Dual Boot Vista and XP?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stan Kay
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Stan Kay

Because hardware drivers for Vista will not be available for some time then
I would like to keep XP and am considering setting up a dual boot system.
Previously I set up dual boot with Windows 2000 and XP without a problem
and so I want to use a 150Gb hard drive set up as two 75Gb partitions (one
for XP and one for Vista). Can anyone please tell me whether there are any
issues/tips that I need to be aware of in trying to achieve my objective?
 
Install Vista after XP
Which partitioning tool are you using? I use Partition Magic.
XP will be designated under the Earlier Version of Windows boot menu
 
Yes there are issues with dual booting XP and Vista that did not happen dual
booting W2k and XP. If XP can see the Vista volume it will destroy many of
your Vista recovery options (both for the system and for files and backups)
on XP boot. Please seach this group on "volsnap.sys" for several
discussions. I cannot recommend doing it on a production or primary home
computer unless all you are doing is gaming, surfing, and email.
 
Check Colin's post for important warning and do NOT use Partition Magic
after installing Vista, and format the Vista install using its formatting
tool in advanced options. PM does not handle the version of NTFS used by
Vista properly and see the many posts about the problems created.
 
The only problem I had setting it up was that I should have started the
Vista install from within XP instead of booting up into Vista's install DVD.
If you just boot into the Vista install DVD, you can set up a separate
partition to install into. But, there won't be any boot selection menu on
startup. The only way I found to use my XP partition in that case was
through Computer Management in Vista and setting the XP partition to active.
When I tired of that, I started up XP, put the DVD in from there, and told
it to install (wiped out the old Vista partition and started over). I got
the boot menu after that.

Also, if you're going to dual boot, I'd recommend 3 partitions instead of 2.
The first one should be XP, the second Vista, and the third should be
something like Data. That way, you can get to your data regardless of which
OS is running.
 
Yeah, I know its not compatible, thats why I install XP first and then
install PM on it and create the partition within XP. Colin just notified me
about the volsnap.sys issue, I will know better next time.
 
Colin's point as to Vista restore points *when you go back to the XP boot,
is well discussed on this group, but I don't see it as a deterrent for dual
booting. If there are other major ones, I haven't run into them. The
reason I say this is that you can access nearly everything on your XP boot
from the Vista desktop. Granted, you sometimes have to take possession of
some folders via the security tab on Vista or XP due to UAC, but you'll get
used to it and it will become a 3 second chore.

I think for a large number of people a dual boot is a real convenience,
especially at the time where a number of bugs are still being worked out in
a new OS--this one called Vista--and drivers for 32 bit and 64 bit apps
won't flesh out until into spring and summer 2007 although most will be
available Feb/Mar we hope.

You can protect the Vista Restore points if your edition has Bit Locker
encryption, and there are other means that will hide the Vista install from
the XP boot if you do a search on this group or the setup group.

I suppose they will do an MSKB on this sometime soon, but I'm not sure.

Colin's point aside though, I think dual boot works extremely, well and you
can change the default boot if you feel the need easily. I find it very
helpful just to make a shortcut to your XP boot on the Vista desktop by
typing C:\(or whatever drive is XP) Documents and Settings\Stan's
Profile\Desktop and dragging the icon at the top of that folder window to
the Vista desktop and call it something like XP desktop. That way you can
access XP's desktop from Vista on a dual boot with a click. Likewise if
you're on the XP boot you can easily access Vista by typing in Vista
Drive\Users\Stan's Profile\Desktop or anyother location. This saves moving
many of your XP files and folders--time and real estate.

Another consideration is that many people are still in the stage of working
out what they will do as to buying a "new computer" or computers and I would
urge you if you can to wait, because the hardware and cost options are going
to multiply in 2-3 months as to processors and other hardware in the Vista
wake, as will deals for upgrading or buying a new PC.

The rule of thumb is always to put the older Windows OS on the box first--XP
before Vista in this case. You can run setup from XP and drive letters will
not change, or you can run from a restart using the Vista DVD, and then the
drive letters will be dictated b y the Bios. When you are on the XP boot,
they will be seen by XP as they always have been. Custom and Upgrade are
the only two options whether you boot with the dvd or start Setup from the
desktop.

I think the main thing to say is that it's a real convenience, and I've
found dual booting XP and Vista to be awfully stable. Many people have
multibooted with Linux in the equation, but if you are doing that, be sure
to read the many successful accounts.

CH
 
I use the RECOVERY console from XP boot disk to partition and format the NTFS partitions.

other software PM in particular is known to have problems with Vista.



(e-mail address removed)



Because hardware drivers for Vista will not be available for some time then
I would like to keep XP and am considering setting up a dual boot system.
Previously I set up dual boot with Windows 2000 and XP without a problem
and so I want to use a 150Gb hard drive set up as two 75Gb partitions (one
for XP and one for Vista). Can anyone please tell me whether there are any
issues/tips that I need to be aware of in trying to achieve my objective?
 
I always get the boot selection menu whether I setup a dual boot from XP or
from the Vista DVD.

Because of a glitch since Build 5492 through RTM *for me on this box, I have
to boot into the install DVD to run Vista setup. I get a false error that
setup won't run when I run from XP Build 5472 forward because "an Intel
82801BA Ultra ATA Controller driver must be replaced." This is despite
the fact that I navigated the byzantine circumferential tangential Intel
interface for updating that driver frequently. This mandates I boot from
the DVD into setup and I have not failed to get an option to boot into Vista
by default or by the previous OS. This default can be quickly changed also.

I always get this choice.

Screen Shot of Dual Boot Vista/XP Option:
http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/images/Vista Dual Boot Installation/Vista Final -0037.jpg

http://www.theeldergeekvista.com/vista_dual_boot_installation.htm

http://lifehacker.com/assets/2006/06/dualbootchoice.php


CH
 
I had no problem with the boot selection menu appearing after installing
from a Vista DVD bootup.


| The only problem I had setting it up was that I should have started the
| Vista install from within XP instead of booting up into Vista's install DVD.
| If you just boot into the Vista install DVD, you can set up a separate
| partition to install into. But, there won't be any boot selection menu on
| startup. The only way I found to use my XP partition in that case was
| through Computer Management in Vista and setting the XP partition to active.
| When I tired of that, I started up XP, put the DVD in from there, and told
| it to install (wiped out the old Vista partition and started over). I got
| the boot menu after that.
|
| Also, if you're going to dual boot, I'd recommend 3 partitions instead of 2.
| The first one should be XP, the second Vista, and the third should be
| something like Data. That way, you can get to your data regardless of which
| OS is running.
|
|
| | > Because hardware drivers for Vista will not be available for some time
| > then I would like to keep XP and am considering setting up a dual boot
| > system. Previously I set up dual boot with Windows 2000 and XP without a
| > problem and so I want to use a 150Gb hard drive set up as two 75Gb
| > partitions (one for XP and one for Vista). Can anyone please tell me
| > whether there are any issues/tips that I need to be aware of in trying to
| > achieve my objective?
|
 
I just use Diskmgmt.msc from the XP run box to format a drive for the new
Vista. But I don't think there are going to be anymore new Vistas now.
Someday they will start all this over with Blackcomb/Vienna or whatever
goofey name gets picked again. I suppose ole Fiji is Vista SP1 which will
be the usual hotfix rollups with very perfunctory, unimaginative minor nods
to all the bugs that certainly did get shipped with RTM.

I see about 500 purely Vista bug MSKBs by July if they ever get around to
writing them.

I'd be glad to write some of them if they won't.

CH


I use the RECOVERY console from XP boot disk to partition and format the
NTFS partitions.

other software PM in particular is known to have problems with Vista.



(e-mail address removed)



Because hardware drivers for Vista will not be available for some time
then
I would like to keep XP and am considering setting up a dual boot system.
Previously I set up dual boot with Windows 2000 and XP without a problem
and so I want to use a 150Gb hard drive set up as two 75Gb partitions (one
for XP and one for Vista). Can anyone please tell me whether there are
any
issues/tips that I need to be aware of in trying to achieve my objective?
 
Yes, that works well. I use it, too.

Unfortunately, only Ultimate and Enterprise users can use BitLocker.


-Michael
 
I don't know what advice we will have for the folks using the Home editions.
BitLocker won't help them since they don't have it. Any thoughts on that
one?
 
You will get a boot options screen either way. I am not sure what you did,
but the major differences between starting setup from a boot and from a
desktop is in the tools available and the drive enumeration.
 
I wish it were only the restore points. It also wipes backups, previous
versions, and CompletePC backup images (if still connected to the computer).
I haven't tried it, but I suspect it also kills the Last Known Good
Configuration as well.
 
Colin:
Yes I agree, recommending it for all versions is a major error. My
response to Andre was based on my assumption that he's still running Vista
Ultimate. Also I should know better than assume.
 
I wasn't criticizing. Your info is right. It just made me wonder what
advice we can come up with for the consumer editions. And of course Andre
is using Ultimate. He filed lots of bug reports in TechBeta. Lots.
 
Colin:
The only thing that I can think of would be a third party boot
manager. The down side would be having to explain how to setup the boot
manager properly, like it was to explain how to dual boot when x64 CPP was
released. I have to agree that not recommending dual booting with XP because
of the volsnap.sys issue is the proper recommendation at this time, unless
it is listed that the OP is using Enterprise or Ultimate and I don't foresee
a change coming.
 
I think we have to press for further info about how the user intends to use
Vista. If the user is only gaming, surfing, or reading email it is one
thing but I wouldn't want someone doing a home business to make an
uninformed decision. Such a person should be using two machines. And no
general solution can ever involve a hack, registry edits, frequent BIOS
changes, and such.

I am hoping that the folks at ProNetworks can do something in VistaBoot Pro.
That would be a simple and easy to support solution. I wouldn't mind
explaining that one here in the ng.
 
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