Help: XP/Vista and Windows Boot Manager

Hello all,

I have been working on this machine for a friend and we both have run out of gas trying to figure out what is going on. Here it is.

System originally had XP installed, then Acronis OS Selector was installed. The Acronis boot manager would come up just fine. He went to install Vista, so he put CD in drive and installed it to a new partition. Now the Windows Boot Manager comes up. So, he reinstalled the Acronis Boot manager again and it was back. Now when he boots, he gets the Acronis Boot manager. But what ever OS is selected, the Windows Boot Manager comes up after.

Is there a way to get rid of the Windows Boot Manager?

thanx

boB

 

Welcome to the forum.

It sounds like the XP partition wasn't hidden when Vista was installed. This results in Vista taking over the booting of XP. It also means that both XP and Vista are booting from the XP partition, which is why you get Vista's Boot Manager no matter which OS you select.

You'll need to separate XP and Vista so that they boot independently of each other (each boots from its own partition). Instructions can be found here.

 

Wow...what great information. I will pass this on to him and see if it works. I am sure it will. I know I am going to end up doing all the work so I will keep you updated.

Thanx again for the VERY fast response and information.

 

Just a quickie, to know if I get this right: the guide is the way to go (without resorting to ADD & OSS) to have both systems separated working fine.

Now: only using ADD and OSS (in hiding the XP partition upon installation of Vista) will not produce the same result? I.e. 2 separate systems XP and the added Vista?

Surely enough if I can have the task automated, that would be the easiest way.