Multi boot x64 and x86 Beta 2 ?

[- Bobb -]

In reading other notes here, I've seen folks say that they " use x86 and
x64 with no problems". Is it possible to install both on same PC ? My
current boot option shows 2 choices - something like:

Windows
Previous version

So if I have XP on SATA , and X64 XP Pro and Vista x86 already on IDE
, can I install Vista x64 ( if I ever download it properly) onto another
unused partition on SATA ? Or on the IDE ?
If so my boot menu would then show ?? what ?

Bobb

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

First, I suggest you download VistaBootPro from
http://www.vistabootpro.org/intro.php
and edit the two names like "XP" and "Vista x86".

You can then install Vista x64 (if you have a 64-bit machine, of course) to
an empty partition or drive by booting the machine with the dvd.

You can then edit with VBP again to name the new boot option and set your
preferred system as the default on start. The latest system added is always
the default after installation.

 

[- Bobb -]

Colin,

Let me rephrase that. I do have VBP, but my question is not the name on
the screen. Let's say that I now boot to a menu that reads
"Vista x86" and
" XP Pro"

After x64 install will I have :
"Vista x86" and
" XP Pro" and
" Windows"

It seems that when Vista creates the boot menu - there's " Vista" and "
the old menu". What if I already HAVE a vista menu - will x64 recognize
that and just add the new path giving me a third option ? That's my
question - can I have 3 options there ?
Thanks,
Bobb

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You can have a lot of options. I have three now and have had as many as
six. Your last example was probably wrong, however. After the x64
installation I think you will have
Windows
Vista x86
XP Pro

The new installation should always be first because Setup has to put its
working entry at the top. Setup needs to continue after the reboots during
installation rather than have the system drop into some other default
option.

You still have the old Boot Options. They were not overwritten. You just
didn't see the old boot options screen if there was only one OS.

But let's suppose you were already dual booting XP Home and XP Pro and were
getting a boot options screen with those two entries.
XP Home
XP Pro

Now you decide to install Vista x86. The way it was originally set up your
new boot options screen should have two entries, not three

Windows
Old Version of Windows

but Old Version of Windows is only a link to the old boot options screen.
There should be two entries for three options in this example. When you
choose Old Version of Windows you will get the second boot options screen:
XP Home
XP Pro

Now you decide to add Vista x64 so your boot options screen is
Windows
Vista x86
Old Version of Windows (leading to)
XP Home
XP Pro

That was the design. Early in Beta 1 we saw a second boot options screen no
matter what and a lot of people said it was confusing. Choosing Legacy
Windows (as it was called then) brought up a screen with not only XP but
also Vista again. That WAS confusing.

I'm not certain that the original design survived. It is possible that you
might see
Windows
Windows
Old Version of Windows
Old Version of Windows
(which you would then rename to suit yourself)

And so on. I have had boot options screens with six entries (lots of failed
installations). I don't know what the display limits are (I suspect 10) or
how many of those can be live.

 

[Jim Fraas]

Vista boot Pro is a program I DID odwnload.

Have Vista 32,Vista 64 and XP.

 

[- Bobb -]

Thanks Colin. THAT's what I was looking for ... not the order of WHAT
I'd see but that it WOULD add another line to the Vista boot menu
allowing me more than one " new boot option."
Excellent ! Thanks to all.

OK, I just thought of one more thing .... since I can do this and since
x86 install is already on a partition, can I clone that partition ( from
J to K ) and then boot K. THEN pop in the x64 dvd and upgrade that
partition (K) from x86 to x64 ? That would save me from reinstalling my
apps and the Office 2007 installs . Originally, I wanted to use x64 but
since I've been having problems getting x64 to run I used x86 - if x64
install (finally) works for me I'll probably just use that.

Bobb

 

[John Barnes]

You can't upgrade from any 86 to any 64. Also all of your registry entries
would still refer the drive as J causing you grief.

 

[- Bobb -]

You can't upgrade from any 86 to any 64. Also all of your registry
entries would still refer the drive as J causing you grief.

I was reading here some folks upgrading XP install to Vista .
Or I just can't upgrade Vista x86 to x64?

Vista referred to its boot partition as C ? ( which caused me some
alarm when I saw it on C and not J) So if I upgraded wouldn't it still
be C ?

 

[Mark D. VandenBerg]

Aren't the drive letters assigned by the O/S at boot? I am dual-booting,
and regardless of which O/S I am currently using, the system calls its home
partition "C:"

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Don't lets start that conversation again.

Aren't the drive letters assigned by the O/S at boot? I am dual-booting,
and regardless of which O/S I am currently using, the system calls its
home partition "C:"

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No. Just boot the computer with the x64 dvd and select the empty partition
when asked. You can't get there by cloning anything and you can't get there
by upgrading anything. You also can't get there by booting up XP x86 and
trying to start Vista x64 Setup from the desktop. Just boot with the dvd.

 

[- Bobb -]

OK, I'll try x64 with latest download/burn and try again.


Colin,
about your reply to my other message,
"When you burn, burn at the slowest speed permitted by your software.
MS
reports that three fourths of these problems are actually due to the
burn
speed. "

I have a problem with MY nero7 that reads the DVD speeed and after that
I can't select slower. Since the DVD burner CAN do 16x I wouldn't think
4x should be a problem.

thanks to all
Bobb

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

My slowest was 6x and went fine.

OK, I'll try x64 with latest download/burn and try again.


Colin,
about your reply to my other message,
"When you burn, burn at the slowest speed permitted by your software. MS
reports that three fourths of these problems are actually due to the burn
speed. "

I have a problem with MY nero7 that reads the DVD speeed and after that I
can't select slower. Since the DVD burner CAN do 16x I wouldn't think 4x
should be a problem.

thanks to all
Bobb