[silverken]

I had XP installed on C: and Vista on D:, then needed to re-install XP - and lost the dual boot ability.

I have been recommented to try using VistaBootPro and have downloaded and installed it - but can't run it. It demands that I right click and select 'run as administrator' I do this and get the message that I should right click and rune as administrator.... I have tried with two admin accounts and both give the same result - both passwords are valid.

The reinstall of XP did produce a back-up folder of the old system. If I can't get VistaBootPro to run, would C&P of the Windows\I386 sub folder with NTLDR in it work?

[NT50]

While in XP, show the hidden and system files. Goto the drive with Vista on it and tell me if you see a folder called Boot and a file called bootmgr.

[silverken]

Yes - at D:xWindows\Boot and D:\Windows\Boot\PCAT\bootmgr

Please note - I shall not be at home now until next Tuesday, so please do not think I am ignoring any further replies.

Ken

[NT50]

Vista requires a folder called Boot and all the contents along with a file called bootmgr. They have to be on the system drive/partition. Windows requires boot.ini, ntldr, and NTDETECT. Boot.ini has to point to the proper drive and partition in order to boot XP.

If you are booting into Vista and can not get XP to boot then please follow the guide below.


Dual Boot Trouble Shooting Guide / Vista Running

[silverken]

Thanks for the reply - but it's Vista that I can't reack. The computer has has XP re-installed and that is what it boots into and, though Vista is present on D:, it is invisible to the system for booting.

It is that I want to re-instate and was recommended to use VistaBootPro to achive this - but on trying to run it, from XP Home, I get this repeating error that it needs Admin priviledges to run - by right clicking and selecting 'Run as administrator' I do that and it just returns the same errror, every time.

Ken

[NT50]

Try VistaBootProVersion 3.1

We are working on the Admin issue. It only happens to a few people.

[silverken]

've tried v3.1 and it starts OK - but I've not been able to get it to recognise Vista on the D:drive - nor to actually carry out and back-up. It *reports* a successful back-up but nothing is to be found anywhere on the computer.

[NT50]

Run the diagnostics

[silverken]

I did that before replying. Tried again and it reveals nothing.

All I want it for, really, is to be able to check there is nothing vital before removing the lot - drive and all - to install in a new computer, so it's not too drastic.

I had been trying Microsoft's method - which I couldn't get to work -http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919529 before someone recommended VistaBootPro, so I suppose it's possibly upset things!

[silverken]

For what it's worth, I've now been able to get into Vista, following another route - booting into the Vista installationCD. The repair facility that can be reached there gave me Vista access - but no chice of OS to boot into but interestingly, VistaBootPro v3.2 ran fine from that and I was able to restor access to XP using that - but back to not being able to access Vista!

Still, I've now had the check that I wanted - and also, v3.2 of VistaBootPro *does* work from XP - but reports during starting that Vista is either not installed or is on a hidden drive. (Vista after the work with the installation disc is now called Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium (recovered).

It *seems* likely thet further work may well allow me to switch between OSs - but having had enough problems getting back into XP, I'm leaving any further experimenting until I have the new computer and all the XP stuff across to it.