grub problem with Win/XP

[plcMark]

Question: Where do I go to get help with a problem booting win/XP partitions?

sda has three bootable partitions:
sda1/ Win/XP (work version)
sda3/ ubuntu 11.04
sda4/ Win/XP (non-work related version)
(sda2 is an extended partition with swap, and other stuff)

On install grub successfully finds all the OS's and creates menu items.

When the machine boots I can select the ubuntu partition and it works great. I can select the first Win/xp partition and it works like *******. When I select the 2nd Win/XP partition I get a msg 'autochk.exe not found ...', then the old BSOD for a few seconds, then the machine reboots.

This is clearly a grub problem. I put the old win/XP MBR boot loader back on the disk and it boots in either win/XP partition without problems. (I use a USB stick boot to crank up parted and change the hidden 'flag' and boot flags on the partitions to test this.)

Back to my question: Where do I go for help on this issue?

Thanks

[oldfred]

Welcome to the forums.

I am surprised you have a second entry for windows. Windows only has boot files in one partition with the boot flag (active partition in windows). Grub normally then only finds that partition to boot windows and then from windows you choose which version of windows you want to boot.

You have to move/copy all boot files from the first install of XP to the second install, reconfigure boot.ini and run fixboot from windows repair/boot CD to make sure windows has the correct boot partition. For fixboot to work you have to move boot flag to the second partition.

To see what you have and how it is configured:
Boot Info Script courtesy of forum members meierfra & Gert Hulselmans
Page with instructions and download:
http://bootinfoscript.sourceforge.net/
Paste results.txt in a New Reply, then highlight entire file and click on # in edit panel(code tags) to make it easier to read.
Or You can generate the tags first by pressing the # icon in the New Reply Edit toolbar and then paste the contents between the generated [ code] paste here [ /code] tags.
V60 has improved formating and requires code tags to make it legible. New Version is a zip file that you have to extract to get .sh to run.

This explains how windows dual boots. It discusses Vista but applies to all MBR(msdos) systems. If too much explanation, just review pictures:
Multibooters, Pictures here worth 1000+ words
http://www.multibooters.co.uk/multiboot.html

[plcMark]

I'm not surprised it shows two Win/XP entries in the menu. I intended the two installs to be very separate. I am surprised by the output of the script. It looks like the ubuntu auto-install created a new swap partition each time I re-ran it. At some point it will be time to delete the two extra swap partitions and reformat the extra ext4 and probably mount it as /usr.

Output from the script follows. Any help would be really appreciated. I haven't played with linux since the old Slackware on floppy days. (Started with Yydragsil(?) kernel 0.99) Its been a while, and things sure have changed!





Boot Info Script 0.60 from 17 May 2011


============================= Boot Info Summary: ===============================

=> Grub2 (v1.99) is installed in the MBR of /dev/sda and looks at sector 1 of
the same hard drive for core.img. core.img is at this location and looks
for (,msdos3)/boot/grub on this drive.

sda1: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

sda2: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: Extended Partition
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda5: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: According to the info in the boot sector, sda5 starts
at sector 63.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda6: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 11.04
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda7: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: swap
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:

sda8: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system:
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed: mount: unknown filesystem type ''

sda9: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows Vista/7
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System:
Boot files:

sda10: __________________________________________________ _______________________

File system:
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Mounting failed: mount: unknown filesystem type ''
mount: unknown filesystem type ''

sda3: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ext4
Boot sector type: -
Boot sector info:
Operating System: Ubuntu 11.04
Boot files: /boot/grub/grub.cfg /etc/fstab /boot/grub/core.img

sda4: __________________________________________________ ________________________

File system: ntfs
Boot sector type: Windows XP
Boot sector info: No errors found in the Boot Parameter Block.
Operating System: Windows XP
Boot files: /boot.ini /ntldr /NTDETECT.COM

============================ Drive/Partition Info: =============================

Drive: sda __________________________________________________ ___________________

Disk /dev/sda: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders, total 976773168 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes

Partition Boot Start Sector End Sector # of Sectors Id System

/dev/sda1 * 63 312,576,704 312,576,642 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda2 312,580,155 722,178,047 409,597,893 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 312,580,157 517,382,080 204,801,924 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda6 517,382,144 664,434,687 147,052,544 83 Linux
/dev/sda7 664,436,736 672,819,199 8,382,464 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda8 672,821,248 681,203,711 8,382,464 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda9 681,220,096 713,983,999 32,763,904 7 NTFS / exFAT / HPFS
/dev/sda10 713,986,048 722,178,047 8,192,000 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 722,178,048 771,973,119 49,795,072 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 771,973,120 976,773,119 204,800,000 17 Hidden NTFS / HPFS


"blkid" output: __________________________________________________ ______________

Device UUID TYPE LABEL

/dev/sda1 080832FA0832E5FA ntfs
/dev/sda3 d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8 ext4
/dev/sda4 37578EEB31594CE1 ntfs MLB
/dev/sda5 1CC8DCBDC8DC967C ntfs MyDocs
/dev/sda6 9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043 ext4
/dev/sda7 cd288931-a44a-451a-8c79-43c14b2fd5c0 swap
/dev/sda9 5299D45936A90925 ntfs Data

================================ Mount points: =================================

Device Mount_Point Type Options

/dev/sda3 / ext4 (rw,errors=remount-ro,commit=600)


================================ sda1/boot.ini: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[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 Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=========================== sda6/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="4"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=2
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic-pae' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic-pae root=UUID=9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043 ro splash quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic-pae
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic-pae (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-8-generic-pae ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic-pae root=UUID=9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043 ro single splash
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic-pae
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos9)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 080832FA0832E5FA
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda6/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda9 during installation
UUID=9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda10 during installation
UUID=cd288931-a44a-451a-8c79-43c14b2fd5c0 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda6: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

282.963855743 = 303.830126592 boot/grub/core.img 1
302.915378571 = 325.252911104 boot/grub/grub.cfg 2
304.273632050 = 326.711324672 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic-pae 1
303.133239746 = 325.486837760 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic-pae 2
304.273632050 = 326.711324672 initrd.img 1
303.133239746 = 325.486837760 vmlinuz 2

=========================== sda3/boot/grub/grub.cfg: ===========================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
set default="4"
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi

function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}

function recordfail {
set recordfail=1
if [ -n "${have_grubenv}" ]; then if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then save_env recordfail; fi; fi
}

function load_video {
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
}

insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8
if loadfont /usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2 ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8
set locale_dir=($root)/boot/grub/locale
set lang=en_US
insmod gettext
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ]; then
set timeout=-1
else
set timeout=10
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8
insmod png
if background_image /usr/share/images/grub/sabily.png; then
set color_normal=black/black
set color_highlight=magenta/black
else
set menu_color_normal=white/black
set menu_color_highlight=black/light-gray
if background_color 44,0,30; then
clear
fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
if [ ${recordfail} != 1 ]; then
if [ -e ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt ]; then
if hwmatch ${prefix}/gfxblacklist.txt 3; then
if [ ${match} = 0 ]; then
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=keep
fi
else
set linux_gfx_mode=text
fi
export linux_gfx_mode
if [ "$linux_gfx_mode" != "text" ]; then load_video; fi
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8 ro quiet quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
menuentry 'Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic (recovery mode)' --class ubuntu --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
recordfail
set gfxpayload=$linux_gfx_mode
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8
echo 'Loading Linux 2.6.38-8-generic ...'
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic root=UUID=d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8 ro single quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###
### END /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin
}
menuentry "Memory test (memtest86+, serial console 115200)" {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos3)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8
linux16 /boot/memtest86+.bin console=ttyS0,115200n8
}
### END /etc/grub.d/20_memtest86+ ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda1)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos1)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 080832FA0832E5FA
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Microsoft Windows XP Professional (on /dev/sda4)" --class windows --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ntfs
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos4)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 37578EEB31594CE1
drivemap -s (hd0) ${root}
chainloader +1
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic-pae (on /dev/sda6)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic-pae root=UUID=9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043 ro splash quiet splash vt.handoff=7
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic-pae
}
menuentry "Ubuntu, with Linux 2.6.38-8-generic-pae (recovery mode) (on /dev/sda6)" --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os {
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(/dev/sda,msdos6)'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043
linux /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic-pae root=UUID=9cd34514-e723-4ede-9114-bac28cb60043 ro single splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic-pae
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries. Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment. Be careful not to change
# the 'exec tail' line above.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###

### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== sda3/etc/fstab: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# /etc/fstab: static file system information.
#
# Use 'blkid -o value -s UUID' to print the universally unique identifier
# for a device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name
# devices that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass>
proc /proc proc nodev,noexec,nosuid 0 0
# / was on /dev/sda3 during installation
UUID=d966f6df-08bc-4d0d-9292-3e83217782e8 / ext4 errors=remount-ro 0 1
# swap was on /dev/sda7 during installation
UUID=cd288931-a44a-451a-8c79-43c14b2fd5c0 none swap sw 0 0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=================== sda3: Location of files loaded by Grub: ====================

GiB - GB File Fragment(s)

346.516860962 = 372.069646336 boot/grub/core.img 1
360.594650269 = 387.185557504 boot/grub/grub.cfg 1
345.617160797 = 371.103600640 boot/initrd.img-2.6.38-8-generic 2
346.493633270 = 372.044705792 boot/vmlinuz-2.6.38-8-generic 1
345.617160797 = 371.103600640 initrd.img 2
346.493633270 = 372.044705792 vmlinuz 1

================================ sda4/boot.ini: ================================

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

=============================== StdErr Messages: ===============================

unlzma: Decoder error

[oldfred]

I do not see anything wrong and as you say you can boot either with your other disk.

With old grub legacy we could hide & unhide and I assume that was how you got windows to install two separate installs. Grub2 does not have an unhide and I do not know if that makes a difference. Normally grub just jumps to the PBR of windows to boot just like a widows boot loader would. The windows boot loader only uses the boot flag (active partition) to know which partition to jump to. But perhaps the hidden flag interferes.

You might try unhiding the second windows. You might only need to rehide if you want to repair from a windows disk. But with XP you can do everything but run chkdsk from Ubuntu.

I have had my XP boot ok but not be seen at all by gparted. Once I ran chkdsk then gparted saw XP drive. So Linux seems more sensitive to NTFS errors than windows. I might also try chkdsk. But then you will have to unhide & move boot flag to the sda4 partition.

http://wiki.elchtest.eu/mediawiki/index.php/Grub2_Menu

[plcMark]

Removing the hidden flag did the trick. Of course, now both WIn/XP installs see the other's root files.

Now I get to learn where to put that hidden stuff into the grub config files. Thanks for the help, and for the link.

Mark

[oldfred]

I think you just use a parttool command in the grub boot stanza. I have never seen it done, thats what the link says.

Why do both windows see the other. The boot.ini only showed one install and unless you updated boot.ini, I would not think one would see the other from a grub2 boot.

Example here (nearer bottom of page):
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GRUB2

Parttool is in /boot/grub.

[plcMark]

Yes, parttool fixed the problem. It took a while for me to figure out the disk naming. The disk is /sda throughout grub.cfg, but in the parttool command it because hd0.

Each copy of windows was able to see the other's 'system partition' (C: drive). Of course, it would be 'mounted' with a different drive letter since C: was already used by the correct 'system partition'. This was fixed with the proper use of parttool. Now each windows sees only it own C: drive.

Mark