Howard said:
Can Windows XP Pro be installed AFTER Vista Ultimate to create a dual boot
system?
Yes, but not easily. 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
Before proceeding:
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 you best option, anyway. Consult the computer's
manufacturer about the availability of device drivers. Secondly, adding
another OS may void any and all support agreements and, sometimes, even
the warranty. You would, at the very least, have to re-install Vista
before getting any support from the manufacturer. Again, consult the
computer's manufacturer for specifics.
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 Win2K 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
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