OSS Issues on existing dual-boot XP

Existing dual-boot XP system - installed OSSelector and all hell broke lose. Dual boot accomplished with XP's built in boot manager.

First off, no operating systems are found by OSS. None.
I deactivate OSS and try booting - no deal, I get "invalid Boot.ini" I go into Disk Director and delete BootWiz folder and file and the system comes back up.

I try again, still no OS's listed. Stupid me uses DD to delete the BootWiz folder and file again - but I forgot to deactivate OSS. Now I can't get anywhere.

I'm getting:
"Error 3" Acronis OS Selector cannot find the necessary configuration files. Please reinstall Acronis OS Selector.
I click [OK] and the computer shuts off.

I've tried hitting the [ESC] key when "Starting Acronis Loader" is displayed, but I still get Error 3

 

So, no input on this issue? I need to get this system back up and running, so I'm going to be forced to take drastic measures if I can't find a solution within DD/OSS

 

What build of DD/OSS are you using?

Have you tried to reinstall OSS from the DD CD or did you not create the DD CD with the OSS programs?

Since the existing dual-XP setup was using XP's bootloader, OSS has a problem trying to separate them, but should at least detect one.

What is your partition layout? Are there only two partitions (one for each XP)?

Does the OS Detection Wizard find either XP? Have you tried running the OS Detection Wizard?

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If you want to restore your XP MBR (and remove the OSS MBR), you'll need to boot to the XP install CD and go into recovery mode. You should only need to run the fixboot and fixmbr commands.

This link details some of the other commands available: How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP

 

DD 10.0 (build 2,064) and whatever version of OSS came with it.

Reinstalling OSS from the boot CD - I created a Bootable Rescue Media disk, but once DD loads I don't see any options for installing OSS - am I missing something?

OSS was unable to find anything.

Partition setup is one drive with two partitions, first partition is a Primary partition and the second is a Logical partition.

The OS Detection Wizard didn't find either installation.

Since last posting, I've tried the XP Recovery Console with "bootcfg /repair" and "fixboot" without any luck. Still getting the "Error 3" message.

I didn't run "fixmbr" in the Recovery Console the first time, but I just did it and that seems to have done the trick.

I'm going to try this again - if necessary, is there a way to reinstall OSS from the DD boot disk?

Thanks for your assistance!

 

You should update to the lastest build (2,160). It may solve your problems.

When installing, do a Complete or Custom install and make sure the Acronis Media Builder program is being installed. Run the Media Builder program to create a new DD CD using the newly installed version. Check the boxes to include the OSS program (installation, reactivation, etc). Then these options will be available when you boot to the DD CD.

Since the second XP is installed to a Logical partition, it is booting from the first XP partition (the Primary one).

Good. You can boot back to Windows now.

Yes. Create a new DD CD with OSS on it as instructed above. You can then install, reinstall, uninstall, reactivate, deactivate, etc.