Installing Vista but wanting to keep XP.

truebluecfc · 30 Jul 2007 at 01:17

Okay, in under a month I'm gonna need Vista for a few DX10 Games such as Bioshock.

What i want to know is, is it possible for me to install Vista on another partition giving me time to sort all my programs, install all my games etc whilst still being able to go on XP, then if i find i have no problems with it delete the XP Partition or is it better to just format my Harddrive completly and put a fresh install of Vista on as it may be "cleaner" or w/e, i have 1 WD 500GB AAKS SATA-II Harddrive, thnx in advance.

weescott · 30 Jul 2007 at 01:33

Yes. Dual boot is straight forward. You will get an option in the bios asking what OS you want to boot with.

Ecl · 30 Jul 2007 at 09:31

weescott said:
Yes. Dual boot is straight forward. You will get an option in the bios asking what OS you want to boot with.

Sorry for the hijack but is there a basic dual-boot tutorial, I want to do the same.

Dw, there are loads on google - duh

stickroad · 30 Jul 2007 at 10:51

If you have partioned your Hard Drive already, say 250GB on each partion.

XP is on one then all your games and documents on the other right.

Just format the partion with your games on etc....., then just install Vista on that empty partion.

Once its installed you wont have to do anything other than when you boot your pc up, choose either XP or Vista, so easy. :cool:

Its when you install Vista first and then XP, it starts getting complicated.

Dual Booting is a fantastic way to experience Vista.

truebluecfc · 30 Jul 2007 at 20:17

Thnx for your help but can i ask a few more question quickly.

What do you think is the best way to partition everything on a single 500GB HD, obviuosly 2 for XP & Vista but what about games, program files & music for example.

Also when i install XP and all my program files on 1 Partition then Vista on another would i need to install the same programs again on the Vista partition or should i just have XP & Vista by themselfs on a partition with another partition for all my program files.

I've also read about X-Images(?) and this Norton Ghost where if i understand it correctly copys a certain partition and if anything goes wrong with it you can use this Norton Ghost to restore what you had previuosly, if so how big are these images and is it advisable to make a partition purely for keeping these images on.

Garyj881 · 30 Jul 2007 at 21:20

With a 500gb drive i would have

C: Vista (100gb)
D: XP (100gb)
E: back up (265b)

I' m sure when the drive is formatted it is only 465 out of the 500gb :eek:

EDIT

You could create a directory for installs and share that between the two os.

Example

C: Vista (50gb)
D: XP (50gb)
E: Installs (100gb)
F: Back up (265gb)

For example installing a game.

Boot into xp or vista and install the game but not to your "C" drive but "E", once the game is installed and say you wont it to be available in XP, right you have to install again to make the nessicerry registry entries, so what i would do is install it on the other drive then remove the installed program files from the drive as they are already in your install directory.

Then simply copy the game short cut from the install directory to the the "XP" desktop.

Hope that made sense.

truebluecfc · 30 Jul 2007 at 21:28

Garyj881 said:
With a 500gb drive i would have

C: Vista (100gb)
D: XP (100gb)
E: back up (265b)

I' msure when the drive is formatted it is only 465 out of the 500gb

If the version of vista is 32 bit you could create a directory for installs and share that between the two os.

Thnx for the reply and yeh it sais 465GB, anyways i have Vista 64 so would i have to install all my program files for both OS partitions or would it be easier and would it work if i had a made a seperate partition for Program Files, same goes for Games.

Garyj881 · 30 Jul 2007 at 21:37

Its up to you how you personalize it.

I don't think you install every thing to install directory, as some programs will be put in place on the install of the operating system.

Just think you could say install a game on XP and two months later want to format, and you wouldn't lose any part of the game.

All you would have to do is reinstall somewhere else other than the install directory (putting the relavent registry entries in place), then delete it and use the short cut again from the install directory and you be back to where you were.

Marse · 30 Jul 2007 at 21:51

Don’t take offence but have you actually done this Garyj881 and does it work?

Cupra · 30 Jul 2007 at 21:57

Garyj881 said:
Just think you could say install a game on XP and two months later want to format, and you wouldn't lose any part of the game.

thats wrong m8 u will have to re install the game for the registy files and the ones that go into windows dir, not all the game files go in to the game install folder you will be missing files if you tried to play that game dll's ect

Click to expand...

El Jimben · 30 Jul 2007 at 22:59

paul_64l said:
Garyj881 said:

Just think you could say install a game on XP and two months later want to format, and you wouldn't lose any part of the game.

thats wrong m8 u will have to re install the game for the registy files and the ones that go into windows dir, not all the game files go in to the game install folder you will be missing files if you tried to play that game dll's ect

Click to expand...

I think he's right, I have games installed on D: but I recently formatted C: which is my Windows partition and I ended up having to reinstall a lot of the games again except Steam mind you, which was suprising!

Click to expand...

squiffy · 30 Jul 2007 at 23:02

Created dual boot system, but instead of display "Windows XP Pro" on the selection menu, it says "Earler version of windows"

How do I change this to Windows XP Pro? :confused:

truebluecfc · 30 Jul 2007 at 23:11

So if i wanted to be able to use the same programs/games for both XP & Vista i would have to either install them twice on each partition or could i just create a seperate partition for Program Files and games and be able to use them in both XP & Vista, sorry if i sound daft but want to get it right first time.

Pkiely · 30 Jul 2007 at 23:14

Enable hidden files on your folder options, go to your C:/ then there should be a file called .. fk I can't remember, boot something? but then you open that with notepad and you can name that entry whatever you like, just don't change the path it uses.
google wins -> use this for more details if you like.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022

squiffy · 30 Jul 2007 at 23:22

I know that's the way to do it in XP, but Vista is different. Something to do with bcdedit or something like that

squiffy · 30 Jul 2007 at 23:37

truebluecfc said:
So if i wanted to be able to use the same programs/games for both XP & Vista i would have to either install them twice on each partition or could i just create a seperate partition for Program Files and games and be able to use them in both XP & Vista, sorry if i sound daft but want to get it right first time.

It's not like the good old DOS days, where a OS change meant games worked. I find some games just don't work after a OS wipe (previous install) And installing applications install there own system files.

So you'll need to install them twice. For program files not too bad, but bit impossible for games.

truebluecfc · 30 Jul 2007 at 23:57

squiffy said:
It's not like the good old DOS days, where a OS change meant games worked. I find some games just don't work after a OS wipe (previous install) And installing applications install there own system files.

So you'll need to install them twice. For program files not too bad, but bit impossible for games.

Damn, is it not possible to make a seperate partition just for games? or will i really need to install them twice on both OS Partitions, i was thinking of doing this "if" possible so everything worked for both OS's

Partition 1 - XP Home Edition SP2 [ 25GB ]
Partition 2 - Vista Home Premium 64-bit [ 45GB ]
How big are XP & Vista?
Partition 3 - Program Files [ 60GB ]
Partition 4 - Games [ 150GB ]
Partition 5 - Music [ 100GB ]
Partition 6 - Backup Images (such as Norton Ghost) [ 85GB ]
Anyone any clues how big these are?

If this isnt possible then I'll just make 2 x 232.5GB Partitions and install all DX9 Games on the XP Partition and all the DX10 Games on Vista.

james.miller · 30 Jul 2007 at 23:59

squiffy said:
I know that's the way to do it in XP, but Vista is different. Something to do with bcdedit or something like that

http://www.vistabootpro.org/

truebluecfc said:
Damn, is it not possible to make a seperate partition just for games?

you can make any amount of partitions you like. try your games. if they dont work on the new os then just install them again in a new folder.

squiffy · 31 Jul 2007 at 00:04

Excluding paging file, and after tidyup (deleting $*.* updates) Windows XP Pro is 3GB. Fresh install (done today, both XP Pro and Vista)

Installed software- Opera, Nero 7 (Burning ROM only), Winamp, AVG.

Windows Vista is 9.2GB. Not deleted $*.* updates (can't find them) same software, Opera, Nero 7 (Burning ROM only), Winamp, AVG. Again excluding paging file.#

cheers for that

truebluecfc · 31 Jul 2007 at 00:16

Thnx guys, ha didnt relise XP was that small

Well I'm gonna try the Partitions how i mentioned with obviuosly smaller size Partitions for Vista and XP as i didn't relise them being that small.

Partition 1 - XP Home Edition SP2 [ 5GB ]
Partition 2 - Vista Home Premium 64-bit [ 15GB ]
Partition 3 - Program Files [ 70GB ]
Partition 4 - Games [ 150GB ]
Partition 5 - Music [ 100GB ]
Partition 6 - Backup [ 100GB ]

and 16GB left over which is fine as if i ever need any more space I can just use Partition Manager and change the Partition Size, If this doesnt work out eg; some games/programs dont work then I'll just make 2 Partitions, one for Vista and one for XP no problem.