Windows Vista RC1 Help

I am completely new to the installing Beta OS' on my computer. How does this work? I have already gotten the e-mail form microsoft and the link for the download, but I'm unsure if I should install it now.
After installing it, does the computer boot up in Vista or do you have to choose it in XP? Will all my files be automatically transfered to the new OS when I install it, or will I have to copy them to an external drive? After the Beta runs out (June '07), will my computer revert back to XP by itself?
Sorry about my questions but I've never updated my OS before (been using XP Home since i got my computer).

Thanks for any help.

 

My experience with Vista (1st beta) was not good finding drivers was difficult. Once you upgrade you're files will still be there but come June next year you will have to do a clean install to go back to XP

 

Never mind, I don't think I'll bother until the final product arrives.

 

the email you got should have links that give you really good answers to every single one of your questions.

 

You could set up a new partition on your hard and install it on that. You should read the Vista thread going there are a lot of people running Vista fine.

 

You can try out Vista on a separate partition as barney said. It's really easy to do. After you do that, you can choose between booting into Vista or XP when you boot up your computer. This will leave your XP install and all your files intact in case you decide not to buy Vista when it is released next year. If you want instructions, just say so.

 

I'm kind of new to all of this. How do I set up a seperate partition? Is it free to do so?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=1581997#post1581997

Here's a thread I just created with a guide on how to install Windows Vista alongside XP. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks a lot!!