Thanks for replies everybody. Gary, the reason I use 2 windows 7 installs is an extra security precaution as I only use one of the window 7 for bill paying and online transactions, not general surfing so I figure less chance of catching a virus.

Now back to my original question as regards the master boot. I have an older computer with 2 installs of xp and I know that the MBR is in the C drive. If I go into system properties on that C drive there and select advanced and then startup and recovery, I am shown a list of the installed OS and am able to select one as the Default os to boot into at windows startup.

Not so with the new computer even though xp is installed first in the C drive on it. If I do the above in the xp install I am only presented with the xp option, which has led to my confusion as to what drive the boot loader is actually on. The 2 installs of windows 7 show all the os on the new computer.

Thanks again
Joe


joe