Vista + XP Dual Boot

If I get a new notebook with Vista installed, how hard would it be to set up a dual boot with XP?

I've had dual boot systems all my life and I know in the days of old you *should* have done it by installing oldest to newest OS.

If I dont get a DVD/CD of Vista with the notebook Im not keen to wipe it out but is that the only way to get XP on there first, then Vista?

Ideally I'd like seperate partitions too.

 

There are literally tens, if not hundreds, of posts about dual booting XP and Vista. Please take some time and review this board. In addition, a simple Google search for Vista XP dual boot will yield many excellent guides on how to accomplish this task.

 

Well granted that i asked my Supervisor this question today i will give u an answer...i never configured a computer to dual boot but from what he old me it sounds pretty easy. The raw basics in brief: First u don't need to format the drive and lose any programs/data from Vista...u just need to create a new partition on the HDD for the other OS, give it a drive letter, restart and see the actual drive under 'My Computer' reboot with the XP CD in the drive and do the install as normal with the new partitioned space.

Now...as i said i've never done it before and i think i've seen some ppl here talk about the XP CD installation not seeing the HDD or w.e so i can't guarantee it would work but i'm planning to dual boot in the near future when i get my laptop and see for myself what challenges if any i would face.

 

kegobeer - I did a search on the forum for 'vista xp dual boot' but didnt come up with a lot. Google yes Im sure there's stuff there but from the bit I have read, it seems people have trouble doing this.

 

longroad - if you Google for "xp vista dual boot", and you visit the first 5 hits, you will be presented with detailed instructions on how to dual boot. Usually, people have trouble because they don't read all of the instructions prior to starting the process.

 

Its quite easy, its getting the drivers for both OS's that might be an issue.

 

You could ask the vendor who is setting Vista on your laptop to set the dual booting as well.

 

Very good step-by-step guides:

Vista first: http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed_first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm

XP first: http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_xp__stepbystep_guide_with_screenshots.htm

Since you have Vista already, I suggest you to find yourself a Vista disc, because after you install XP, you will need to use the Vista disc to boot and fix the Vista boot loader.

 

wow...well this looks a bit more tedious than i thought it woulda been...especially since HP doesn't ship their laptops with the Vista DVD and i need it in order to change the boot loader and mbr setting...now i gotta go digging for a Vista OS DVD...not cool! ARGHHHHH.......

 

Thank you man, these are excellent step by step instructions for dual booting, thanks. +rep

 

No guys, seriously...don't u guys think thats wrong. You buy a computer and they don't include the OS CD/DVD...i'm truly pissed off. Does Dell send the Vista DVD with their notebooks? for those of u who have Dell computers....

 

That's somehing I was wondering too, I got my OS cd with my notebook (Compal), and although it came installed, I got microsoft office cd for an extra $8 or something directly from MS web site. And I always bring with me while traveling the OS and the disc with the drivers.

 

*SIGH*..well i just went on HP's site and they will include the Vista DVD for just $20, so i think imma just spend the extra $20 for it..which isn't too bad.

 

No problem, thanks.

Yeah it's a good guide, and don't worry about those errors that they mentioned, they're rare cases.

Did they at least put the source files in your HDD? I read somewhere that you can actually make a bootable DVD out of it, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

I have no idea as i have not ordered my laptop as yet...but i'll just pay the extra and get the Disc.

 

For $20, I think you should...

Although I think they should have included it without charge.

 

You should and if I'm not wrong the S&H is included.

 

The thing is that the CD comes from MS, not from HP. The laptop comes with Vista and perhaps an empty case with the key for future use

So, the vendors can sell their system $20 cheaper including the OS, but in reality they are deviating the expense to MS.

No matter what MS and OEM's will get you, no way to escape

 

What I'm uncertain about is the HDD driver. Do you have to install a different HDD driver for each OS? Won't it cause problems that you have different drivers for it? Or are they seperated when you boot a certain OS?

 

True, but HP should have made the cost "transparent" like most other brands... $1260 and $1280 wouldn't be any difference to the consumer...

 

I want to 5x boot with XP, Vista x86, Vista x64, Unbuntu, and OSX how can I do that? lol

J/K well maybe not. I already have tri boot, but things would get pretty complicated when I add OSX into the mix.

 

Are those 5 OS's running at the same time Lol