How to move boot loader files?

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Michael Leithold wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I want to delete the first partition (that one with Windows XP) and
> create a new Partition for a Linux installation.
> I've heard of this tool. Though I didn't know it can move the boot loader.

I think it will install a new copy of Vista's boot loader rather
than move it. And be aware that installing *any* OS will usually
overwrite the Master Boot Record (sector 0) on your boot drive,
which is why booting is such a pain. Each OS will undo whatever
the previous OS did.

I personally use GRUB as my boot manager because I know it so well.
I always have a GRUB boot floppy handy so I can undo my most recent
booting disaster very quickly. These days, I suppose installing
GRUB on a USB-stick makes more sense than a floppy disk -- I'll go
try it right now, in fact, to see if it works )

Don wrote:
> Michael Leithold wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I want to delete the first partition (that one with Windows XP) and
>> create a new Partition for a Linux installation.
>> I've heard of this tool. Though I didn't know it can move the boot loader.
>
> I think it will install a new copy of Vista's boot loader rather
> than move it. And be aware that installing *any* OS will usually
> overwrite the Master Boot Record (sector 0) on your boot drive,
> which is why booting is such a pain. Each OS will undo whatever
> the previous OS did.
>
> I personally use GRUB as my boot manager because I know it so well.
> I always have a GRUB boot floppy handy so I can undo my most recent
> booting disaster very quickly. These days, I suppose installing
> GRUB on a USB-stick makes more sense than a floppy disk -- I'll go
> try it right now, in fact, to see if it works )

It works! Thanks for the suggestion ;o) No more boot floppies for moi.

The reason this is so important is that once you delete your first
partition your Vista won't boot. If you screw up your linux install
(not a rare event) you won't be able to boot that either. If you
have *some* bootable device like a GRUB USB-stick, then recovery is
almost trivial, otherwise it can be a nightmare.

Before you do anything else, boot from your Vista install DVD and
make sure you understand all the repair gizmos included on it. I've
read that it includes a way to repair your boot files, but I've never
had to do it myself. I'm pretty sure that doing such a repair *now*
would just put all your boot stuff back where it is -- not helpful.

You need to run it *after* deleting your first partition, so that
\boot and friends wind up in your Vista partition where they belong.
But *after* you delete your first partition it's too late to go back and
change your mind, so you really need to be prepared *before* you start!

This message is not archived

"Michael Leithold" <blasenpflaster-061230 DeleteThis @yahoo.de> wrote in message
news:4617e755$0$23144$9b4e6d93@newsspool1.arcor-online.net...
> Hello,
>
> I want to delete the first partition (that one with Windows XP) and
> create a new Partition for a Linux installation.
> I've heard of this tool. Though I didn't know it can move the boot
> loader.


If you move Vista bootmanager onto second partition and delete first,
then very probably your Vista system partition letter will be change to
C and your system will not boot anymore.
--
M. [Windows - Shell/User MVP]
/before private reply change px with pl in my e-mail address/

Hello,
Before you do anything you need to make sure that the second partition is a
primary partition. If it 's not a primary partition it cannot host the
boot files.
right-click on my computer and choose manage.
Choose disk management.
What is reported as the status column for the drive that has Windows VIsta
on it?
Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights
--------------------
|>Date: Sun, 08 Apr 2007 11:10:04 +0200
|>From: Michael Leithold <blasenpflaster-061230 RemoveThis @yahoo.de>
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|>Subject: Re: How to move boot loader files?
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microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup:14853
|>X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.vista.installation_setup
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|>Hi there,
|>
|>I tried it and nothing changed. If I "uninstall" the boot loader, it
|>will only restore the previous master boot record. The files for the
|>boot manager will stay in place. And if I "reinstall" the boot loader,
|>it will only restore its own master boot record. So this is no help.
|>But I checked the Vista boot DVD and it has a repair function for the
|>boot loader. I can only guess that it will put my Vista back to work
|>once that I've deleted my XP installation.
|>bcdedit.exe has a lot more options that Vista Boot Pro, I guess. I've
|>not finished reading the documentation yet. But maybe I will get some
|>information on how to do it from there.
|>
|>Michael
|>