Dual boot Vista and XP PRO

[Don Pullem]

I'm getting a new computer with Vista installed. I want to setup a dual
boot system with XP PRO. My new system has three 250GB HDs. I understand
that Vista allows you to shrink or expand partitions. My plan is to install
XP on a 2nd partition (D) that I create on the first HD that now have Vista
(C). I also want to partition the two remaining drives. My question is if I
partition the drives using Vista disk management, when I boot to XP PRO will
it see the two drives partitions the same as they are in Vista?

Don

 

[Not Me]

Installing XP on a system with Vista already installed will break the Vista
boot manager.
Most advise to use a third oparty boot manager.
Booting to XP will wipe out your Vista rwestore points also in most cases.
I would read the old threads on that issue before installing.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi Don,

It will see the same partitions/volumes, but may letter them differently.

You will need to do a startup repair from the Vista DVD if you install XP on
the same system to recover the bootloader, so if you do not have one as part
of the preinstalled package you may not want to do this.

Also, booting into XP will destroy any restore points created in the Vista
system, it is not recommended to allow these installations to see each
other.

A better solution would be to use Virtual PC and install XP into it. This
way you maintain the integrity of your Vista installation and can still have
an XP environment to use:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/default.mspx

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[mikeyhsd]

you will need to make use of VistBootPro to restore the vista boot menu after installing xp.
it runs on xp and vista.
might dowjhload a copy in preparation of its need.

simply put installing the older os second wipes out the newer boot management information.



(e-mail address removed)



I'm getting a new computer with Vista installed. I want to setup a dual
boot system with XP PRO. My new system has three 250GB HDs. I understand
that Vista allows you to shrink or expand partitions. My plan is to install
XP on a 2nd partition (D) that I create on the first HD that now have Vista
(C). I also want to partition the two remaining drives. My question is if I
partition the drives using Vista disk management, when I boot to XP PRO will
it see the two drives partitions the same as they are in Vista?

Don

 

[Plato]

I'm getting a new computer with Vista installed. I want to setup a dual
boot system with XP PRO. My new system has three 250GB HDs. I understand

http://www.bootdisk.com/housecall/005.htm#4

 

[Ron Sommer]

If you have 3 drives, why do you need XP on the same drive with Vista?

Shrink C with Vista, but use the XP CD to partition and format the space
created.

This is for installing XP after Vista.
http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=88231

--
Ronald Sommer


: I'm getting a new computer with Vista installed. I want to setup a dual
: boot system with XP PRO. My new system has three 250GB HDs. I understand
: that Vista allows you to shrink or expand partitions. My plan is to
install
: XP on a 2nd partition (D) that I create on the first HD that now have
Vista
: (C). I also want to partition the two remaining drives. My question is if
I
: partition the drives using Vista disk management, when I boot to XP PRO
will
: it see the two drives partitions the same as they are in Vista?
:
: Don
:
:
: