Vista XP Dualboot - clean slate

Tain

Tain

Tain

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Ok, I've been checking around the net for the best way to dual boot with vista and XP. Now all solutions that I can see assume that XP is already installed.

However, I have 2 brand new HDs that I want to install, thereby starting with a clean slate. Whats the best way to go about this;

Vista and XP on the same HD or seperate?

Vista installed first or XP installed first?

Is there anyway to 'clone' my existing vista install (which works fine, its just on an old and small HD) - I mean could I copy the contents of my old HD and overwrite a new vista install or is that just a whole world of trouble?

Any advice is appreciated, I'm taking this on later today and will report back any problems I hit for future reference! :)
 
Tain said:
Ok, I've been checking around the net for the best way to dual boot with vista and XP. Now all solutions that I can see assume that XP is already installed.

However, I have 2 brand new HDs that I want to install, thereby starting with a clean slate. Whats the best way to go about this;

Vista and XP on the same HD or seperate?

Vista installed first or XP installed first?

Is there anyway to 'clone' my existing vista install (which works fine, its just on an old and small HD) - I mean could I copy the contents of my old HD and overwrite a new vista install or is that just a whole world of trouble?

Any advice is appreciated, I'm taking this on later today and will report back any problems I hit for future reference! :)
Click to expand...

What I did was insert my new hard drive (1 x 250 gb) and split it like 25/25/200 (about).

The install XP on the "first partition", installed the drivers and updates and then rebooted.

I then installed Vista on the "second parititon" which then gives you a nice Vista boot manager so you can then choose your os.

Hope this helps
 
Yeah you need to install XP first since Vista uses a different Boot menu. If you install xp after Vista you'll have issues. (which could be fixed easy anyway) To make life easy XP then Vista.
Also don't think it makes much diff where you install them. Personally I'd stick one on each HD, but two partitions on one drive will be fine.
 
Microsoft KB suggests you should install your older OS first and then Vista.


If you already have it installed, just install vista on the partition or another hard drive- I installed it on another hard drive and dual boot works fine.
 
First install XP, then install Vista on a separate partition or harddisk (i have it on a separate partition without problems)

As for moving your current Vista install you can not just copy paste the files you need a cloning program but if that works with Vista I don't know.
 
After trying it on an old 40 gig "testa" HD, I now have it on my 250 Gig - with a partition of 150/100 (Vista/XP). "Old version" on boot is XP of course.

I was wondering if i could port over all my files from the xp partition should I wish, to make my drive/OS "All-vista" taking up all 250Gig, instead of having to reboot everytime I wish to use Software that is on XP.


-Ant
 
So, it works fine if you have XP on one HD and then install Vista on a 2nd HD? When you turn the PC on it gives you an option which to boot to?
 
TC1 said:
So, it works fine if you have XP on one HD and then install Vista on a 2nd HD? When you turn the PC on it gives you an option which to boot to?
Click to expand...

Only if on the same drive, partitioned with Vista on one, XP on two. With different [physical drives] you can choose which to start by using Boot selection (priority) in BIOS I would have thought. :)
 
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A word of warning for dual booters. If you boot into XP then you will lose all your Vista Shadow Volume Copies, your Vista System backups and your Vista Restore points. The only work-a-round is to disable to drive with those files on.
Just in case you might be relying on any of those backups, I thought you might need to be aware of this feature.
 
the-void said:
A word of warning for dual booters. If you boot into XP then you will lose all your Vista Shadow Volume Copies, your Vista System backups and your Vista Restore points. The only work-a-round is to disable to drive with those files on.
Just in case you might be relying on any of those backups, I thought you might need to be aware of this feature.
Click to expand...

Yes, thanks for that, i found that out when i tried to system restore on Vista - there was NO restore points :( How would I disable the drive in windows..???


What i was thinking in long(er) term, was geting a new HD to go along with my 250 Gig Sata I have already. Would I be able to make these drives totally independent of each other? meaning that XP and Vista don't know each other :) ?

Also, it would be useful to boot from Vista/XP i(f using separate Drives), without having to keep going into BIOS and selecting Boot sequence....

Thanks

-Ant
 
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