Help, I installed Windows Vista then installed Windows XP. Where is the Boot Manager?

"Where is the dual boot screen? I have just installed Windows XP in a second partition or second hard drive. In the first partition or first hard drive I have Windows Vista installed."

I have heard and read the above question a few times so I thought I would share a few things with you. When Windows Vista was installed then the Windows Boot Manager was also installed to tell your computer where or which volume (partition) Windows Vista is installed on. The installation of Windows Vista also writes to the MBR to tell the boot sector what type of a Boot Manager is installed and where to find the Boot Manager. If you have only one operating system installed then typically you will not see the Windows Boot Manger when you start your computer.

Now you install Windows XP as a second operating systems on a different volume (partition) than Windows Vista. Windows XP will write its own Boot Manager and will overwrite the MBR. When Windows XP overwrote the MBR then the MBR is not referencing to the Windows Vista Boot Manager but the Windows XP Boot Manager. The Windows XP Boot Manager does not know about or cannot boot Windows Vista therefore Windows XP thinks it is the only operating system on your computer. And this is why your computer offers no Boot Manager screen to select the operating system and simply boots into Windows XP.

Don’t worry, Windows Vista is still on your computer. All we need to do is a few simple steps as outline below to use the Windows Vista Boot Manager and have Windows XP listed as one of the operating system choices.

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

What I Used

  • Windows Vista DVD (Retail)

How to Replace Windows XP Boot Manager with Windows Vista Boot Manager

  1. Insert your Windows Vista DVD.
  2. Restart or start your computer.
  3. Boot from the Windows Vista DVD.

    NOTE

    You may have to change the boot priority in the BIOS of your computer. Please refer to your computer manual for instructions.

     

  4. Press any key on your keyboard when you see Press any key to boot from CD or DVD…. Refer to image below.

     

  5. Select your Regional settings then click Next. Refer to image below.

     

  6. On the Install Now screen, click Repair your computer to access the System Recovery Options from the Windows Vista DVD. Refer to image below.

     

  7. Select the Windows Vista operating system located on drive C. Click Next to continue to the Windows Vista System Recovery Options on the Windows Vista DVD. Refer to image below.

    NOTE

    You may need to load drivers for your hard disk if the OS is not detected and presented in the list of operating systems.

     

  8. Click Startup Repair in the System Recovery Options window. Refer to image below.

     

  9. When the repair process is finished then click Finish
     

    NOTE

    The computer should now boot into Windows Vista. The Windows Vista Boot Manager will not offer Windows XP as an option yet.

     

  10. Continue with the next section if you would like to have Windows XP listed on Windows Vista Boot Manager when starting your computer.

How to Add Windows XP to Windows Vista Boot Manager

NOTE

The following method assumes Windows Vista is installed on drive C and Windows XP is installed on drive D.

  1. Open an elevated Command Window, refer to my blog post "Opening an Elevated Command Prompt" for instructions.
  2. Type:

    bcdedit /create {legacy} /d “Windows XP”

    bcdedit /set {legacy} path \ntldr

    bcdedit /set {legacy} device partition=c:

    NOTE: if the Boot.ini file and ntldr file are located on drive d then use "bcdedit /set {legacy} device partition=d:"

    bcdedit /displayorder {legacy} /addlast

    bcdedit /timeout 30

  3. Restart your computer. Now you should have the ability to select Windows XP or Windows Vista to boot from the Windows Boot Manager.

Platforms Tested

  • Microsoft Windows Vista x86 Versions
Related Articles

Version 1.2
Edited: May 12, 2012

Internet Explorer 7 Slow to Respond after Applying Security Update in Windows Vista

Many people are reporting Internet Explorer 7 is slow to respond after applying a Security Update (Hotfix) for Windows Vista. I have seen this behaviour on many systems in the last couple of weeks. All the systems I have encountered with this problem had literally 10s of thousands URLs (websites) listed in the Restricted Zone for Internet Explorer which is located in the Internet Properties Security page. When there is literally 10s of thousands URLs listed in the Restricted Zone, Internet Explorer will scan through all of the Restricted sites every time you navigate from one web page to another which will cause the slow response of Internet Explorer.

How did all these sites get listed in the Restricted Zone?

Anti-malware products such as Spybot – Search and Destroy, Webroot Spy Sweeper, and Javacool SpywareBlaster are some anti-malware products that use the Restricted Zone to help protect you from malicious web sites.

Will Microsoft fix this problem?

I highly doubt Microsoft will fix this issue of having 10s of thousands URLs (websites) listed in the Restricted Zone because the Restricted Zone was not designed for the purpose of anti-malware products adding thousands of web sites to the Restricted Zone. The Restricted Zone was designed for you to put in web sites in the Restricted Zone not anti-malware products bogging down the Restricted Zone.

Method 1 – Remove URLs from Restricted Zone using Internet Properties (RIES)

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

  1. Click on the Start Orb(commonly known as the Start button).
  2. Type inetcpl.cpl in the Start Search field on the Start Menu. Refer to Step 1 on the Image below.
  3. The Programs in the Start Menu in the left pane will populate. "inetcpl.cpl" should appear. Click inetcpl.cpl (Step2) to launch the Internet Properties control panel. Refer to Image below.

     

  4. The Internet Properties applet should open, click the Advance tab. Refer to Image below.

     

  5. Click the Reset… button under Reset Internet Explorer settings. Refer to Image below.

     

  6. Click OK to close the Internet Properties window.

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

Method 2 – Remove URLs from Restricted Zone using Windows Vista Registry Editor

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows Vista Registry, please backup your Windows Vista Registry using Windows Vista System Protection and the directions from "Create a System Restore Point".

  1. Open the Windows Vista Registry Editor, refer to "Opening the Registry Editor without Elevated Privileges" blog article for instructions.
  2. Navigate to:

    HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains

  3. Delete all sub-keys in the Domain key.
  4. Exit the non-elevated Windows Vista Registry Editor.
  5. Open the Windows Vista Registry Editor with Elevated Privileges, refer to "Opening the Registry Editor with Elevated Privileges" blog article for instructions.
  6. Navigate to:

    HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains

  7. Delete all sub-keys in the Domain key.
  8. Navigate to:

    HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains

  9. Delete all sub-keys in the Domain key.
  10. Exit the elevated Windows Vista Registry Editor.

Method 3 – Remove URLs from Restricted Zone using REG DELETE

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows Vista Registry, please backup your Windows Vista Registry using Windows Vista System Protection and the directions from "Create a System Restore Point".

  1. Open a Command Prompt, refer to "Opening a Command Prompt without Elevation" blog article for instructions.
  2. Type:

    REG DELETE "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains"

  3. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  4. Type:

    REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains" /ve

  5. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard to close the non-elevated Command Prompt.
  6. Open a command prompt with Elevated Privileges, refer to "Opening an Elevated Command Prompt" blog article for instructions.
  7. Type:

    REG DELETE "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains"

  8. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  9. Type:

    REG ADD "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains" /ve

  10. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  11. Type:

    REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains" /ve

  12. Type:

    REG DELETE "HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains"

  13. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  14. Type:

    REG ADD "HKU\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains" /ve

  15. Press ENTER on your keyboard.
  16. Type EXIT and press ENTER on your keyboard to close the elevated Command Prompt.

Method 4 – Remove URLs from Restricted Zone using an Registration File

CAUTION

Before making any changes to the Windows Vista Registry, please backup your Windows Vista Registry using Windows Vista System Protection and the directions from "Create a System Restore Point". NOTE: To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

  1. Download Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.CU.reg and Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.LM.reg to a folder on your hard drive.
  2. Right-click Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.CU.reg to select Merge.
  3. A confirmation window will appear asking if you want to merge the Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.CU.reg registration file into the Windows Vista Registry. Click Yes to continue with the merge of the registration file. Refer to Image below.

     

  4. If you are successful with merge of the Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.CU.reg registration file then the following window should appear. Refer to Image below.

     

  5. If you have added "Run as Administrator" context menu for registration file using this article, "Adding "Run as Administrator" to a Registration File Context Menu" then right-click Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.LM.reg to select Run as administrator.
  6. A UAC Prompt should appear to allow access to the elevated Registration merge. Click on Continue to allow the elevated Registration merge to continue. Refer to the Image below.

     

  7. A confirmation window will appear asking if you want to merge the Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.LM.reg registration file into the Windows Vista Registry. Click Yes to continue with the merge of the registration file. Refer to Image below.

     

  8. If you are successful with merge of the Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.LM.reg registration file then the following window should appear. Refer to Image below.

     

  9. The URLs for the Restricted Zone should now be removed.

NOTES

The Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.CU.reg and Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.LM.reg registration files is from my web server (http://lprf.homeserver.com). You also can view the contents of the Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.CU.reg and Rmv.Rstrctd.Zns.LM.reg registration files by right-clicking the file and selecting Edit. You may need to log off then log on to your user account or restart your computer for the changes to take affect. NOTE: To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

Platforms Tested

  • Microsoft Windows Vista 32-bit (x86) Editions

Related Articles

Version 1.1
Edited: May 6, 2012

“navcancl” error when opening Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista

After you have applied MS07-027: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer KB931768 security update for Internet Explorer 7 on Windows Vista, a Download File dialog box may appear and you may receive a "navcancl" error when trying to open Internet Explorer 7. You may be receiving this error because you moved the the Temporary Internet Files (TIF) location from the default location and your user account is not allowed to write to the Temporary Internet Folder.

You can fix this problem using Method 1, if Method 1 is not successful then try Method 2 as an alternative. Please do not uninstall MS07-027: Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer KB931768 security update to fix the problem.

Method 1 – Granting Full Control for Users Experiencing this Issue

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

  1. Log into the user account that is experiencing the "navcancl" issuse when opening Internet Explorer 7.
  2. Click on the Start Orb(commonly known as the Start button).
  3. Type inetcpl.cpl in the Start Search field on the Start Menu. Refer to Step 1 on the Image below.
  4. The Programs in the Start Menu in the left pane will populate. "inetcpl.cpl" should appear. Click inetcpl.cpl (Step2) to launch the Internet Properties control panel. Refer to Image below.

     

  5. The Internet Properties applet should open, under the General tab click Settings for Browsing history. Refer to Image below.

     

  6. Click View files in the Temporary Internet and History Settings page. Refer to Image below.

     

  7. Windows Explorer will open displaying the contents of the Temporary Internet Files folder. In this example, I have the Temporary Internet Files located at "C:\Billjr\Temp\Temporary Internet Files". In this example, right-click the Temp folder to select Properties. The Temp folder properties sheet will open, click on the Security tab. Refer to Image below.

     

  8. Ensure your User Account has Full Control selected in the Allow column. If your User Account is not listed then you will need to add your User Account with Full Control privileges for the Temp folder.
  9. Click Apply then OK.

Method 2 – Moving Temporary Internet Files back to the Default location

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

  1. Show hidden files folders using instructions from "Showing Hidden Files and Folders in Windows Vista" blog entry.
  2. Click on the Start Orb(commonly known as the Start button).
  3. Type inetcpl.cpl in the Start Search field on the Start Menu. Refer to Step 1 on the Image below.
  4. The Programs in the Start Menu in the left pane will populate. "inetcpl.cpl" should appear. Click inetcpl.cpl (Step2) to to launch the Internet Properties control panel. Refer to Image below.

     

  5. The Internet Properties applet should open, under the General tab click Settings for Browsing history. Refer to Image below.

     

  6. Click Move folder…. Refer to Image below.

     

  7. Point to:

    C:\Users\UserAccountName\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows

     

  8. Click OK.
  9. Click Yes to logoff your account and have Windows Vista make the necessary changes to your user account. Refer to Image below.

NOTE

To enlarge the images, simply click on the images you would like to view. With Internet Explorer 7, you can right-click on the image to select Open in New Tab.

Related Articles

Version 1.1
Edited: May 6, 2012