Already have vista, needing to add XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mindie Thomas
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Mindie Thomas

It is possible that I will be taking on a job that requires me to have XP on
my system. Obviously I do not want to purchase a new computer since this
one is only a couple months old. I was told that I could partition off my
hard drive and create an XP section.

Is this something I can do or should I have a computer expert do it?
 
Like many things in life: It's easy if you know what you're doing. If
you don't think of yourself as technically inclined, by all means ask a
professional to do it for you.
 
It is possible that I will be taking on a job that requires me to have XPon
my system.  Obviously I do not want to purchase a new computer since this
one is only a couple months old.  I was told that I could partition offmy
hard drive and create an XP section.

Is this something I can do or should I have a computer expert do it?
Click to expand...

If you are not complete "comfortable" in changing any thing in
Windows, it can be complex in resizing the Vista partition, in order
to create unallocated disk space required to create a XP partition.

Also, depending on the job, would not your employer provide the XP
system?
 
In addition to Leonard's response, it is hard to imagine a job that requires that you must have
Windows XP.
What is it that you believe you cannot do on computer with Windows Vista?

| Like many things in life: It's easy if you know what you're doing. If
| you don't think of yourself as technically inclined, by all means ask a
| professional to do it for you.
| ---
| Leonard Grey
| Errare humanum est
|
| Mindie Thomas wrote:
| > It is possible that I will be taking on a job that requires me to have
| > XP on my system. Obviously I do not want to purchase a new computer
| > since this one is only a couple months old. I was told that I could
| > partition off my hard drive and create an XP section.
| >
| > Is this something I can do or should I have a computer expert do it?
| >
 
A desktop or a laptop? Do you own a copy of Windows XP that can be
installed on the new computer? Have you ever installed Windows XP? Can
you get all the drivers for your computer for Windows XP? Have you ever
installed or changed a hard drive in a computer?

In my opinion the safest way to do this is to put another hard drive in
the computer and install Windows XP on that drive and then use
VistaBootPRO to add the XP installation to the Vista boot menu.
http://www.vistabootpro.org/ While you install Windows XP
disconnect/remove the power to the Vista drive or disable it in the
BIOS, this will remove the risk of errors and damage to your Vista
installation while you install XP, after XP is successfully installed
you can bring the Vista drive back online. If you don't want to spend
on another hard drive then you will have to use partitioning software to
create a new partition for Windows XP.

John
 
It is possible that I will be taking on a job that requires me to have XP on
my system. Obviously I do not want to purchase a new computer since this
one is only a couple months old. I was told that I could partition off my
hard drive and create an XP section.
Click to expand...


Or you could replace Vista with XP on your computer.

Is this something I can do or should I have a computer expert do it?
Click to expand...


The answer to that question depends on what skills you have. I can't
answer it for you, other that to say that if you feel the need to ask
the question, it suggests that you probably don't have the skills to
do it yourself.
 
Mindie Thomas said:
It is possible that I will be taking on a job that requires me to have XP
on my system. Obviously I do not want to purchase a new computer since
this one is only a couple months old. I was told that I could partition
off my hard drive and create an XP section.

Is this something I can do or should I have a computer expert do it?
Click to expand...


If your new work demands XP, presumably your computer has to be able to join
the works domain, in which case you will need to get XP Pro..
 
Mindie said:
It is possible that I will be taking on a job that requires me to have
XP on my system. Obviously I do not want to purchase a new computer
since this one is only a couple months old. I was told that I could
partition off my hard drive and create an XP section.

Is this something I can do or should I have a computer expert do it?
Click to expand...


First and foremost, if the specific computer model in question was
designed specifically for Vista, there may well be no WinXP-specific
device drivers available to make the computer's diverse components work
properly. If this proves to be the case , installing WinXP in a virtual
machine would be your best - possibly only - option, anyway. Consult
the computer's manufacturer about the availability of device drivers.
Secondly, adding another OS might void any support agreements and,
sometimes, even the warranty. Again, consult the computer's
manufacturer for specifics.

If WinXP do device drivers exist, then you can proceed.

Normally, the older OS must be installed first unless you wish to
acquire and use some 3rd-party partition and boot management utility.
(In which case you have to follow the instructions provided by whatever
3rd party solution you select.) However, this KB Article (not for the
faint of heart or technically-challenged) explains how to repair the
Vista boot process after installing WinXP:

Windows Vista no longer starts after you install an earlier version of
the Windows operating system in a dual-boot configuration
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919529

MS-MVP John Barnett's Guide is considerably more user-friendly:
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/install_windows_xp_on_machine_running_vista.htm

However, dual-booting is no longer necessary in a great many
situations. Why not download a Virtual Machine application, such as
Microsoft's VirtualPC 2007
(http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.asp?) or Innotek's VirtualBox
(http://www.virtualbox.org/) and run WinXP and your legacy applications
within a virtual computer? Both are free and work with Vista.

NOTE: Microsoft does not support the use of VirtualPC 2007 on Vista
Home editions, but several people have reported that it works. Your
results may vary.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
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