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Resolved Dual boot start up problem.

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by slobbadobba, 2009/09/21.

  1. 2009/09/21
    slobbadobba

    slobbadobba Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi, I installed a new, bigger HD as a secondary. My original HD is 160Gb, not big enough for what I want.

    I have a dvd sent me from USA of Windows 7 Ultimate which I tried to install on my new 1Tb HD. It didnt load properly so I formatted the drive thinking it would get rid of Win 7. It has gone, but on start up I get the Dual boot option of XP and Win 7. The highlight is always on Win 7 and I have to scroll up to XP to boot the pc.

    How do I get rid of the dual boot option please? I only want XP on start up until I get some help with installing Windows 7 on the new HD.

    First, is it possible to install a 2nd OS to a different HD? I understand its something to do with a boot.ini file. Ive no idea what this means or how to get there on my pc. Im not very pc literate concerning technical issues, so bear with me if my questions are not up to date with the jargon you guys use, ( I AM nearly 60 lol! ) Look forward to your answers. :confused:
     
    slobbadobba,
    #1
  2. 2009/09/21
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Welcome to WindowsBBS :)

    When you install Win 7 (or Vista) on a second hard drive or partition on a computer on which XP is already installed the boot files are placed on the original C:\ drive - the one with XP on it.

    With the introduction of Vista the boot.ini has been replaced by a bootloader which can be edited using bcdedit in Vista/7 or more conveniently by the use of EasyBCD. Use that to remove reference to Windows 7 on boot up.

    You should have had no trouble installing Windows 7 given that your install DVD is kosher. The only version available to the general public up to October 22nd is the Release Candidate (RC). Anything else is illegal and we cannot help you with it.

    I suggest you run Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to see if your system is capable of running 7.
     
    PeteC,
    #2


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  4. 2009/09/23
    slobbadobba

    slobbadobba Inactive Thread Starter

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    dual boot resolved.

    Thanks for resolving the dual boot for me. Im NOT using the Windows 7 disk sent from the USA, Ive been told its cloned and notlegal. Thanks for pointing that out for me. I contacted my friend in the USA who told me he had cloned it from an original and put the licence code on the disk. Im told it works fine, but Ill wait till the version comes out in the UK in October and upgrade from the copy I have from MSN, a trial version.
     
    slobbadobba,
    #3
  5. 2009/09/23
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    You're welcome :)
    You will need to make a clean install, unless you make a minor hack ....

    How To Upgrade Windows 7 RC To RTM
     
    PeteC,
    #4
  6. 2009/09/23
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    I've marked this thread as 'Resolved', please see .....
     
    PeteC,
    #5

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