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How to Dual Boot Windows XP and Vista (XP already installed)

How to Dual Boot Windows XP and Vista (XP already installed)

Published by William_Wilson
03-21-2007

Default Introduction

Installing A Dual Boot with Vista:

You likely have XP installed... If you don't, I would question if your computer is ready for the Vista jump.
Vista System Requirements:
*As listed by Microsoft's Website

If you are an avid computer user you probably have it setup just the way you like it, and you may not be ready to give up your Precious Windows XP for Vista just yet, then this is for you.

Overall Minimum:
-800 MHz processor and 512 MB of system memory
-20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
-Support for Super VGA graphics
-CD-ROM drive

Suggested Minimum:
Home Basic:
-1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
-512 MB of system memory
-20 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
-Support for DirectX 9 graphics and 32 MB of graphics memory
-DVD-ROM drive
-Audio Output
-Internet Access

Home Premium/Business/Ultimate:
-1 GHz 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor
-1GB MB of system memory
-40 GB hard drive with at least 15 GB of available space
-Support for DirectX 9 graphics with:
* WDDM Driver
* 128 MB of graphics memory
* Pixel Shader 2.0 in hardware
* 32 bits per pixel
-DVD-ROM drive
-Audio Output
-Internet Access

*I have placed items which are not critical to the installation in italics, but are nice to have for any computer experience

**You can get away with a little less space for the installation, the OS takes about 7.5GB all together, but it is not recommended in most circumstances. If you are installing to a partition or have multiple hard drives, then less space is alright, but you really should have 15+ GB just for your Vista Installation to be safe.



<< <    Next Page: Create Partition (Page 1 of 8)    >  >>

  #1  
By desbest on 04-05-2007, 02:45 PM
Default

Vista may not be compatible on your pc!
Microsoft has a free tool you can download so you can test before you buy vista.
Windows Vista: Upgrade Advisor
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  #2  
By Unregistered on 06-12-2007, 01:30 PM
Default Thanks..

This is the best tut. I've seen!!!!!!!!

Thanks for taking the time!!!

Bill
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  #3  
By jrtaylor1952 on 07-07-2007, 06:21 PM
Default

I have just purchase a new Gateway Computer with Vista, I was told that I might be able to take my hard drive from my old Gateway and install it in the new one, the old computer has XP on it. Is this possible?
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  #4  
By Unregistered on 08-05-2007, 06:26 PM
Default Same deal but on 2 separate physical drives

What would be the process for this but using 2 separate physical drives.

I have 1 sata drive all setup with XP. I would like to purchase another sata drive and install Vista on that drive.

Should i physically swap them, or is it possible to have both drives hooked up and pick the OS to load at boot up?

thank you
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  #5  
By Unregistered on 08-27-2007, 08:05 AM
Default thank you very much

hi!
just can't thank you enough for preparing this nice tutorial.a very good job.
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  #6  
By almostvistafan on 11-07-2007, 02:47 AM
Default nice tutorial

Thanks for the tutorial. I have an issue and looking for help. I have XP Pro installed on a 40 GB disk on a laptop (IBM think pad T43). There is also one other thing that may be important but do not know. My XP installation has a disk encryption loaded on "safeboot" . I use partition magic 8 to resize the partition to 15 GB that has XP installed. I verify that XP still boots fine after the resizing is complete. While in XP I use Disk Management to create a new partition (name vista,D:\, NTFS, Primary, quick format, ~18GB). I then restart XP, still works. I start the vista install, boot from DVD (OEM version of Business), select install now, custom install, select disk named vista (18GB, D:\) and start getting the normal install stuff. I never get to point where the bootloader shows both "earlier version of windows" and Vista. Vista installs and low and behold when vista starts up (loads great), the vista install renames the 18GB drive to Vista, c:\ - completely erasing my XP stuff. I have tried this on a desktop, dual boot works fine (so I know the procedure works). Thanks for your help...

almostvistafan
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  #7  
By William_Wilson on 11-08-2007, 09:54 AM
Default

your xp partition is likely still there. The drive labels (C:\) are relative to each OS. XP would say that it's OS drive is C, and vista is D perhaps, while Vista would inform you of the reverse. Since applications do not (in general) work across OSs, the naming convention is of little concern

A key thing to note is that it lists the drive as 18GB which is a good sign that the other partition is there, just potentially invisible.
*Or are you able to see the 2nd partition?

there are a couple things i would suggest:
http://www.syschat.com/dual-boot-vis...6.html?garpg=4
steps 3 and 4 of this tutorial.
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  #8  
By almostvistafan on 11-08-2007, 05:12 PM
Default

Thanks. I still see the XP partition, but it shows all the space is available for that partition. I thought since it has formatted NTFS that vista would/should show at least contents (space used for XP). I do not even see the the bootloader screen to select which OS to load. This is the reason I thought the XP data was erased. Is it as simple as editing my vista bootloader to redirect the xp to use the new drive name?

Thanks again.
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  #9  
By joseph.ruskin on 06-23-2008, 11:38 AM
Default Dual Boot Vista & XP Ghosted

Hello, I separately installed XP and Vista on HD1 in partition 1, activated, and created Norton Ghost images. I did this because I didn't think MS provided a way to dual boot them. I've followed each of your well written tutorials for XP/Vista and Vista/XP installation order. Neither one works. With XP/Vista, XP won't boot and Vista says it's missing some files (see below). With Vista/XP loaded Vista works fine, but XP won't boot at all and my machine reboots too.
I'd appreciate any suggestions.


Vista Messages:

The procedure entry point SdbGetAppCompatDatasize could not be located in the dynamic link library apphelp.dll
Error loading C:\Windows\system32\mscories.dll
The specified module could not be found.
IE Per User Initialization Utility has stopped working.
User profile wasnot loaded correctly. You have been logged on with a temporary profile.
Changes made will be lost when logging off.
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LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.syschat.com/how-dual-boot-windows-xp-vista-1818.html
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