I believe that those who came to read this article have searched the relevant "answers" on the Internet but are still at a loss... So comrades should have some understanding of BootSect, BCDEdit, EasyBCD, and VistaBootPRO tools and software, so the following is only an introduction (all can be run under XP/Vista):
1. BootSect is a tool for changing the system boot mode in the Vista installation program (in the boot directory);
2. BCDEdit is the startup menu editing program that comes with Vista system. Since it is a command line method, it is not used to edit it in general;
3. EasyBCD and VistaBootPRO are third-party startup menu editing programs, with graphical interfaces, easy to operate. VistaBootPRO’s current disadvantage is that it does not support the Chinese display in the menu.
So, how should the above software be used? How can we avoid improper recovery methods that can’t enter any system?
The most misleading statement on the Internet is: "BootSect/nt60 c:" to restore the Vista boot menu - but I don't know that this method is not suitable for reinstalling XP! Similarly, EasyBCD and VistaBootPRO cannot solve this problem, because these software actually use BootSect to rebuild MBR to try to restore the Vista boot menu.
How to prove it? The easiest way is to run BCDEdit in the XP command line mode. There is an error in the prompt, right? BCD cannot be edited at all! ——Some people may say that the boot directory in the Vista installation program should be copied to the C drive (because BCD is in this directory). Try to see what the result is? Or the prompt is an error! But the prompts are slightly different. At this time, run EasyBCD, and it will repeatedly allow you to rebuild MBR and cannot move to the next step at all; and at this time, run VistaBootPRO, the menu management is empty and the addition is invalid.
Well... At this time, you probably guessed the reason for this situation: because there is no backup of BCD information, the BCD information in the boot directory that was forced to copy is not suitable for you, so at this time, BCDEdit, EasyBCD, and VistaBootPRO cannot edit the startup menu normally. If you only rebuild the MBR through BootSect at this time, then the disaster will come after the restart - the Vista boot menu may come out, but no operating system can be accessed!
what to do? Some people say that starting from the Vista installation CD, select "Repair and Install" to recover, but what if there is no Vista installation CD (installed from the hard disk)? Some people may say, copy a BCD file that suits you from others, but where can I find it? Some people also say that if you fake install (install again) Vista, then cancel the installation after the first restart, you may rebuild the menu, but... it's so troublesome, it may not work.
So, what should I do? ? ? The answer is finally revealed-
It turned out that Microsoft automatically backed up the BCD information for us. Its file name is BCD000000000 and its location is \Windows\System32\configfix\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Hero...
Specific 100% perfect way to restore the Vista startup menu lost due to reinstalling XP:
1. Copy the boot directory and bootmgr (this must be copied) from the Vista installation program to the C drive;
2. Copy BCD00000000 to the boot directory of disk C and rename it to BCD (delete the original one first);
3. Run EasyBCD and you can enter the software interface normally, do whatever you need.
Finish the work after the fight.
Finally, let me say something off topic: I personally think that in this case, it is better to format the partition where Vista is located, and thus give up this flashy operating system is actually a wise choice.