Double OS installation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sdruws
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Sdruws

I am planning to purchase a Vaio SZ model, which comes with Vista OS.
I do not want to use Vista now due to well known incompatibilities with many
programs I run at the moment.
On the other hand, I do not want to uninstall Vista.
I want to simultaneously install XP Pro in the computer, so that I have
option to start with Vista or XP Pro.
How can I make this double installation ?
As I have an external USB drive, should be better to install XP Pro on it ?
What should be the whole procedure step by step, as I am novice in this
operation ??
 
At the present time Microsoft does not support installing or booting any
of its operating systems on USB drives. You will not be able to get
that to work. Before the technical purists jump in here and say that it
can be done, I can only say that it is also possible to go to the moon
but few people can actually go.

It may be possible to install Windows XP on the Vaio after Vista is
installed, it isn't all that complicated but it does require a bit of
technical know how. Before you even try it you should make sure that
Windows XP drivers are available for the laptop. You will also have to
do some partitioning work to create a separate partition for Windows XP.
You will have to make sure that you do not damage the restore
partition (if the laptop has one) or make sure that you have another
method of restoring Vista and all its driver should things go wrong.
You will need a method of restoring the Vista boot manager after you
install Windows XP. If you feel up to it then all there really is to it
is to install XP on a second partition then use the Vista DVD or another
method to restore the Vista boot manager to the MBR.

John
 
Many thanks. It helped a lot.
Please note that Vaio keps the original OS plus a bunch of crap in a
separated hidden partition, in addition to drive C.
Guess I will have to make another partition ( Drive D ) and then try to see
if XP Pro accepts it.
With ttl 160 GB space in original drive C, feel no problems spacewise to
work with some 100 GB in drve C and balance in drive D.
Or no ?????
Will use external USB only for files.
 
If you keep your personal files off the internal drive then you can have
a smaller drive for XP. 25GB is plenty big. If you want to keep some
files you will be quite safe with 40GB. For the large disk (BigLBA)
make sure that your Windows XP installation cd is slipstreamed to at
least SP1, otherwise you may have issues trying to install, the setup
program may not see all of the disk because of the LBA 137 GB limit.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/303013

John
 
PS. I forgot about an issue with Restore Points when dual booting
Windows XP with Vista. Reading a post by MVP Bert Kinney in another
group has jogged my memory about the issue. You should read here for
more information:

System Restore points and other recovery features in Windows Vista are
affected when you dual-boot with Windows XP
http://bertk.mvps.org/html/dualboot.html

John
 
Sdruws said:
I am planning to purchase a Vaio SZ model, which comes with Vista OS.
I do not want to use Vista now due to well known incompatibilities with
many programs I run at the moment.
On the other hand, I do not want to uninstall Vista.
I want to simultaneously install XP Pro in the computer, so that I have
option to start with Vista or XP Pro.
How can I make this double installation ?
As I have an external USB drive, should be better to install XP Pro on it
?
What should be the whole procedure step by step, as I am novice in this
operation ??
Click to expand...


You may find that you will get sufficient funtionality for your needs by
loading XP into Virtual PC, at least this will get around the destruction of
Vista restore points problem when you dual boot XP and Vista.

Microsoft Virtual PC
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx
 
It will take a lot of time to swallow all these friendly advices, for a
naive like me.
But in honor to my friends, I promiss to go over and over till I get it all.
Many thanks to all.
 
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