Windows 8 Bootloader

Hi, I have a 500GB HDD that I have partitioned into 3 sections.

1. Windows XP
2. Linux
3. Windows 8

After a spending some time tying to find the bootloader so I can choose what OS I can start up on, I finally had to install EasyBCD and configure that to allow me to boot to what ever OS I choose. My question is, if I am on XP side, and I go to the Startup and Recovery Settings, and change the Bootloader Default Notpad (to configure or change the name) and rearange them in this notepad, will it work or crash?

Here is what I am trying to say:

; This boot.ini was automatically generated by NeoSmart Technologies' BootGrabber.exe
; Use EasyBCD from EasyBCD - NeoSmart Technologies to manage your bootloader
[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP on C:\" /fastdetect

Changed to this:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP on C:\" /
[operating systems]
fastdetectulti(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS

Will this allow my XP to come up as my first choice?

Windows 8 doesn't use a boot.ini file, that is Windows XP's boot.ini file. Changing that will likely just stop XP from being usable. What order did you install the OS's in and how did you install each one. I believe Windows 8 will normally install its boot loader in the system reserved partition. If its there it will be a hidden partition and be the first partition on the drive. If Windows 8 detects another Microsoft OS on the drive it will replace that OS's boot loader with its own and setup the dual boot. I have no experience with Linux so I'm not sure what that does to things. What do you see on screen when the PC boots up and what OS loads by default?

You only need to set XP as default in bcd .

Easybcd can do that for you.

alphanumeric said:

What do you see on screen when the PC boots up and what OS loads by default?

Click to expand...

Rather than quote you're whole post, I'll just use a sentence.

After a few reboots, it would only allow me to boot in 8 only and it didn't give me a choice of XP or 8. That prompted me to search the web and that's when I found the EasyBCD. Then I was able to find an option in there to find my other boot loader. So I enabled it. It's not a big deal, but every time I start the computer, the default is XP, which is great, but Windows 8 option is the first one, I want to have XP the first one and 8 as the second. so its just a cosmetic thing for me to have My default highlighted and my first choice. Actually, I just noticed something, which is probably what you mentioned, but I didn't understand. If I was in XP, and shut down or restart, it would start up in a black and white screen with my choices of what OS to start in. If in 8, it would come up in a blue and white screen and ask me what OS to boot to. So, with that said, I think I just need to play with it and learn and adapt to the new....

Also, how do I turn off this stupid password thing every time I start up in 8??? I went somewhere and tried to change my password and it wouldn't allow me to...

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...nt-automatically-windows-8-startup.html?ltr=L

Dual booting with Windows 7 and Windows 8, I noticed if Windows 7 was set as the default OS, I got it's text based Boot loader. If 8 was set as the default I got the Windows 8 graphical Boot Menu. I also noticed with Windows 8 set as default, if selected Windows 7 my PC would reboot and then load Windows 7. My Guess is it was changing the partition marked as Boot partition and rebooting. It's not something I remember happening with previous dual boot setups I've had in the past. This is all with the default Windows Boot Loader.

alphanumeric said:

if selected Windows 7 my PC would reboot and then load Windows 7. My Guess is it was changing the partition marked as Boot partition and rebooting. It's not something I remember happening with previous dual boot setups I've had in the past. This is all with the default Windows Boot Loader.

Click to expand...

This is way the new Windows 8 Boot Loader works. Even when you dual boot with x32 & x64, or Server 2012.

Yeah, it just kind of surprised me the first time it did it. I selected Windows 7, then after short delay I heard the single bios beep. Then I kind of held my breath for a second waiting to see what would happen next. Having seen a couple of posts about endless reboots I was a bit apprehensive. But all was good.

It is primarily a tablet os.

If you are sufferring the limitations of having touch input only - then it makes sense to have big squares to jab at.

It might also be useful to people with certain disabilities.

That GUI with big squares needs an environment to run in. If you like, you have already booted part way into win8 environment so the GUI can be displayed.

That is why if you select a different os - you reboot.

It is inconvenient for multibooters. Fortunately, you can use the text based boot menu instead. Much better for multibooting. You don't need to do that reboot thing, and if you have a lot of entries - it is much easier to scroll down, than to keep changing pages on the GUI thing.