V I S TA I N S T A L L A T I O N B A S I C S

[Steve UK]

I have my hard drive partitioned with Windows XP and program files only on
the C: partition. My docs, music and temp files all have their own
partitions.

I want to install Vista RC 1.

What problems am I likely to encounter? I am aware of software compatibility
issues but am more concerned with how to get both OS's running on the one
computer.

Can anyone suggest a good method of installation for a computer with a hard
drive like mine?

thanks.

 

[Jon_Hildrum]

Install Vista on a different partition than WinXP (i.e not on C). Vista will
automatically install a boot manager to let you select vista or XP during
boot up.

 

[mikeyhsd]

you need a separate partition/hard drive to install vista and retain you existing windows installation.



(e-mail address removed)



I have my hard drive partitioned with Windows XP and program files only on
the C: partition. My docs, music and temp files all have their own
partitions.

I want to install Vista RC 1.

What problems am I likely to encounter? I am aware of software compatibility
issues but am more concerned with how to get both OS's running on the one
computer.

Can anyone suggest a good method of installation for a computer with a hard
drive like mine?

thanks.

 

[Steve UK]

ok. the programs are installed on the same partition as xp. will i have to
install them on the vista partition as well?

you need a separate partition/hard drive to install vista and retain you
existing windows installation.



(e-mail address removed)



I have my hard drive partitioned with Windows XP and program files only on
the C: partition. My docs, music and temp files all have their own
partitions.

I want to install Vista RC 1.

What problems am I likely to encounter? I am aware of software compatibility
issues but am more concerned with how to get both OS's running on the one
computer.

Can anyone suggest a good method of installation for a computer with a hard
drive like mine?

thanks.

 

[Guest]

Yes you will have to install programs that you wish to run from Vista on it's
partition, otherwise they will not exist as far as Vista is concerned.

 

[Guest]

Steve,

Vista installation like you stated is very easy. My computer is set up very
similarly to yours.

I have my hard drive partitioned into 3 drives. One is XP and its programs,
one is my data files (changed My Docs to point to X:\Home.), and the third is
Vista OS and its programs.

Initially, my third Vista partition was blank. I booted to the CD, chose
Custom Settings, and picked which partition to install to. As a side note,
there is an Advanced Options button here that contains formatting
functionality.

Click install and the Vista installer will do the rest. At one point it will
ask for your product ID which I recommend you enter. You'll name the computer
and do a few other basic things. But for the most part, it's automated.

I don't know how much you know about Windows OSes, but they have a thing
called the Registry that Windows uses to store settings. The vast majority of
today's regular-use software (such as MS Office) store settings in the
registry, and many of those settings are entered during setup. The individual
files may be in c:\Program Files\Program Name, but without the registry
settings, they're essentially worthless. When you install Vista on a separate
partition (clean install, no upgrade), there is no record of installed
programs on other partitions. In order to use that program in Vista, you have
to install it in Vista.

If you do an upgrade on an existing installation, the registry settings
SHOULD migrate.

 

[Guest]

Steve,

Vista installation like you stated is very easy. My computer is set up very
similarly to yours.

I have 3 partitions on my hard drive. One is XP and its programs, one is my
data files (changed My Docs to point to X:\Home.), and the third is Vista OS
and its programs.

Initially, my third Vista partition was blank. I booted to the CD, chose
Custom Settings, and picked which partition to install to. (As a side note,
there is an Advanced Options button here that contains formatting
functionality.)

Click install and the Vista installer will do the rest. At one point it will
ask for your product ID which I recommend you enter. You'll name the computer
and do a few other basic things. But for the most part, it's automated.

Now regarding programs...

I don't know how much you know about Windows OSes, but they have a thing
called the Registry that Windows uses to store settings. The vast majority of
today's regular-use software (such as MS Office) store settings in the
registry, and many of those settings are entered during setup. The individual
files may be in c:\Program Files\Program Name, but without the registry
settings, they're essentially worthless. When you install Vista on a separate
partition (clean install, no upgrade), there is no record of installed
programs on other partitions. In order to use that program in Vista, you have
to install it in Vista.

If you do an upgrade on an existing installation, the registry settings
SHOULD migrate.

 

[Guest]

Steve,

Vista installation like you stated is very easy. My computer is set up very
similarly to yours.

I have 3 partitions on my hard drive. One is XP and its programs, one is my
data files (changed My Docs to point to X:\Home.), and the third is Vista OS
and its programs.

Initially, my third Vista partition was blank. I booted to the CD, chose
Custom Settings, and picked which partition to install to. (As a side note,
there is an Advanced Options button here that contains formatting
functionality.)

Click install and the Vista installer will do the rest. At one point it will
ask for your product ID which I recommend you enter. You'll name the computer
and do a few other basic things. But for the most part, it's automated.

Now regarding programs...

I don't know how much you know about Windows OSes, but they have a thing
called the Registry that Windows uses to store settings. The vast majority of
today's regular-use software (such as MS Office) store settings in the
registry, and many of those settings are entered during setup. The individual
files may be in c:\Program Files\Program Name, but without the registry
settings, they're essentially worthless. When you install Vista on a separate
partition (clean install, no upgrade), there is no record of installed
programs on other partitions. In order to use that program in Vista, you have
to install it in Vista.

If you do an upgrade on an existing installation, the registry settings
SHOULD migrate.

 

[Guest]

Steve,

Vista installation like you stated is very easy. My computer is set up very
similarly to yours.

I have 3 partitions on my hard drive. One is XP and its programs, one is my
data files (changed My Docs to point to X:\Home.), and the third is Vista OS
and its programs.

Initially, my third Vista partition was blank. I booted to the CD, chose
Custom Settings, and picked which partition to install to. (As a side note,
there is an Advanced Options button here that contains formatting
functionality.)

Click install and the Vista installer will do the rest. At one point it will
ask for your product ID which I recommend you enter. You'll name the computer
and do a few other basic things. But for the most part, it's automated.

Now regarding programs...

I don't know how much you know about Windows OSes, but they have a thing
called the Registry that Windows uses to store settings. The vast majority of
today's regular-use software (such as MS Office) store settings in the
registry, and many of those settings are entered during setup. The individual
files may be in c:\Program Files\Program Name, but without the registry
settings, they're essentially worthless. When you install Vista on a separate
partition (clean install, no upgrade), there is no record of installed
programs on other partitions. In order to use that program in Vista, you have
to install it in Vista.

If you do an upgrade on an existing installation, the registry settings
SHOULD migrate.