XP install with Vista

[Tom]

I have tried everything I know to get programs to run with windows vista.
Compatibility issues all over the place! My wife needs to use this computer
for work. (New Gateway Laptop with Vista). I would like to purchase,
install, and use XP on this computer until the software compatibility issues
are solved. Could someone please give me some detailed information how to do
this. I want to install XP on the same hard drive with vista so I have a
choice of using either operating system. I like many of the Vista features
and would rather not remove it from the hard drive.

Tom

 

[Guest]

Windows is designed to be on seperate hard drives. Up to XP you just
installed to a different folder on hard drive. It worked with minor issues
(as it is designed for different drives). The newest OS needs to repair the
startup for it all to work.

Try it in Vista - see if it works.

 

[DanR]

I have tried everything I know to get programs to run with windows vista.
Compatibility issues all over the place! My wife needs to use this computer
for work. (New Gateway Laptop with Vista). I would like to purchase,
install, and use XP on this computer until the software compatibility
issues are solved. Could someone please give me some detailed information
how to do this. I want to install XP on the same hard drive with vista so I
have a choice of using either operating system. I like many of the Vista
features and would rather not remove it from the hard drive.

Tom

Search these groups for the term "dual boot".
Lots of info here on this subject.

 

[John Barnes]

Separate partitions, not necessarily separate hard drives.

 

[Tom]

I searched and all I can find is info about installing Vista with XP not the
other way around. I need some detailed instructions, because I would like to
do this right the first time. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tom

 

[Malcolm H]

I have tried everything I know to get programs to run with windows vista.
Compatibility issues all over the place! My wife needs to use this computer
for work. (New Gateway Laptop with Vista). I would like to purchase,
install, and use XP on this computer until the software compatibility
issues are solved. Could someone please give me some detailed information
how to do this. I want to install XP on the same hard drive with vista so I
have a choice of using either operating system. I like many of the Vista
features and would rather not remove it from the hard drive.

Tom

As you have a laptop you will have to find a software solution since you
cannot install a second hard disk. Please take a look at
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/index.html where you may find a solution.

 

[John Barnes]

You need software to create a second partition on the drive. Vista Disk
management will usually let you shrink the Vista partition, but depending on
where the last unmovable file is, you may not be able to get the space
needed to install your XP. If you can, then create a second primary
partition on the drive. Make that partition the active partition. Install
XP from the install disk to the new 'active' partition. When you reboot,
you will boot into XP. Using Disk Management, change the active partition
back to the Vista partition. Reboot, now into Vista. The easiest way from
this point is to download and install VistaBootPro and use it to add a
legacy drive to the boot menu, pointing to the second partition. Copying
three files from the XP drive to the Vista drive will assure success. ntldr
ntdetect.com boot.ini
Good luck.

 

[Papa]

I suggest that you do a clean install of XP and use it until the Vista
compatibility issues can be resolved. Just boot up with your newly purchased
XP disk and follow the instructions to do the install.

As far as having dual operating systems on the same computer, not a good
idea for a multitude of reasons.

 

[NoStop]

Separate partitions, not necessarily separate hard drives.

Dot couldn't tell the difference.

Cheers.

--
The "Wow" starts now.

"No sane person wants Vista, so Microsoft is making sure they have no
choice."
http://www.aaxnet.com/editor/edit043.html

 

[Billh]

I have tried everything I know to get programs to run with windows vista.
Compatibility issues all over the place! My wife needs to use this computer
for work. (New Gateway Laptop with Vista). I would like to purchase,
install, and use XP on this computer until the software compatibility
issues are solved. Could someone please give me some detailed information
how to do this. I want to install XP on the same hard drive with vista so I
have a choice of using either operating system. I like many of the Vista
features and would rather not remove it from the hard drive.

Tom

My understanding is you can not install XP as a dual boot after Vista is
installed XP has to be installed first. The way to do it is to boot up with
the XP install disk and delete the c drive you have now with vista on it
then you will have an unpartition area of the hard drive make a new
partition of about half and install Xp on it. Once XP is up and running
which may be a problem if your laptop maker does not make XP drivers for the
hardware you have. Then boot with the Vista install disk and install vista
in dual boot with XP.

But wait before you do any of that you most likely do not have a vista
install disk as you have a new laptop. In most cases you have a restore
partition on your hard drive or you made restore CD's when prompted when you
first setup the computer. In either case they just restore you computer to
the way it was when it left the factory which will wipe out your nice XP
install.

One option you might look in to is Virtual PC you could install XP as a
virtual pc under Vista. And it is free well other then the cost of XP.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx

 

[Slap]

Could someone please give me some detailed information how to do this. I
want to install XP on the same hard drive with vista so I have a choice of
using either operating system. I like many of the Vista features and would
rather not remove it from the hard drive.

Tom

Go here...
http://apcmag.com/5485/dualbooting_vista_and_xp

 

[Billh]

Go here...
http://apcmag.com/5485/dualbooting_vista_and_xp

Nice find. Looks like there is still an issue with needing a real Vista cd
to reset the MBR. But at least you can install xp after vista if you need
to.

 

[Jawade]

You need software to create a second partition on the drive. Vista Disk
management will usually let you shrink the Vista partition, but depending on
where the last unmovable file is, you may not be able to get the space
needed to install your XP. If you can, then create a second primary
partition on the drive. Make that partition the active partition. Install
XP from the install disk to the new 'active' partition. When you reboot,
you will boot into XP. Using Disk Management, change the active partition
back to the Vista partition. Reboot, now into Vista. The easiest way from
this point is to download and install VistaBootPro and use it to add a
legacy drive to the boot menu, pointing to the second partition. Copying
three files from the XP drive to the Vista drive will assure success. ntldr
ntdetect.com boot.ini
Good luck.

Maybe he can use EasyBCD, it's very easy in use. Copying the 3 files
is a bad idea.

 

[John Barnes]

EasyBCD is functionally the same as VistaBootPro and is equally good.
Copying the files is a good idea. It makes the entries in adding the legacy
drive almost foolproof and do no harm if not needed.

 

[Guest]

If the HD is not "Raid".
Try to find Seagate's "Disk Wizard"
With this you can make partitions and move the whole"Bootable" Vista OS to
a back partition. Then you can install XP on the front.
If you read the install guides when installing /making a dual boot system
it says to install the older version first.
Good Luck!