XP/DOS Dual boot

[nickc1976]

Hi all,

I am trying to create a Windows XP/DOS dual boot machine. So far, I have done the following:

1. Windows XP was already installed, so I created a new primary FAT partition using Partition Magic

2. I installed DOS 7.10 onto the new partition

3. I edited the boot.ini file in Windows, and it now reads:

[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="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\DOS71="MS-DOS" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

When I boot up and select the MS-DOS option, I get the following error message:

"Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll.
Please re-install a copy of the above file."


Any ideas??

Cheers

Nick

[Sidewinder]

If I recall correctly, DOS has to be installed in the first physical partition. As long as you have Partition Magic, you can free some space before the XP partition and create your DOS partition there.

Good luck. 

[nickc1976]

I see, I have DOS installed in a partition after XP. I'll start again...