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    dual windows in the a pc

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by hpl912, Apr 26, 2007.

  1. hpl912

    hpl912 Notebook Consultant

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    i have windows vista in one hard drive and windows xp in another drive but all plugged in the same computer. is there a way to start up vista and also run windows xp in vista?

    because i have some softwares that only works under windows xp and everytime i have to use that software i have to change the bios start up priority and boot the drive with the windows i want...
     
    hpl912, Apr 26, 2007
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  2. qhn

    qhn Notebook User

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    qhn, Apr 26, 2007
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  3. hpl912

    hpl912 Notebook Consultant

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    thanks for the info but is there a way just to boot up the existing windows xp in my hard drive in vista because i have all the softwares and settings already configured in that hard drive as well as datas. and that process you mentionned needs a fresh install of win xp...
     
    hpl912, Apr 26, 2007
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  4. Gator

    Gator Go Gators!

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    If I understand you correctly, you will need to go into your BIOS (by pressing F2 or F8 or F12) upon starting your computer and then change the boot order of your hard drives.

    So if you want XP to boot, change the order so that the XP hard drive is above the Vista hard drive in the boot order. And of course, vice versa if you want Vista. This is a little bit of a pain if you constantly flip flop between the two, but it is the best way.
     
    Gator, Apr 26, 2007
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  5. usapatriot

    usapatriot Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    I think he means if he can dual-boot Windows XP and Windows Vista at the same time.
     
    usapatriot, Apr 26, 2007
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  6. Pitabred

    Pitabred Linux geek con rat flail!

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    www.vmware.com

    You can't just boot the existing install of Windows as far as I know, unless stuff like Xen or Parallels has advanced much more than I'm aware of. But that's the way the tech in general is moving, I believe. It does take hardware virtualization support though, which basically means a higher-numbered model of a Core 2 or X2 processor.
     
    Pitabred, Apr 26, 2007
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  7. JadedRaverLA

    JadedRaverLA Notebook Deity

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    There are ways to use a real hard drive instead of an image in VMWare... but since VMWare and similar applications "virtualize" much of the hardware of a PC, you can't easily use the same XP installation for both a dual-boot scenario and a Virtual machine.

    You're honestly better off deciding if you "need" the separate XP installation, or if "virtualizing" one is good enough.
     
    JadedRaverLA, Apr 26, 2007
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  8. AndyNJ

    AndyNJ Notebook Geek

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    It is POSSIBLE to use a physical install of WinXP in virtualization, but it's a bit involved and you have to mess with the with the hardware profiles and such.

    Search google for how to swap a motherboard without resintalling windows and you should be able to find enough information to pull it off.

    This is something that I'd like to do myself when I get the time to mess with it.
     
    AndyNJ, Apr 26, 2007
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