Colin's point as to Vista restore points *when you go back to the XP boot,
is well discussed on this group, but I don't see it as a deterrent for dual
booting. If there are other major ones, I haven't run into them. The
reason I say this is that you can access nearly everything on your XP boot
from the Vista desktop. Granted, you sometimes have to take possession of
some folders via the security tab on Vista or XP due to UAC, but you'll get
used to it and it will become a 3 second chore.
I think for a large number of people a dual boot is a real convenience,
especially at the time where a number of bugs are still being worked out in
a new OS--this one called Vista--and drivers for 32 bit and 64 bit apps
won't flesh out until into spring and summer 2007 although most will be
available Feb/Mar we hope.
You can protect the Vista Restore points if your edition has Bit Locker
encryption, and there are other means that will hide the Vista install from
the XP boot if you do a search on this group or the setup group.
I suppose they will do an MSKB on this sometime soon, but I'm not sure.
Colin's point aside though, I think dual boot works extremely, well and you
can change the default boot if you feel the need easily. I find it very
helpful just to make a shortcut to your XP boot on the Vista desktop by
typing C:\(or whatever drive is XP) Documents and Settings\Stan's
Profile\Desktop and dragging the icon at the top of that folder window to
the Vista desktop and call it something like XP desktop. That way you can
access XP's desktop from Vista on a dual boot with a click. Likewise if
you're on the XP boot you can easily access Vista by typing in Vista
Drive\Users\Stan's Profile\Desktop or anyother location. This saves moving
many of your XP files and folders--time and real estate.
Another consideration is that many people are still in the stage of working
out what they will do as to buying a "new computer" or computers and I would
urge you if you can to wait, because the hardware and cost options are going
to multiply in 2-3 months as to processors and other hardware in the Vista
wake, as will deals for upgrading or buying a new PC.
The rule of thumb is always to put the older Windows OS on the box first--XP
before Vista in this case. You can run setup from XP and drive letters will
not change, or you can run from a restart using the Vista DVD, and then the
drive letters will be dictated b y the Bios. When you are on the XP boot,
they will be seen by XP as they always have been. Custom and Upgrade are
the only two options whether you boot with the dvd or start Setup from the
desktop.
I think the main thing to say is that it's a real convenience, and I've
found dual booting XP and Vista to be awfully stable. Many people have
multibooted with Linux in the equation, but if you are doing that, be sure
to read the many successful accounts.
CH
