Creating a dual boot so I can use Vista or XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pete C.
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Pete C.

Hi,

Is there a way to create a dual boot laptop that gives me a choice of which
OS I want to load. I still have programs that only work with XP. Any help
would be appreciated!!!

Or if someone knows a better way to use both XP or Vista...

Thanks..Pete
 
You could install XP in a virtual machine. If you need USB support is is
kind of iffy. XP will erase your shadow copies and restore points. If you
have a drive that is large enough you can certainly dual boot. If you
install XP second, it will overwrite your Vista boot process and you will
have to do a startup repair process unless you follow other procedures.
 
Personally, I think that it is better to have two separate installations,
using BIOS to switch from one to the other.. when setting this up, two
drives are required, each one being initially set up with the other
disconnected.. once that both drives are in running order, connect both..

Be careful not to run XP utilities on a Vista installation.. some can be
destructive..


Pete C. said:
Hi,

Is there a way to create a dual boot laptop that gives me a choice of
which OS I want to load. I still have programs that only work with XP. Any
help would be appreciated!!!

Or if someone knows a better way to use both XP or Vista...

Thanks..Pete
Click to expand...

--


Mike Hall
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/
 
Vista is a different animal from XP...........if you have Vista installed
and wish to setup a dual boot I suggest you buy another Hard drive and hook
it up.
Then disconnect the drive that Vista is on and install XP onto the new
drive.This way you have 2 seperate OS installations that will not interfere
with one another.
You get to chose which one to boot from by means of the BIOS...some BIOS
have the ability to let you chose during boot by means of an F key....others
you will need to change the boot order by actually entering the BIOS and
setting the approbriate drive as 1st boot.This way is the easiest ti undo
when you decide not to dual boot anymore...just remove/format the other
drive.
The "normal" way would require you to either create a new partition for XP
or buy another drive....then install XP onto that partition/drive.This will
destroy the Vista bootloader on the original drive and only XP will boot.At
which point you would need to boot with your Vista DVD and do a "startup
repair" which would see the XP installation and create the required file
changes to create a dual boot.This would give you a choice screen when
booting.
here is a link explaining this in more detail
http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/about88231.html

peter
 
how about if I bought a new drive for my notebook. Popped out the Vista
drive, installed the new drive and loaded xp. Then I would physically have
to remove and install the drive with the OS I need. Can this be done via usb
external drive??
 
No. Windows will not run from a USB drive.

Pete C. said:
how about if I bought a new drive for my notebook. Popped out the Vista
drive, installed the new drive and loaded xp. Then I would physically have
to remove and install the drive with the OS I need. Can this be done via
usb external drive??
Click to expand...
 
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