I am fairly new to Vista Boot Pro, but it worked well during the Vista beta.
I have Vista Boot Pro installed in one OS (Vista) partition. The other 2 partitions are WXP and they are hidden. I have deactivated Acronis OS loader because I was getting an autochk error when the WXP partition was loaded.
Preferable, I would like to have a second Vista partition but it seems to be that Vista will not allow this when the OS are in the same hard drive.
All is well as long as the Vista Partition is loaded. How do I change partitions other than using a boot loader manager? Vista does not present a menu for selecting other partitions.

Also, if Vista will not boot after making changes, how do I use the "parachute" (backup)?

Thank you for any help

this guide may help you http://www.pronetworks.org/index.php/guides/post/dual_boot_trouble_shooting_guide_vista_running/

I checked that guide, but I have to find some means of getting to the XP partitions and adding the boot entries. I may be able to do this with Paragon software, but I want to boot from the corresponding OS in an active OS partition and I do not know what kind of complications I will meet.
Also, the last time I tried it, one of the boot files, I can't remember which one, was missing.

I'd like to help you but I do not go to all the trouble you are, in none of my multi-boot setups.

2- quad booting & 1- triple booting (XP, Server 2008, Vista combos)

I have not had any problems at all using the PRO guides for reference & I have 2-SATA Hdds or 2- EIDE Hdds rigs.

No Hdds hidden

I don't think anyone really understands what you have done, are doing, or plan to do. I know I don't.

You should be able to add another Vista. What's preventing it?

You don't need Paragon or Acronis to set up what you want. Other than creating a partition you don't need either of those. AFAIK those programs will only complicate things for you.

I don't know why you hid your XP drives but that will also complicate matters. You can't unhide them with Paragon or Acronis?

Mark

markcynt wrote:

I don't know why you hid your XP drives but that will also complicate matters. You can't unhide them with Paragon or Acronis? Mark

I am guessing they are hidden because of the problem with Vista's restore points being deleted when running dual boot with XP.

Unless I am mistaken Rosita wants to be able to boot these different OS's without a bootloader which is where I am lost as to why Rosita doesn't want one. That is why I haven't offered a suggestion because I am not sure what is wanted exactly

yeshuas wrote:

markcynt wrote: I don't know why you hid your XP drives but that will also complicate matters. You can't unhide them with Paragon or Acronis? Mark I am guessing they are hidden because of the problem with Vista's restore points being deleted when running dual boot with XP.

There is a registry fix for that problem that's so easy that it's silly. That's what I use and I've never lost a restore point in Vista.

Mark

I don't even worry about it any more, I just make sure I back mine up regularly and every few months I just blast it all off and start over with a clean install.

Wonderful, how easy it looks.

What is the entry I need in the registry?
What I want to do: I do not mind what other 3rd-party I need to use, but I want to be able to easily load either of the 3 OS partitions, and upgrade one of the XP installations to Vista with Vista Ultimate, and leave the second XP installation working. I thought that it was not possible unless I had separate drives for them.

Problems I've seen: the autochk error I mentioned in one of my previous messages. It sounds like boot files may be missing in XP.

Why hide partitions? I am used to have them hidden.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I really want something simple for changing partiitons, and this is what I had previously with BootMagic. If I leave the OS boot list alone, Vista 1 loads, but if I select to load another OS partition, I can do so too.

If that's the way you like it that's fine. It's just that most people don't do it that way so any help would be just guessing.

I hope you get it figured out though.

Maybe the Acronis forum can help.

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=73

Mark