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gsgill76 · Nov 11, 2006, 01:10 PM

Hi Experts,
I have dual boot system, On C: Drive WinXP(SP2) & on the D: Drive Server 2003(Entr. Edition). Both working very fine.

Now the Problem is, I want to ReInstall the XP(as it is causing problem), for that I need to format C: Drive. If I do so, how can I use the server 2003 OS :confused: Which is on D Drive. I Don't want to lose my server 2003(as I do have very useful software there installed).

I need fresh XP on C: Drive & old Server 2003 as it is on D: Drive (both working with, dual boot option).

How can I do this :confused:
OR
Any other Idea, solution, trick ?

Thanks,
Regards.

Gurpreet S. Gill

Curlyben · Nov 11, 2006, 02:59 PM

Try a repair install for your XP first, may just do the trick ;)
Here's the official Micro$oft way of doing a repair install,
And Here's one with screen shots.

Basically this installs windows over the top of your current setup.
So you don't loose any information you already have.

ScottGem · Nov 11, 2006, 03:54 PM

I agree with Ben that you should try a repair first. But if you need to reformat, copy your Boot.ini file first. Then restore it after you reformat.

relroy · Nov 14, 2006, 04:29 AM

If repair doesn't work better solution is to use back up disc or you can format c drive and install xp here.remove any necessary files in c drive to some other drive.install a fresh xp in c drive.this will not affect the other OS and u will continue to have dual OS

ScottGem · Nov 14, 2006, 06:57 AM

I'm afraid Relroy is partially incorrect here. One of the things that makes a dual boot machine is the boot.ini file I mentioned. This file is read during the bootup process. If a dual boot setup is noted, then a boot menu is shown allowing you to select the OS to boot to.

If you reformat, you wipe out that boot.ini file. If you install XP on that reformatted partition it will create a default boot.ini WITHOUT the dual boot info in it. So you will either need to manually put them back or you will not be able to dual boot. The boot.ini will not know the W2K partition exists.

gsgill76 · Jan 3, 2007, 05:33 AM

What if I make a backup of the file like boot.ini ntldr ntdetect & format the C: drive & overwrite the newly created files with these one?

Gurpreet S. Gill

jahnplay · Jan 3, 2007, 05:39 AM

Originally Posted by ScottGem

I'm afraid Relroy is partially incorrect here. One of the things that makes a dual boot machine is the boot.ini file I mentioned. This file is read during the bootup process. If a dual boot setup is noted, then a boot menu is shown allowing you to select the OS to boot to.

If you reformat, you wipe out that boot.ini file. If you install XP on that reformatted partition it will create a default boot.ini WITHOUT the dual boot info in it. So you will either need to manually put them back or you will not be able to dual boot. The boot.ini will not know the W2K partition exists.

You he is right

Try to restore your windows to the first day make sure it's the day you installed the other os

ScottGem · Jan 3, 2007, 07:10 AM

Originally Posted by gsgill76

What if i make a backup of the file like boot.ini ntldr ntdetect & format the C: drive & overwrite the newly created files with these one?

Gurpreet S. Gill

That may work.

gsgill76 · Jan 27, 2007, 01:09 AM

Finally I am able to solve my problem, the following links help me

Windows Server 2003 Does Not Start on a Computer That Is Configured for Dual Booting
Dual Boot XP/2003 Help!

Gurpreet S. Gill