XP/Vista Dual Boot Question

DanSireUK · 2 Feb 2007 at 20:48

I have installed XP on a second hard disk with the Vista disk disconnected. So I can effectively boot into either OS by adjusting the boot priority in the bios.

However, I would like to add XP to the Vista boot menu. Is this possible, and if so, how?

I have tried using VistaBootPro to add a legacy OS entry for the drive that XP is installed on but when selecting it from the list on bootup the system just restarts.

It would be really great if I could get around this without having to reinstall either OS.

Thanks for any help!

iMacMart · 2 Feb 2007 at 20:52

You need to have both OS's on the same hard drive but on seperate partitions is my understand?!

J.B · 2 Feb 2007 at 21:16

my situation is I have XP on my 1st SATA and Vista on my secondary. XP was there originally, when i installed Vista it detected XP and made the boot menu with Windows Vista and Earlier version of windows.
When you select Earlier version.... it goes through into boot.ini in XP. to edit the boot list i beleive you now need to use bcedit.exe

Interestingly whatever drive I boot from it always sees the systen disk as C:\

KillBoY_UK · 2 Feb 2007 at 21:43

can i have a XP and VISTA install on the Same Partion for a duel boot ? is vista and XP deul boot easy to do ?

Colbaker · 3 Feb 2007 at 00:57

I have Vista and XP dual booting no probs, I installed XP first and the Vista, Vista see's the other OS and makes it's own boot menu, You ca have it on 2 hard drives or on 2 partitions, Not to sure about on the same partition, In XP this was possible as you could choose a differant folder to install windows in but i don't get that option on the Vista install (or have not seen it).

the-void · 3 Feb 2007 at 07:52

You can dual boot with Vista on disk and XP on another, not just different partitions. However, it is advisable to install XP first, then Vista 2nd. So you get the Vista boot menu. If you do it the other way around you will need to install your own boot loader. (Acronis, or similar). And if you do dual boot, do not rely on any shadow volume copies, system restore points and system backups in Vista, as booting into XP erases them.

turbotoes · 3 Feb 2007 at 10:01

the-void said:
You can dual boot with Vista on disk and XP on another, not just different partitions. However, it is advisable to install XP first, then Vista 2nd. So you get the Vista boot menu. If you do it the other way around you will need to install your own boot loader. (Acronis, or similar). And if you do dual boot, do not rely on any shadow volume copies, system restore points and system backups in Vista, as booting into XP erases them.

the bit about the restore points disappearing is interesting, and a bit strange? surely booting into xp should not disturb restore points in vista :confused:

the-void · 3 Feb 2007 at 11:09

You would think so, wouldn't you. But it does. The only work a round from MS is to disable the driver the data is on (so not very effective). It effects volume shadow copies as well.

I am major annoyed, as presently I am dual booting because of a lack of proper nVidia drivers, so gaming under Vista is not possible without a large performance hit. So I am stuck between a rock and hard place.

i am seriously thinking about installing XP on its own master drive, and swapping the cables to play games. A lot of hassle I know, but its the only way forward at the moment.