Setting up dual booting

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wasted
  • Start date Start date
W

Wasted

Hi

I've just got a new computer with Vista. I want to set up a dual boot system
so that I can also access XP.

I have read that this is much easier to do if XP is the first OS, followed
by installing Vista, but I can't do that.

I have also read that it can still be done by creating a new partition from
within Vista, then installing XP into that. I understand that this process
will overwrite the Vista boot loader and the computer will then only boot
into XP, but that a programme called VistaBoot PRO can then be used to reset
that, and you are then left with dual-booting.

But has anyone had any experience of doing this? Or are there any
foreseeable problems.

E.g. - when I start installing XP, will it need access to the
motherboard/graphics card drivers?

One thing I'm wondering about is, at the stage where I can only boot into
XP, the hard disk is a SATA one (no RAID set up) and I seem to recall XP
having issues with these at boot-up?

All constructive comments welcome with thanks.
 
Hi,

XP will need to be fed the sata drivers via floppy (it doesn't offer any
other method) during setup. VistaBootPro, as you have read, can take care of
the dual boot setup.

As to motherboard and graphic drivers, there will probably be some in XP
setup to handle the initial installation, you can install more up to date
ones afterwards.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Check this link from my website:
http://vistasupport.mvps.org/install_windows_xp_on_machine_running_vista.htm

It is easy enough to set up but, as Rick say's, you may have to install SATA
drivers via floppy. Having said that I Installed XP (as a stand alone) on a
brand new computer (now 5 months old) when I first purchased it and XP
actually picked up the SATA drive without any problem, so I suppose it all
depends upon how old your PC is. Incidentally the copy of XP included SP2.

One other point to mention is that when you boot to XP you will loose all
system restore points on your Vista partition, so it is wise to image your
drives regularly. I did see a work around which prevented this some months
ago, but it looks as if I either deleted the information or forgot to save
it (I was looking for something else at he time:-)


--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
Chad Harris said:
Hey Wasted--

This is easy. Many advantages. There are hundreds of posts on this group
and setup about boat loader problems, how to recover them using two
popular apps or remedies with Windows, or outside it, but I haven't had
those problems.

This usually works just fine.

How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) -- the
step-by-step guide

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed_first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm
Click to expand...
Thanks Chad - could I ask why the guide talks about using the Vista CD to
shrink the original volume and setup a partition? Other instructions I've
seen have used Administrative Tools from within Vista to shrink the original
volume and then let XP create the partition when installing it. Or is it
just different ways of doing the same thing?
 
Recent PCs can boot onto the disk of your choosing, and for safety reasons
I'd like the non Vista OS to go onto a different physical disk.

My problem is that my recent D*ll motherboard can handle only 2 SATA drives,
and both are in use (one for system, one for data; I refuse to use Vista's
'My Documents' stuff because I want my data to be independent of the OS).

I know you can buy (with some difficulty) a PCI card for external SATA
drives: would this work for booting onto XP or a Linux distribution?

Regards
 
Wasted--

The major reason to use the Vista CD is to help repair the bootloader using
Startup Repair given that you're in the situation of not installing the
older OS first which is much preferred.

Easy BCD in that example will install the option of two entries in the
bootloader. It also will facilitate getting rid of XP should you opt to
then do that.

CH
 
Both Windows Vista and XP refuse to install on an external drive. I'm not
sure about a PCI connected drive, but I assume that would be the same. I've
tried installing to a USB external drive (my computer, as you say, does
recognise and can boot from a USB drive) but have always got a 'cannot
install to this media' error message.

As for Linux I'm not sufficiently knowledgeable about the why's and
wherefore's of the Linux operating system so I can't give a qualified
opinion. There are other user's on this newsgroup who are more qualified
than I to answer that question and maybe they will give an opinion, Alias
for example?


--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
Hi

I've just got a new computer with Vista. I want to set up a dual boot system
so that I can also access XP.

I have read that this is much easier to do if XP is the first OS, followed
by installing Vista, but I can't do that.

I have also read that it can still be done by creating a new partition from
within Vista, then installing XP into that. I understand that this process
will overwrite the Vista boot loader and the computer will then only boot
into XP, but that a programme called VistaBoot PRO can then be used to reset
that, and you are then left with dual-booting.

But has anyone had any experience of doing this? Or are there any
foreseeable problems.

E.g. - when I start installing XP, will it need access to the
motherboard/graphics card drivers?
No.


One thing I'm wondering about is, at the stage where I can only boot into
XP, the hard disk is a SATA one (no RAID set up) and I seem to recall XP
having issues with these at boot-up?
Click to expand...

There shouldn't be any booting problem.
All constructive comments welcome with thanks.
Click to expand...
1. Determine whether you need Windows XP SATA drivers during setup by
booting from the XP CD and going through the new install setup screens
until you reach the screen that shows the disks. If the hard drive
does not appear, then you need the Windows XP AHCI/RAID drivers for
the SATA interface on the motherboard. Exit setup using F3-F3.

2. Boot Vista and identify the devices (chipset, lan, graphics, etc.)
in your computer by using a program such as Belarc Advisor. Then
download the Windows XP drivers for those devices.

3. You should now be ready to install Windows XP.
 
1. Determine whether you need Windows XP SATA drivers during setup by
booting from the XP CD and going through the new install setup screens
until you reach the screen that shows the disks. If the hard drive
Click to expand...

XP seems to recognize SATA drives on Intel chipsets just fine.
Anything else, Via, Nvidia, or SiS, seems to require the F6 procedure.
2. Boot Vista and identify the devices (chipset, lan, graphics, etc.)
in your computer by using a program such as Belarc Advisor. Then
download the Windows XP drivers for those devices.
Click to expand...

Hmmm, well, if it's a Via board go to via.com.tw, etc. It's not
typically necessary to identify the *exact* chipset; you're likely to find
a "unified" driver set anyway, in fact usually a floppy image is available.


Or just look on the CD that came with the motherboard...
 
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