need help with dual boot problem

[docdrew42]

I am trying to set up a dual boot configuration with Win98 and WinXP. Each OS is on a different hard drive. The OS's are installed and run fine if only one or the other hard drive is connected. I have attempted to switch between the drives using Powerquest BootMagic. The BootMagic program recognizes both OS's and seems to give me the choice as to which OS to use when I boot the computer. If I choose Win98 everything loads normally. If I choose WinXP I get the following error message " Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt: <Windows root>\system32\hal.dll. Please re-install a copy of the above file." The file is not missing so I figured it might be corrupt. I reinstalled WinXP but still get the same error message. Can anyone tell me what the problem is and how I might fix it? Thanks.

[geebee76]

Hi docdrew42,

Can you post back some info on how you have set-up your partitions and also the contents of your boot.ini file. You will need to unhide your files to see the boot.ini.

:)

[docdrew42]

Each hard drive is set up as one primary partition with FAT32. The Win98 drive is 40 GB. The WinXP drive is 20 GB.

Boot.ini files --

Win98 drive:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=5
Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
[Operating Systems]
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows XP Setup"
C:\="Microsoft Windows"

WinXP drive:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect

Thanks.

[geebee76]

Hi docdrew42, this seems to be quite a common problem with WIN XP.
Hang in there for a little while but if you don't get any other suggestions then you could try this:

If the thought of starting over with WIN XP isn't too stomach churning, then I would consider partitioning the second drive as an extended partition with one logical partition. Since both OS's boot from the "C" drive then there really is no need for the second drive to be partitioned as a primary drive. You won't need to use a boot program for this as WIN XP will take care of it.

Start by deleting the primary partition on the second drive and re-partioning it as an extended partition. Format it and run the XP set-up. This can be done from within WIN 98.

As I said before, if you have had no other suggestions then I am sure this will solve your problems.

Post back if you have any other queries.


:)

[ErnieK]

docdrew
I had this problem after my HDD gave up the fight. Installed new drive and tried to install ghost image to new drive. NO Luck. After 4 days 15 hours a day, I gave up and did clean install of XP. My BOOT.ini file was OK even tried inserting both back-up copies.

Funnily the ghost of 98 went OK. Used 98 boot disk to re-insert ghost image then (and previously in the past it went ok) I even downloaded the HAL file from the net and installed that.

I could not find a way round it. If you can, could you please post back for future reference.

[docdrew42]

I took my que from geebee's last reply. I reformatted my D: drive although I left it as a primary partition. I then booted from the WinXP CD and began installation. It asked me where I wanted to install WinXP and I chose the D drive. It installed on the D drive and WinXP created a boot manager screen that comes up every time I start my computer. Now I just choose Win98 or WinXP and the proper OS is loaded. I think this is the first time I ever had a computer problem that was solved on the same day it occurred. Thanks. Now I need to start locating and installing all of the needed XP drivers, etc...