Quote Originally Posted by kl522 View Post
The boot.ini is protected from casual modification by keeping the file as hidden and readonly. If you use the NT to unhide and modify boot.ini, you might get a few warnings. Apart from that there is nothing else because NTLDR allows for multiboot NT versions, and a typical NT installer might automatically/programmatically edit boot.ini during the installation process. It's an allowed feature.
You and turbine seem to be talking at cross purposes. You are talking about dual booting with Windows XP/NT/2000. turbine mentioned Vista.

The XP approach doesn't work with Vista /Windows 7 because, amongst other things, there isn't a boot.ini.

However, it is possible to dual boot with Vista or Windows 7 without touching the MBR.

Use of EasyBCD and neogrub is one way.

Another way is to follow the instructions here:
http://www.sysresccd.org/Sysresccd-m...s_Vista.2F2008

in the section:

update your boot loader: Windows Vista/2008

(the menu.lst is as suggested here - not on the sysresccd site).