Can I install XP when I am already running Vista?

I already have Vista (Home Prem.) installed but I would like the option to boot into XP. I have a 160 GB HD with (what I think are) two partitions. The first one, OS(C: ), has roughly 137 GB while the second, RECOVERY(D: ), has just under 10 GB.

My question is this: Can I use the XP cd to wipe the Recovery partition and load XP on it or do I need to wipe Vista and do a clean install of XP? Additionally, if I have XP on a 10 GB partition, can I still access the space on the other partition that vista is installed on to install games or do I need to install software on the same partition as the OS (XP/Vista)?

Thanks heaps for your time!

 

I dont think you can intall xp onto the recovery partition.

 

Yes you can. It'd be a less cumbersome process if you wiped the recovery partition first. You'd have to reinstall Vista's bootloader, after you install XP, and then add XP's entry to it. It's much easier than it seems.

 

You'd have to wipe the partition, then create a new one, am I correct?

 

I know how to wipe the partition and install windows onto it, but it gets a little fuzzy for me when you say "You'd have to reinstall Vista's bootloader, after you install XP, and then add XP's entry to it." What is this bootloader?

 

Another option you might want to consider is to run Windows XP through an emulator such as Virtual PC.

 

Can XP and Vista cohabitate on the same partition?

What about XP, XP64, Vista, Vista64?

 

You don't need to create the new partition.. This can be done during the Windows XP install as well. Creating it beforehand wouldn't hurt, too.

Google it. You'll find it explained much better than I can, atm. I am feeling too lazy for a lenthy explanation. Basically, the bootloader is a program that tells your comp which OS is located where on you HD, and what parameters to pass to the kernel while booting. Ignore the last part of the previous sentence if you are confused by it.

Since Vista is a newer OS than XP, XP's bootloader, (i.e ntldr) does not, by default recognize Vista. However, Vista's bootloader can load XP.
You can get ntldr to load vista, in theory, but I haven't tried it myself yet, and frankly, for a regular user, it isn't worth the bother.

Hope I didn't confuse you more...

 

Just get VistaBootPro. It's a *free* bootloader that easily allows you to set up your XP/Vista boot setup. In addition, should you decide to get rid of Vista, it will reinstall your XP bootloader for you.