Ack, Vista removes XP F8 boot options
No news probably, but I just noticed as I was trying to restore XP on a dual-boot installation with Vista installed that while you can do the F8 options for the latter, they're no longer there for the former. Pain.This is no doubt due to the new Vista Boot Loader/Manager and there's no doubt a way to coax it into providing safe mode start up for legacy Windows, but... why did it have to be removed in the first place?
Luckily, the box in question is joined to domain so I was able to get in that way through a normal boot-up, and then do a System Restore to a recent point. Phew.
Update OK, this is bizarre: after the box in question received some automatic updates and was restarted, I can now select XP, hit enter to boot, and F8 for start up options. Earlier on, that keystroke sequence was ignored (and yes, I checked that the F Lock was active :)). Can't see a mention in the KB of this, but perhaps there was a fix installed to sort out the issue?
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Comment by bradstewart, on 17-Mar-2007 17:12
Can you not highlight the XP entry then select other boot options?
Comment by Whaleoil, on 17-Mar-2007 21:06
I have de-installed Vista and what a bear that was....ended up having to go to Linux and then dual boot back to XP after Vista rather viciously decided to own my hard drive.
I can't see me moving permanently to Vista it is way to invasive and annoying for my liking.
Comment by Daniel, on 18-Mar-2007 23:18
Isn't this because F8 was in the old boot loader, which isn't used to boot into XP? As I see it (I've been having to tinker with my Vista Bootloader), the Vista bootloader calls NTLDR directly. Meaning you depend on the Vista Tools menu (pressing Tab) at the menu.
I also find it interesting how people are against Vista installing it's own boot manager. I don't remember Ubuntu giving me the option to install GRUB.
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Comment by inane, on 17-Mar-2007 16:49
on my system, I have to hit "Legacy / older version of windows" then I can hit F8...