Can+not+start+Vista+after+installing+XP

Can not start Vista after installing XP

With Vista installed you then install XP. After you install XP, you find that you can boot into XP but not Vista.

Note:- It always goes a lot more smoothly if you install operating systems for a multi- boot configuration in chronological order, with the earliest installed first. However if Vista was already on the machine it seems impossible. Vista uses a new startup method, where boot information is stored in a Boot Configuration Database (BCD) store. It doesn't recognize boot.ini, which is the file XP uses for booting the OS. When you install XP later, the XP Setup program overwrote the Master Boot Record and boot files.

Worry not. You can restore the Vista MBR and boot code from the Vista installation DVD. When you do that, you'll be able to boot into Vista, but not XP. However, you can restore that ability by creating a new entry in the BCD boot file to point to the XP operating system. Then you'll be able to choose the OS you want from a boot menu at startup. You can find Microsoft's step by step instructions for both processes at :-

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