dual booting -> boot.ini

[geehoff]

I recently moved back home from school, and am sharing a room with my brother. We have separate computers but only one desk. Since mine has superior hardware, I put his hard drive into my machine. I am trying to modify my boot.ini so we can easily switch between operating systems, and have  run into a wall. Here is what i have.

Code: [Select]

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="truth" /fastdetect /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="justice" /fastdetect /usepmtimer

When I restart and try to boot from the second disk, it wont boot. Here's a look at my disk management.



The drive can be read from my system and i can navigate to the WINDOWS folder, but alas, it will not work. What have I done wrong?

[EEVIAC]

Download the Recovery Console ISO fromhere. Burn it to disk with an ISO burner software.

Use the bootcfg /rebuild command.  It will detect all Windows XP installations (assuming that your brother's OS is XP, and rebuild the boot.ini file..

If your brother is using Windows Vista or Windows 7, you cannot use the boot.ini file for dual booting.  You'll have to use the bcd file in Vista or Windows 7.  EasyBCD will simplify the task for you, if this is the case..


edit: make sure the boot.ini file or BCD file you edit, is on the drive that you intend to boot from.... I mean the drive that is set as priority in cmos

[dahlarbear]

1.  Hard Drive Interface:
     a.  What type of hard drive interface, PATA (IDE/EIDE) or SATA?
     b.  If IDE, what connector (primary or secondary) and what role (master/slave) or position on cable (middle or end connector) for each hard drive?
     c.  If SATA, which SATA ports do each connect and how are they numbered (from "zero" to whatever or "one" to whatever)?

2.  Operating System(s).  What operating system (and service pack) is installed on each drive.  The Windows XP operating system (and I assume newer) is designed to work on the system it is installed to.  It does not transfer well to different hardware.

You may have to do a "repair" install or a "new" install for the current hardware the second operating system will now run on.

[dahlarbear]

You could also try changing:
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="justice" /fastdetect /usepmtimer

to:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="justice" /fastdetect /usepmtimer

if it's on the same cable as the first hard drive.

Or better yet, add it as a third line under "[operating systems]" (in case I'm wrong).  You can have multiple invocation lines for each operating system.  This allows you to experiment with different boot options.

[Geek-9pm]

I understand that you took a working HDD with OS out of one computer and want to boot it as the second drive in another computer.
Your hardware is not the same as his.
Even if you had the same OS, the difference in hardware could prevent booting. Just the difference in the Video card is enough to stop it from working.
 

[geehoff]

First, thank you all for your responses.

The interface is SATA, ports numbered 1 to 3. My HDD is in SATA1 and his is in SATA2.

We both have ASUS mobos and nvidia graphics cards.

When I unplug my HDD and put his into SATA1, after adjustments in the BIOS, his system boots up just fine. This is why i think it must be some error in the .ini file, and not a hardware problem.

Should I just experiment with boot options? There has to be only one correct config to get this working, and it doesnt seem like it should be that complicated. What is the rdisk option?

Thanks again

[dahlarbear]

Should I just experiment with boot options? There has to be only one correct config to get this working, and it doesnt seem like it should be that complicated. What is the rdisk option?

1.  Yes, experiment (In for a penny, in for a pound).  Append the following lines to the end of your boot.ini after the two existing operating system invocation lines:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="rdisk_1" /fastdetect /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(1)\WINDOWS="rdisk_2" /fastdetect /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(3)partition(1)\WINDOWS="rdisk_3" /fastdetect /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(4)partition(1)\WINDOWS="rdisk_4" /fastdetect /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(5)partition(1)\WINDOWS="rdisk_5" /fastdetect /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(6)partition(1)\WINDOWS="rdisk_6" /fastdetect /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(7)partition(1)\WINDOWS="rdisk_7" /fastdetect /usepmtimer
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(8)partition(1)\WINDOWS="rdisk_8" /fastdetect /usepmtimer

I'm hoping the first one succeeds, but try them all if necessary.

The "rdisk(n)" parameter designates the drive number to boot.  I'm not sure what the enumeration order is or if it changes with the designation of the boot device in BIOS.

I believe your "disk(n)" parameter should be set to "disk(0)" for EIDE/IDE or SATA drives (hopefully someone will correct me if wrong).

2.  Which hard drive contains the "boot.ini" you're working on?

3.  Which operating systems:  Windows XP Home Edition or Professional?

[geehoff]

I should have mentioned. Both systems are running XP Pro. My HDD, SATA1 has the boot.ini file.

[geehoff]

I'm hoping the first one succeeds, but try them all if necessary.

It worked! Thank you so much! This is wonderful.

[dahlarbear]

1.  Which one?  This invocation:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="rdisk_1" /fastdetect /usepmtimer

2.  Since you've dealt with the "boot.ini" file, you should consider further customizations to it.  Specifically you should consider:
     o  Installing Recovery Console from Windows XP CD
     o  Setting up one or two "Safe Mode" or debug invocations of operating system

3.  Reference(s):
     a.  Recovery Console:
          How to install and use the Recovery Console in Windows XP
          Recovery Console Commands
          Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console
          Langa Letter: The OS Inside The OS

     b.  Custom Boot.ini:
          Custom Boot Menu in Windows XP
          Additional information and help with the boot.ini.
          How to Use and Edit Boot.ini in Windows XP

[Geek-9pm]

dahlarbear, Good post. Thanks for the links.