' or 'uninstill' the NIC card drivers, when tried. Thought maybe reload, could not. So tried to uninstall, could not, tried to disable, could not. When try to disable or uninstall, routine hangs every time.


Frolin

 

Lost you there! My point is that the drivers must be installed on each OS partition. If installed on the data drive the first install gets overwriten by the second, which could explain what's happening.

 

OK, not sure what you are saying here about 'lost' and must be installed on both partitions... because per my reply before, I did load the driver with each OS.

I have a C drive for XP Pro (32bit) and a D drive for XP 64 (64bit) and an E drive for data files, other stuff and such.

I did have to load the NIC card drivers after installing XP Pro, to get the card to work and access to the Internet. And believe the same was true, after I next installed XP-64, I had to load the NIC drivers for it to work there also.


By default, and by Microsoft guidelines, each OS must be on a separate partition, ok done. And since each has its own \Windows folder for OS stuff, one would think each would focus in its own area.

I gather that, when loading the NIC drivers under XP-64 on drive 'D' that its effecting the NIC drivers in the XP-Pro folder on drive 'C'?


Do you know the trick to make this work?


thanks!
Frolin

 

Some programs by default install themselves on c:\, so always choose advanced, or custon, or its equivalent when installing so that you can choose which disk to install on.

 

Ah, good point! The drivers might load to the 'C' drive when installed by default, thus loading a 64-bit driver over top the 32-bit driver.

Hum, wondering if a way to 'disable' the 'C' drive, when loading drivers for XP 64, so to force them on to the 'D' drive.


So the reason the NIC card is acting funny and not working under XP-Pro after loading XP-64, might be the drivers were reloaded by 64. Hum...


Frolin