Dual Boot Windows 2000/XP problem

Shanforest

Your problem is with the way XP installs from a "recovery" CD. It does overwrite EVERYTHING, including bootloaders. You should be able to install 2k as a separte OS in a separte partition, but NOT through XP. Would have a be a DOS install via a DOS boot disk, I woudl think (bypassing XP altogether).

But you would need to have partitions set up nicely first, then either boot from a boot disk or dorectly form the 2k CD, and load it into the ready made partition. XP can make partitions with free space OK for you.

After doing that, your third party loader should work for both OSes.

Good luck - multi-booting OSes is fun but frustrating.

Cheers
Mick

[Shanforest]

Mick thanks I understand that one (sorry other guys I'm no expert)
I have a mate who can do it in dos for me.

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[N8steele]

Ok so I too am having a similar problem and would GREATLY appreciate any advice someone could share with me.

Windows XP was installed on my system when i got it, i used partition magic to section off 20 gb which i then installed windows 2000 on thinking this would create a dual boot option upon startup. Instead all i get is to launch windows 2000 or whistler pro, the files on the xp partiton are still there and i can access them through "my computer", but when i set that partition to active using partition magic or fdisk it still will not let me boot into XP. I dont have an xp disk because it is also on the hard drive as a separate partition. Ive tried the recovery console using fixmbr and fixboot with no luck. All i want to do is boot XP and im pretty sure i can fix this problem.

I think it has something to do with the boot loader but have absolutely no idea what that is or where to find it. I looked for the boot.ini but couldnt find that either.

If anyone out there can help i just want to say thanks in advance!