Dual booting XP

[Guest]

Hope someone out there can help - I recently bought a Gateway laptop with
Vista Home Premium pre-loaded but I found out it's not compatible with the
Raymarine chartplotter software I need to run on it (which was the whole
purpose of buying the laptop!). The Raymarine tech support site acknoweldges
this and recommends a dual boot with XP with which it is compatible. My
question is do I have to buy the XP software even though I have paid for
Vista and what's the best way to install a dual boot system? I only intend
to ever run two programs - the chartplotter software and an internet browser.
Many tx for any help and advice.

DMac

 

[Guest]

As I myself have recently learned, Microsoft is very strict in the area of
software licensing. So, yes you will have to purchase a copy of the WinXP OS.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

You will need to buy a copy of XP. As for dual booting the easiest option is
to take a look at this link on my website:

http://vistasupport.mvps.org/install_windows_xp_on_machine_running_vista.htm

You will need to create a new partition for XP, which may mean you having to
shrink the partition you already have on your hard drive. It is not unusual
for PC manufacturer's to allocate 'all' of the hard drive for Vista's use.
If this is the case you will need to shrink the C: partition to allow for XP
to be installed (10 -15GB should be sufficient).

Another thing you should be aware of is that, if you need to restore your
Vista operating system the restoration will, again, take up the whole of the
C: drive so unless you actually image your newly created setup, i.e., Vista
partition and XP partition using, say Acronis True Image, you are going to
have to go through the process of creating the XP partition and installing
XP all over again. My advice would be to create the XP partition, install XP
and then when the dual boot is working properly image the drives to a set of
DVD's or an external hard drive (if you have one).

Less trouble still, of course, is using Virtual Machine software but,
unfortunately, installing VM software on Vista Premium will technically
invalidate the end user licence agreement. Yes it has been done, but it does
invalidate the EULA.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Guest]

Thanks very much for the link; I've always done things the old way.
We learn something every day.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

Hi Mick,

Vista is the only Windows version where you can actually install XP 'after'
Vista has been installed. Having done things the 'old way' you know how
frustrating it could be to have to install the 'old' version of windows
first followed by the new one, especially when you already have the newer
version of windows on your machine and you decide you need the older version
too for compatibility reasons.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows - Shell/User

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[Guest]

Once again; thanks John. When we look back and look at all the wasted time
deleting a brand new OS, so that we could dual boot!
The times, they are a changing!