Dual Boot XPSP3 & Windows 7RC1

[MudCrab]

The BOOTWIZ.OSS file has to exist if OSS is installed. It's usually on the partition that was Active when OSS was installed if you didn't do a custom install and select a different partition. If you're not finding it on either the XP or Windows 7 partitions, check any other partitions.

Can you boot into XP okay right now?

Windows 7 has to be added manually. OSS won't detect it. This means you need to find the BOOTWIZ.OSS file and attach it to a post. The instructions on finding it and making a copy in linked in post #4.

[MudCrab]

Find the BOOTWIZ.OSS file.

[Stairs007]

Mea culpa I did find it.
I had OSS installed in a totally different partition per Acronis, if OSS is defragged it may be rendered useless.
Let me know what I am doing from here now.
WOW!

[MudCrab]

Is the Windows 7 partition on the same drive as the XP partition?

Can you tell me the size of the Windows 7 partition? Is it the 32.4GB partition on the booting drive?

[Stairs007]

Yes.
XP Is on C: and Win7 is on G:

This is a 500 gig HDD that I partitioned into 3

[MudCrab]

Try this file and see if it will boot into Windows 7. Keep a backup copy of the existing BOOTWIZ.OSS file and then replace the file with this one (renamed to BOOTWIZ.OSS).

[Stairs007]

When I reboot will I be in dual-boot mode?
Please tell me what to expect, keeping mind that OSS logs me on first before I go into the OS.
Or if it takes me into OSS is this when I make the OS Active etc? Thanks for your work!!!!!!!! Acronis should be paying you!!!!!!!!

Also how do I convert the file back to an OSS file?
Or it'll work as a .txt file as well?
In addition the Bootwiz.txt that's there is totally different in that its content seems to be text whereas your file is HTML. Don't I need to replace the HTML file and convert the one you sent me as OSS?

[MudCrab]

If OSS is activated (I'm assuming you have already reactivated it), when you boot the computer you should get the OSS menu. This will have the XP and Windows 7 entries. If setup properly, you should be able to boot into either by select the appropriate entry.

The BOOTWIZ.OSS file is a standard text file. Just rename the existing file to something else (like BOOTWIZ_BACKUP.OSS) and rename the new file to BOOTWIZ.OSS.

If you have Windows set to hide filename extensions, you'll need to disable that feature so you don't end up with BOOTWIZ.OSS.TXT (more information on that can be found here).

[Stairs007]

The file you created for me is still showing as bootwiz.oss and under type still shows it as Text. Now I have disabled the hide Files & Folders since by default I have it this way anyway.
Let me know what I need to do now.
But thanks for responding so fast though all things considered.

i am sending you a screenshot of the bootwiz folder so you'll know what's going on

[MudCrab]

The BOOTWIZ.OSS file (the new one) is still being seen as a TEXT file (.txt). You have not enabled viewing of extensions for known file types. I linked the instructions in the previous post (also here). After you "unhide" the extensions, you should be able to rename the file so it's correct.

[Stairs007]

Brilliant!
I am such a bonehead that my eye had focused on Show Hidden Files Folders Drives NOT Unhide Extensions.
THANK YOU!

Now I noticed that the OS need to declare themselves resident in C:
XPSP3 is in the L: partition
I need to know this. Under XP I have Partition E: where I place my programs, will it be a problem if I continue using that Folder to install my Programs for Win7? I noticed that partition's letter has not been changed!
Once again thanks for a fantastic job from your side in assisting me!!!!!!

[MudCrab]

It probably wouldn't be a problem to install Windows 7 programs to the E: partition. However, you may want to use a different folder. For example, create a E:\Windows 7 Programs folder and install to that. This way, you don't get your XP and Windows 7 programs mixed into the same folder(s).

If setup correctly, the XP partition should be C: when booted into XP and the Windows 7 partition should be C: when booted into Windows 7.

[Stairs007]

Indeed this appears to be the case. OK good idea I'll make a programs folder called Win7......BTW strange the thing is asking me for a serial when this is a test drive OS
Good 'ole Redmond alway$ thinking or is it $tinking?

[MudCrab]

You should have a trial key for the Windows 7 RC1 (or whichever build you're running). I always got them when I downloaded the image.

[Stairs007]

Hi, I wanted to give you and update report and some hiccups I am now experiencing.
Just before I logged on now, about an hour ago I had attempted to shut down and XP Pro SP3 was taking an interminable amount of time to shut down. Then a day ago CHKDSK when into auto-mode to discover some kind of disk corruption. A few days ago yet again another CHKDSK run for corruption.
Should I start to worry and maybe the partition where I have Win7 BE RC1 is messing things up?
Otherwise maybe I need to post this in Windows Seven forums?
Thanks as always!

[K0LO]

Stairs007:

Did you let the Windows 7 installer format its own partition, or did you just install to a partition created by and formatted by Disk Director? Other users have reported this corruption issue when installing Windows 7 or Vista to partitions that were formatted by Disk Director. The fix is to let the Windows 7 installer do a quick format of the partition as it installs.

[Stairs007]

Hi,
actually I had Win7 format that partition, however it appears that maybe the edition I got off some place and not a Microsoft edition download may have caused the grief.
Right now I am expriencing Bootwiz issues where XP is not seen yet fortuitously I can log into Win7 which is how I can correspond with you now.
Stay tuned. I am trying to see if I can get Bootwiz to fix the dual boot, when that happens then I'll probably wipe the partition with the Win7 I have and download one from Microsoft's site.
I know it was a bonehead thing to do, to get it from some developer ISO Microsoft

[Stairs007]

Guys I have expelled the bad Win 7 and just installed the one straight from Microsoft, which turns out to be a Win 7 Ultimate.
I am attaching my bootwiz file and would someone edit it to work properly since now when OSS starts up it is showing me 2 versions of XP and 2 versions of Safe boot in XP. Then Win7 is showing with the following error message in OSS, Error: Boot Partition Missing.
Yet I don't know how but I did manage to get into Win7 in spite of error afterwards. Anyway, the bootwiz file seems to be a jumbled mess right now if someone can update it'll be greatly appreciated!
As it stands now it's like this
C XPSP3
E Programs
G Win 7 Ultimate Evaluation
Thank you!

[MudCrab]

Since things are jumbled from the changes, can you post a screenshot of what DD shows in Manual Mode for your drives?

Is the Windows 7 partition the first partition on the second drive?

[Stairs007]

I'll answer the easier question first.
Win7 is still in Disk 0 I think as it's called together with XPSP3 in C: and Win7 in G: but still in the same HDD.

I am hoping this is the screenshot you asked of me, since if I was to boot into OSS I don't know a way to get shot in that environment. Obviously I got this one in Windows based. Thank you.

[MudCrab]

I need the DD (Manual Mode) screenshot, not the OSS menu. I need to see the actual layout of the partitions. They're only shown by disk/partition/offset/size/type/etc. in the OSS file so it's easier to see a graphic.

[Stairs007]

I hope this is what you're looking for if not please show a sample. Thanks.

[MudCrab]

That's the right screenshot. Thanks.

See if the attached file will boot into Windows 7.

If you're having problems with the other OS entries, let me know which ones are working and which ones aren't. Otherwise, you can just hide the ones you don't want to see in the menu.

[Stairs007]

Actually just to verify I do not want the duplicate entries since they're not necessary, did you eliminate them in the new Bootwiz?

[MudCrab]

No, I didn't remove them. I wanted to know which ones are working and which ones aren't. Also, OSS may just add them back if it redetects them. That's why I also suggested that you may want to just hide them so they don't show in the menu.