Half-installed Windows 7, how to restore Windows XP bootloader

I was going to install Windows 7 on my old pc, however I decided against it half way through the installation (just after first reboot) and I cancelled it. Then I worked out that I can press F8 then press ESC and choose Previous Windows Installation and I can boot into Windows XP.

However whenever I turn off the computer normally, it tries to start installing Windows 7 again; however if I hibernate the computer, it boots into Windows XP fine.

So my question is; How can I restore it so it always boots into Windows XP, instead of Windows 7 Install.

EDIT: I don't have the Windows Install Disc, Unless there is a way to get the Windows recovery console on a flash drive, that wont work.

Mythrillic

Posted 2011-11-17T06:05:20.537

Reputation: 1 959

Answers

I think, the most easy solution will be to start the repair console from a Windows XP CD and perform a fixmbr and a fixboot. That should reinstall your WinXP bootloader, which is not able to start Windows 7.

Michael K

Posted 2011-11-17T06:05:20.537

Reputation: 3 308

I don't have the Windows XP disc any more. – Mythrillic – 2011-11-17T08:00:16.297

You can use the UBCD (Ultimate boot cd), which includes tools for rewriting the mbr and the booloader. http://www.ubcd4win.com/ Feature list: http://www.ubcd4win.com/contents.htm see the topic "-partition"

– Michael K – 2011-11-17T08:19:32.580

I'll try this when I get home. – Mythrillic – 2011-11-18T02:40:36.853