Dual boot XP & Win 7 Update.

F

firefrost

New Member
I had previously installed Win 7 with XP unplugged on a second hdd and then had to go into the BIOS to choose the O/S to boot.
Decided to partition & format the new drive and again install Win 7 on one of the partitions but with XP on the old drive this time connected.
Everything went well until I had to choose which O/S had priority in booting and I was not quick enough. Win 7 is now the one that starts unless I select XP and press enter. I would like it to be the other way round where if nothing is done, after 30 secs XP boots. Cannot see a way to do this, have looked in the BIOS and XP is still shown as the master but Win 7 [ slave ] is the default in booting. Any help please.?
 
You will have to use msconfig. boot into windows 7, hit the windows button, type msconfig and hit enter.

Go to the boot tab. you should see your windiws 7 and xp installs there. click on the XP one, and choose "set as default"

Hit apply, and reboot. that should do it. :)
 
I tried msconfig in both XP drive and Win 7 drive but no use.
XP drive only shows XP operating system using tab boot.ini. Set as default is grayed out.
Win 7 drive only shows Win 7 op. sys. using tab boot.ini. Set as default grayed out.
Anyone any other suggestions?
 
Well, i didn't expect that. I've never done dual booting, so maybe someone with firsthand experience can help you. :)
 
In win 7, right click computer and and click properties.
click advanced system settings.
The third option is 'startup and recovery', click on settings
In the dropdown box choose old windows version or something similar.
click apply

done :)
 
Speedylink, Yes, Worked just like you said, magic. I would have replied earlier but sometimes when I access the forum I find I am banned for some reason.
Thanks to both of you ,all sorted now.
 
so ok im sorry if i sound stupid, im just trying to learn for my knowledge so bare with me please, but ok so i just want to make sure i understand cuz if i understand correct i was thinking of sorta doing the same thing you have done. But so ok tell me if i am correct please, you now have 2 hard drives one with xp on it and the other partioned with one partion being windows 7?
 
Yes, quite simply, I have my original 40GB hard drive with XP on it.
I have added a 160GB hard drive, partitioned it [ 60GB and 90GB ] and formatted both partitions. Then installed Win 7 on the 90GB partition.
Now when I start the computer I have the option of which operating system to boot.
One other thing, my copy of Win 7 is the full version not an update. The update version is meant to replace XP or Vista not dual boot. However I have read on this forum there is a way to make it do a custom install. Read about it if that applies to you.
 
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