How should I proceed with the Vista installation, considering I want to preserve XP?

[Nehmo]

I have a Presario V2000 which runs Windows XP Home SP2. I also have a
Vista installation ISO (trial). The WindowsVistaUpgradeAdvisor.msi
says Vista home basic is the best OS for my machine. I've got plenty
of memory. I wonder why the advisor doesn't suggest another version,
like Ultimate?

Comparison of Vista versions: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choose.mspx

I also run SketchUP and Autocad 2007 (just learning). These might pose
a problem of compatibility with Vista.

So these are my options:

Install Vista

Ultimate, just to see what it's about
Home Basic, play it safe
With either of these versions, use an emulator like
Parallels http://www.parallels.com/products/workstation/ss/
Or Withe either of these versions, run those programs
in XP compatibility mode. I'm not clear if that works well.

Or Make a duel boot, Vista & XP

I don't know how to do this yet, but it sounds like the best option.
Maybe I can save my entire XP installation on a partition.
But this notebook has a funny partition for recovery. It's in FAT and
called the Recovery Partition. I don't know what complications that
would cause. The drive is only 80 G.

I'm somewhat hesitant to install Vista by itself without having the
recourse to revert back to XP, considering I'm using these two
possible problem programs.

Anybody have any suggestions? Yes, I know I could leave well enough
alone and stick with XP, but I want to see what Vista is about.

 

[pete]

here is what I did............I went and bought an External HD in a SATA/USB
enclosure.
I imaged the partition that XP was installed on from the Computer onto that
External HD by means of Acronis True Image 10. I then unhooked that drive
and restarted the system with the Vista CD...picked the XP partition as a
new install and formatted during the Vista Install.
All is working fine.........but if Vista or I screw up then I can format
that partition and using my external HD put that image back.I have already
tried it once and it worked.
peter

 

[Nehmo]

Actually, I thought about doing that. There's no space for another
drive in this laptop, so that's the only way to provide some space.

I suppose I have to buy some more stuff.

--
(||) Nehmo (||)

------------------------------------------------------

here is what I did............I went and bought an External HD in a SATA/USB
enclosure.
I imaged the partition that XP was installed on from the Computer onto that
External HD by means of Acronis True Image 10. I then unhooked that drive
and restarted the system with the Vista CD...picked the XP partition as a
new install and formatted during the Vista Install.
All is working fine.........but if Vista or I screw up then I can format
that partition and using my external HD put that image back.I have already
tried it once and it worked.

I have a Presario V2000 which runs Windows XP Home SP2. I also have a
Vista installation ISO (trial). The WindowsVistaUpgradeAdvisor.msi
says Vista home basic is the best OS for my machine. I've got plenty
of memory. I wonder why the advisor doesn't suggest another version,
like Ultimate?

Comparison of Vista versions:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/choos...

I also run SketchUP and Autocad 2007 (just learning). These might pose
a problem of compatibility with Vista.

So these are my options:

Install Vista

Ultimate, just to see what it's about
Home Basic, play it safe
With either of these versions, use an emulator like
Parallelshttp://www.parallels.com/products/workstation/ss/
Or Withe either of these versions, run those programs
in XP compatibility mode. I'm not clear if that works well.

Or Make a duel boot, Vista & XP

I don't know how to do this yet, but it sounds like the best option.
Maybe I can save my entire XP installation on a partition.
But this notebook has a funny partition for recovery. It's in FAT and
called the Recovery Partition. I don't know what complications that
would cause. The drive is only 80 G.

I'm somewhat hesitant to install Vista by itself without having the
recourse to revert back to XP, considering I'm using these two
possible problem programs.

Anybody have any suggestions? Yes, I know I could leave well enough
alone and stick with XP, but I want to see what Vista is about.

 

[Richard]

Did you format the partion (with Vista on it) with the XP CD?

Then what did you use to move the XP image back to the laptop, since the laptop
now has no OS?

Richard

here is what I did............I went and bought an External HD in a SATA/USB enclosure.
I imaged the partition that XP was installed on from the Computer onto that External HD by means
of Acronis True Image 10. I then unhooked that drive and restarted the system with the Vista
CD...picked the XP partition as a new install and formatted during the Vista Install.
All is working fine.........but if Vista or I screw up then I can format that partition and using
my external HD put that image back.I have already tried it once and it worked.
peter

 

[Kue2]

He might have used the bootable cd created with Acronis?

Did you format the partion (with Vista on it) with the XP CD?

Then what did you use to move the XP image back to the laptop, since the
laptop
now has no OS?

Richard