Triple boot problem.

[ProOne]

Hi guys.

 

I`m having some problems trying to triple boot Windows XP + Windows 7 + Mac OS X 10.5.6

 

First of all, some info about my system.

Dell Inspiron 1525, 1.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 Gb of Ram, 250 Gb HDD running in AHCI mode.

 

This is what I`ve done so far:

 

1. Partitioned my HDD:

- 1st partition: 40 Gb NTFS for Windows 7 (I`ll put 7 on my first partition because it`s my main operating system.)

- 2nd partition: 177 Gb NTFS for all of my data.

- 3rd partition: 10 NTFS Gb for Windows XP

- 4th partition: 20 NTFS Gb for Mac OS X.

 

Before this, I only had two partitions. 40 Gb with windows 7 and the rest for my data partition. I put the partitions for XP & Mac OS X at the end because I couldn`t afford to reformat my entire HDD (Got really sensitive data on it). And also because if it doesn`t work or I get tired of it, I could delete them and redirect the free space back in may main data partition.

 

2. Installed Windows XP SP 3 on my thrid partition.

3. Installed Windows 7 from Windows XP (not by booting the DVD) so it could add Windows XP to the WIndows 7 bootloader automaticly.

 

So far, everything is working perfectly. Windows 7 replaced the Windows XP bootloader with it`s own and when I boot up I get to choose from "Eralier version of Windows" and "Windows 7"

 

For Mac OS X, I choose the 10.5.7 tutorial from http://wiki.osx86project.org/wiki/index.ph...s#Inspiron_1525

 

4. I load my iPC 10.5.6 DVD and boot from it.

5. Load Disk Utility, choose my last partition and format it in Journaled format.

5. Costumize my installation exactly like in the tutorial + from Apps, I also install NTFS 3-G + MacFUSE so I can read and write my NTFS partitions from OS X.

After the installation finishes, I close the lid on my Inspiron, so it could boot up, choose my region and keyboard layout, create my user and I`m done. Mac OS X starts. After this, I have to copy a file dsdt.aml so I don`t have to close the lid on laptop each time I try to start OS X.

After this, I install Chameleon. This is exactly like in the tutorial.

 

After installing Chameleon, I reset the laptop.

Mac OS X should start automaticly, as it had replaced my Windows 7 bootloader, but I get a message "boot: error".

 

I restart the PC, pop-in my Windows 7 DVD, repair start-up, reset and boot in Windows 7.

Install EasyBCD 1.7.2 add an entry for Windows XP and Mac OS X, reset.

 

When the bootloader loads, if I choose the OS X entry, all i get is a black screen and two letters in the upper left corner - "Wh".

 

What can I do to fix this problem?

 

Is there a way to fix it without reinstalling the Windows-es ?

If not, I`m also looking for a sollution to fix it without repartitioning my HDD, as I stated at the begining, I can`t afford to lose any data on my second partition.

 

Thanks in advance.

[martigasco]

Windows bootloaders are so tricky. I've got the same OS map you explain, this way

 

HD1: Winxp+Win7 (windows 7 bootloader)

HD2: OSX (chameleon bootoader)

 

I've got the HD2 as the default bootdrive, it shows chameleon menu, and if I choose the WIN7 partition, then I can choose between Win7 and XP. This is the only way I got it working.

 

Hope it helps

[ProOne]

I managed the same thing on my home desktop PC.

My problem is that I can`t do the same on laptop, because it doesn`t support two hard disks. I could use an external one on USB for OS X, but than I`d have to carry with me the hard drive all the time. I`m satisfied with the trick on my desktop PC, but I`m a student in a different city and my desktop is in my hometown.

Anyway, I`ve got some new pointers on how to do it, which I`ll try later and I`ll come back with the new. Hopefully it will work. I`ve been reinstalling windows XP, windows 7 and OS X for the past 4 days. I`m tired.

 

Thank you for your answer.

[acerimmer]

Pro:

 

Both Windows 7 and OSX normally install 2 partitions - the primary partition that you're familiar with and a system reserved partition of 100 - 200 mb.

 

As you've set up, Windows expects an MBR partition table which is limited to 4 primary partitions. Exceeding that gives you the boot error you describe.

 

There are some work arounds - here's mine >>http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/index.php...=212837&hl=