Dual Boot between XP and Vista

[Key Bored]

I bought a new hard drive and Vista Ultimate 64-bit (full version). After
doing a clean install of Vista, I found that several of my older programs
are not compatible with and won't install on Vista. I don't want to spend
$400 or more on upgrading the software.
I'd like to keep both XP and Vista on my computer but I'm not sure how to do
this. Should I partition the new drive while installing Vista and set up a
dual boot system? Or is it possible to use two drives--my old drive with XP
and the new drive with Vista? Is there a website with detailed instructions
on how to do this?

Thanx, Key Bored

 

[Paul Montgomery]

I bought a new hard drive and Vista Ultimate 64-bit (full version). After
doing a clean install of Vista, I found that several of my older programs
are not compatible with and won't install on Vista. I don't want to spend
$400 or more on upgrading the software.
I'd like to keep both XP and Vista on my computer but I'm not sure how to do
this. Should I partition the new drive while installing Vista and set up a
dual boot system? Or is it possible to use two drives--my old drive with XP
and the new drive with Vista? Is there a website with detailed instructions
on how to do this?

Thanx, Key Bored

http://www.tweakvista.com/article39206.aspx

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I bought a new hard drive and Vista Ultimate 64-bit (full version). After
doing a clean install of Vista, I found that several of my older programs
are not compatible with and won't install on Vista. I don't want to spend
$400 or more on upgrading the software.
I'd like to keep both XP and Vista on my computer but I'm not sure how to do
this. Should I partition the new drive while installing Vista and set up a
dual boot system? Or is it possible to use two drives--my old drive with XP
and the new drive with Vista? Is there a website with detailed instructions
on how to do this?

Thanx, Key Bored

Normally, the older OS must be installed first unless you wish to
acquire and use some 3rd-party partition and boot management utility.
(In which case you have to follow the instructions provided by whatever
3rd party solution you select.) However, this KB Article (not for the
faint of heart or technically-challenged) explains how to repair the
Vista boot process after installing WinXP:

Windows Vista no longer starts after you install an earlier version of
the Windows operating system in a dual-boot configuration
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919529

MS-MVP John Barnett's Guide is considerably more user-friendly:
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/install_windows_xp_on_machine_running_vista.htm

However, dual-booting is no longer necessary in a great many
situations. Why not download a Virtual Machine application, such as
Microsoft's VirtualPC 2007
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.asp?) or Innotek's VirtualBox
(http://www.virtualbox.org/) and run WinXP and your legacy applications
within a virtual computer? Both are free and work with Vista.

NOTE: Microsoft does not support the use of VirtualPC 2007 on Vista
Home editions, but several people have reported that it works. Your
results may vary.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Mick Murphy]

Vista is the 1st MS operating system where, in dual booting, you do NOT have
to have the older OS(in this case XP), installed 1st.

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed_first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm

 

[Timothy Daniels]

Vista is the 1st MS operating system where, in dual booting,
you do NOT have to have the older OS(in this case XP), installed 1st.

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed_first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm

But having XP installed before Vista makes the dual-boot setup
automatically part of the Vista installation. IOW, the dual-boot setup
is a lot easier if Vista is installed last.

*TimDaniels*