Win xp with Vista

[John]

Hi

I have a primary SATA disk in my PC with win xp installed. I now have a new
secondary SATA disk. Can I install win vista on secondary disk without
effecting the win xp on primary disk? Can I still boot into either windows?

Thanks

Regards

 

[peter]

If you install Vista onto that 2nd HD it will affect the 1st
HD...........Vista will overwrite the boot sector and replace the XP boot
files with its own inorder to give you the Dual Boot option when you start
your system...........this is the choice to boot into either XP or Vista.
If your Mobo Bios supports an F ? choice of picking which HD to boot from
during the boot process you could disconnect your 1st HD and install Vista
onto the 2nd(dont forget those SATA drivers during the install)...or you
could just enter the BIOS each time you boot and pick which HD to make 1st
boot choice.
With the 1st HD disconnected Vista cannot see it and will not change
anything on it.
peter

 

[Sam]

If you install Vista onto that 2nd HD it will affect the 1st
HD...........Vista will overwrite the boot sector and replace the XP boot
files with its own inorder to give you the Dual Boot option when you start
your system...........this is the choice to boot into either XP or Vista.
If your Mobo Bios supports an F ? choice of picking which HD to boot from
during the boot process you could disconnect your 1st HD and install Vista
onto the 2nd(dont forget those SATA drivers during the install)...or you
could just enter the BIOS each time you boot and pick which HD to make 1st
boot choice.
With the 1st HD disconnected Vista cannot see it and will not change
anything on it.
peter

I've done the same thing. With the Dell bios I hit F12 and choose which
drive to boot off of. I have Vista on the 1st and XP on the 2nd. Disconect
the 1st drive with Vista when you install XP so they won't know about each
other.

 

[carl feredeck]

yes you can, if you do it as you say it will become a dual boot system.

its funny to see replies like johns, going through all unnecessary details,
and in the end he does not give a clear answer...
I hope he never considers working for tech support.

 

[huwyngr]

yes you can, if you do it as you say it will become a dual boot system.

Except it may not work, as peter and MS say .....

This is due to the changes in VISTA booting method IIRC.

 

[Guest]

The main problem with multiboot is that Vista setup meddles with the MBR of
the disk(s) which no OS should rightfully do. Thus, you may end-up with
problems if you try to install Vista with another active disk or partition
visible.

I think you would be OK if you install Vista to a separate disk and
disconnect the XP disk during the install. You can then choose which disk to
boot from in the BIOS.

 

[huwyngr]

You can then choose which disk to boot from in the BIOS.

YUK -- or if you use a Boot Manager that hides the non VISTA drive.

 

[Plato]

I have a primary SATA disk in my PC with win xp installed. I now have a new
secondary SATA disk. Can I install win vista on secondary disk without
effecting the win xp on primary disk? Can I still boot into either windows?

It's best to to use your bios to install new OS's totally separtately
without affecting the existing install of your previous OS.