[Fix] Windows Vista/7 No Longer Start After Installing Windows XP in Dual Boot System

If you want to have a dual boot system with Windows XP and Windows Vista/7, then you must first install Windows XP and then Windows Vista/7.

New versions of Windows use a newly designed boot loader and if you install Windows XP after newer Windows versions, it’ll overwrite new boot loader and you’ll not be able to boot into Windows Vista/7.

If you have installed Windows XP after Windows Vista/7 and you are not able to boot into Vista/7, then follow these simple instructions and you’ll get the new boot loader back:

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1. Download “VistaBootPRO” or “EasyBCD“. Both are excellent software which can reinstall Vista boot loader within a few seconds.

Download VistaBootPRO

Download EasyBCD

2. We selected “VistaBootPro” for this tutorial. Install it and run the software.

3. Now click on “Bootloader” button as shown in following screenshot:

Reinstall_Vista_boot_loader.jpg

4. Select “Reinstall the Vista Bootloader” option and click on “Configure It” button.

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5. That’s it. It’ll install the Vista Boot loader. You can also edit other settings like boot loader timeout, default boot entry, boot entry labels, etc.

You can also repair new boot loader using Windows Vista/7 Setup DVD but the above mentioned method is the easiest method and works even you don’t have the CD/DVD.

Published in: Troubleshooting Guides, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP

About the author: Vishal Gupta (also known as VG) has been awarded with Microsoft MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award. He holds Masters degree in Computer Applications (MCA). He has written several tech articles for popular newspapers and magazines and has also appeared in tech shows on various TV channels.

Comments

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  1. I was installed 2 win7 X64 on my laptop there for I saw two entrance in boot menu.
    1 – Windows 7
    2 – Windows 7

    I want to rename on of them; there for installed “vista boot pro”
    as soon as reset my system, it newer work ….
    what can I do?
    please help me…..
    there is a lots of important files on both windows….

  2. One click solution. Download and install Visual BCD package from boyans.net

    1. Run “Dual-boot Repair”. Click “Automatic Repair”. This will fix Vista booting.

    2. Run Visual BCD Editor. Click “Create missing Windows loaders”.
    This will add XP and create a dual-boot menu XP+Vista.

    Automatic solutions are best – the user has not to specify any parameter or drive and no errors are possible.

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