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    XP/Vista Dual Boot Question

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Rosemarycane, Oct 15, 2007.

  1. Rosemarycane

    Rosemarycane Notebook Consultant

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    I have XP and Vista setup for a dual boot right now on my HDD. I installed XP first, than Vista. I want to reinstall XP on the partition it is on now. If I do that, will I still be able to boot into Vista, or will I be screwed?

    Thanks.
     
  2. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    Yeah if you try and reinstall XP on the same partition as Vista is on then yes you are screwed, lol. The best way is to go into Vista disk manager and shrink your partition to give yourself some more room then install Windows XP on th newly created partition.

    Here's a step by step tutorial:

    http://apcmag.com/5023/dual_booting_xp_with_vista
     
  3. Commander Wolf

    Commander Wolf can i haz broadwell?

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    No, that's what not what he meant. He wants to reinstall XP on the SAME partition on which we first installed it... just after Vista.

    XP's boot manager won't recognize Vista so it won't give you an option to load Vista if you install it after Vista... which is what you're doing. You'll need find one of those third party boot programs (I'm pretty sure these exist, though I haven't looked into it).

    I think you may also be able to install XP, then repair your Vista installation, but don't quote me on that.
     
  4. Rodster

    Rodster Merica

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    Ah ok. Well in that case the program I use and it's the best boot configurator for Vista is EasyBCD 1.7

    http://neosmart.net/blog/2007/easybcd-17-released-up-for-download/

    You can repair the Vista installation by using the Vista DVD and select "Repair" at the Install screen.