Error after installing Win XP on partition

Ashok_2

Hi -

I have Windows 7 64 bit installed on my computer but needed to install a program only compatible with 32 bit, so decided to create a new 3GB partition using the in-built feature in Windows 7 and install Windows XP on it.

I booted up XP, formatted the partition again,a nd let it run through the set up, but as soon as it had copied the files and rebooted, I got the error message 'error loading operating system'.

I really don't know how to fix this - I'm not bothered about installing XP, I can do without it, but the main thing is getting back onto Windows 7 as I have all my files there. I didn't bother making a back up as I thought any problems that could occur would be limited to the partition that I installed Win XP ion.

Any advice?

Thank you.

martin8_2

you gonna need the Windows7 install DVD... boot it but instead of hitting install, they should be an option to repair existing operating system. Follow the on screen instructions thereafter.

NOTE: you may have to do this twice as it may not fix everything the first time round.

Ashok_2

martin8 wrote: »

you gonna need the Windows7 install DVD... boot it but instead of hitting install, they should be an option to repair existing operating system. Follow the on screen instructions thereafter.

NOTE: you may have to do this twice as it may not fix everything the first time round.

But I thought the problem is with Windows XP and not WIndows 7.. Would the Windows XP repair operating system thing not work?

Thanks

martin8_2

wait a minute.... how far do you get when you try to boot up the computer?

does it boot up giving you options to boot into either XP, Windows7 or it doesn't give you the option and immediately say "no operating system found"??

Ashok_2

martin8 wrote: »

wait a minute.... how far do you get when you try to boot up the computer?

does it boot up giving you options to boot into either XP, Windows7 or it doesn't give you the option and immediately say "no operating system found"??

No it doesn't give me an option to choose OS, it just goes to 'error loading operating system'

martin8_2

Ashok wrote: »

No it doesn't give me an option to choose OS, it just goes to 'error loading operating system'

Then, like I suggested, boot up the Windows7 Install CD and it will fix the bootloader to allow you to get back into Windows 7 and if XP had installed properly it should give you an option to boot into that too.

Ashok_2

Ashok wrote: »

But I thought the problem is with Windows XP and not WIndows 7.. Would the Windows XP repair operating system thing not work?

Thanks

Okay I'll do that - is there any risk of losing files if I do this though?

martin8_2

Ashok wrote: »

Okay I'll do that - is there any risk of losing files if I do this though?

As long as you don't actually go though the process of installing Windows7 and the current Windows7 installation is intact (i.e. your XP install didn't do anything to the Windows7 Install) then it should be ok.

Ashok_2

Ran start up repair on Windows 7 DVD, but it didn't solve it.. still getting exact same error. Any other advice?

kwikbreaks

http://www.ehow.com/how_4836283_repair-mbr-windows.html

Ashok_2

kwikbreaks wrote: »

http://www.ehow.com/how_4836283_repair-mbr-windows.html

Tried to that but bootsect won't run, when I enter the command it just gives an explanation of the function of it: 'bootsect.exe updates the master boot code for the hard disk partitions in order to switch between BOOTMGR and NTLDR..'