forums.xandros.com

[amacg]

Hi,

I have just installed Xandros on my Acer laptop. I have a problem with it
not accessing the internet even with a direct link (lan) connection. On the same machine I have VistaBasic which had a wireless connection to my desktop. My problem is I can't access Vista. The boot menu starts of with Xandros and the last item listed is MS-Windows. If I try going to Windows it presents me with a Windows XP start-up screen and then Vista asks if I want
to restore!
I am hoping there is a way for me to edit the MBR so that Vista is the default instead of Xandros.

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

[mhwelsh]

You refer to a wish to start your machine in Vista.

Using Xandros go to Control Centre > System Administration > Boot Manager.

Log in as Administrator possibly using the button at the bottom of the screen.

You can now select the default system from a drop down list.

The list shows details of all the systems that are loaded into the machine.

On this machine Xandros calls Windows XP - Windows XP and DOS - MS Windows. From the symptoms that you describe it sounds as though Vista is missing. Please be aware that some Acer machines will not connect to wifi from their internal Wireless Network card whilst operating some linux based systems.

martin welsh

[amacg]

Hello Martin,

Many thanks for your reply, I really do appreciate it.

I followed your instructions and was able to change the boot-up order. One problem though, it seems that Xandros 3.0 is not aware of Vista and the result is that it is booting to MS-Windows which just brings up the XP screen (I have no idea where it gets that from, this machine came with Vista as the operating system) and then Acer asks if I want to backup the system. That is as close as I get to Vista.
Is it possible to actually edit the boot order so that I can point it to Vista instead of the default MS-Windows?

Thanks again Martin for your help!

Regards,
Andy

[mhwelsh]

If the boot manager is offering you only one Windows System and it is XP then that is probably the only one that you have got.

Who put XP into the machine?


martin

[amacg]

Hi again Martin,

This machine was purchased new last year and the operating system was already installed - Vista, not my choice

That's why I can't understand where the XP Startup screen comes from.
Vista is, or should be, loaded automatically by Acer.

I was thinking that maybe Xandros 3.0 is not aware of Vista being available (at the time of introduction)and was therefore just displaying MS-WINDOWS
as default.

Regards,
Andy

[XandrosAdminAJ]

If the machine displays xp, the xp did not come from Xandros. Now it may be that Xandros *thinks* any MS system that is xp or newer is xp b/c this is Xandros 3. Maybe vista messes with the mbr and makes this a problem?

I do recall that in the days when I had a dual boot xp and Xandros 1 & 2, that restoring the MS OS was required to get back into it. I still have that laptop, but it dual boots Xandros 2 and 4 and I hardly use it anymore.
_________________
War doesn't determine who's right - only who's left.

[mhwelsh]

What happens if you select Vista/XP and do what you are told and select restore?

Dont worry too much about recovering your dual boot because you can reinstall Xandros MBR from the programme disc by selecting System restore using a quick shift key as soon as the machine selects the CD.

It may be that the Acer machine is loaded with a Vista update as opposed to a virgin Vista.


martin

[Gman8845]

Just my 2cents worth, Vista uses a totally new (different) boot loader, if you mess with adjusting partitions or duel booting you'll have to do some learning. Do a google search for Easybcd and you'll see what you're up against. Your seeing XP boot prompts because with Acer and others you're booting to the Recovery partition. Yes they use a version of XP BootPE to get you a gui for restoring Vista.
_________________
Running on many systems, multi booting up to 5 Linux OSs on a demo machine, started when it was Coral Linux. Need to know more; just ask.
"I'm just a squirrel, Trying to get a nut!!"

[farenheit]

If you have a proper Vista installation disk that you can boot from, use that and run the "Recovery Console". So long as you did NOT partition the disk using Xandros 3 disk tools, you should be able to boot to the console and then use: