Looking for a quick guide to dual-boot OS

[Stg-Flame]

I was graciously given a validation code for an older OS so I can dual-boot it onto an older PC but a few guides I've found just searching around don't seem to contain the same information.

I'll be trying to dual-boot XP 32-bit Home onto Vista 64-bit Home.

From what I understand, I'll have to partition my HDD (maybe 40GB?) to allow for sufficient space, but I've read that trying to boot from an install disc will try to wipe my computer whereas some others say I should be able to burn the install disc from Microsoft, pop it in the tray, and it will ask where I want to install.

Can anyone clarify this for me?

 

[lxskllr]

Easiest would be using a separate hd. For the easiest time on a single drive, install order is old windows-new windows-linux. AFAIK you can break that order, but it's more complicated to setup, and I've never done it.

 

[Stg-Flame]

Would it be possible to install it on an external drive? I Frankenstein'd this PC together and I have no room for more HDDs internally, but I could probably make room if needed.

 

[lxskllr]

I don't think Windows likes being on an external drive. I forget what your specs are, but would an ssd work in the system, and be in budget? You can stuff those about anywhere. I'm generally not a fan of buying hardware for a software problem, but windows makes things needlessly difficult setting up non typical systems, it's the fastest, surest method. If you don't mind playing, I think you can get everything working on one drive, but you'll have to do some searching.

If you don't need to keep vista intact, and a reinstall is fine, do it like I said in my previous post. Install xp, then install vista after that. I forget the exact steps, but it's intuitive, and straight forward.

 

[corkyg]

Consider a mobile rack. I have a triple boot system with separate drives. Each drive can be booted to by swapping in a trayless mobile rack.

 

[RLGL]

This might help: linky

 

[Stg-Flame]

I don't think Windows likes being on an external drive. I forget what your specs are, but would an ssd work in the system, and be in budget? You can stuff those about anywhere. I'm generally not a fan of buying hardware for a software problem, but windows makes things needlessly difficult setting up non typical systems, it's the fastest, surest method. If you don't mind playing, I think you can get everything working on one drive, but you'll have to do some searching.

If you don't need to keep vista intact, and a reinstall is fine, do it like I said in my previous post. Install xp, then install vista after that. I forget the exact steps, but it's intuitive, and straight forward.

Well, the motherboard is pretty old (ASUS P5Q-Pro) so I'm not entirely sure about adding more drives. I wouldn't mind doing a reinstall, but I'll need an external to move all my old files to since there's a lot on that PC that I'd like to keep. That being said, I constructed that PC for my girlfriend so we can co-op games and I'm not entirely sure if they are all compatible with XP 32-bit, so I think I need to keep Vista 64 as the main. Then again, I can look into each individual game to see if there are any conflict issues (mainly Grim Dawn, Borderlands 2, HellDivers, BroForce, etc.) with running those games on a 32-bit XP system. I'll definitely look into installing XP first and partitioning Vista for other games if there are conflicts.

Consider a mobile rack. I have a triple boot system with separate drives. Each drive can be booted to by swapping in a trayless mobile rack.

I'll look into it, but this is really only needed for a single game (her favorite from her childhood).

This might help: linky

Thanks a lot for the link. I'll definitely look into this. I'm hoping to have all this taken care of by tomorrow evening when she gets home.

I appreciate all the responses. Now I just need to find my old Vista install disc since I left the code with the packaging...

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yeah, dual-booting (on a single physical drive) can be a pain. The rule of thumb that I'm familiar with, is always install the oldest OS FIRST, and the newest OS LAST, and install Linux last of all, if you're triple-booting. That said, it's so much easier with multi-booting Windows OSes, if they are on separate physical drives. And NO, Windows does NOT want to install onto a "removable" drive, unless you heavily mod the installer. Linux has no such problems, that I am aware of.

 

[corkyg]

... And NO, Windows does NOT want to install onto a "removable" drive, unless you heavily mod the installer. Linux has no such problems, that I am aware of.

If it is via a SATA mobile rack, Windows does not know it is removable.

 

[Stg-Flame]

If it is via a SATA mobile rack, Windows does not know it is removable.

Well I don't have anything like this, so I'll just wipe my HDD and see about dual-booting XP first, then Vista on top of that. If that proves to be too much of a pain, I'll just dig out one of my other spare HDDs, swap a few things around, and just do it the easier way.

That being said, I was graciously given an XP home code that I can use to redeem the OS. Will I need to burn the installer onto a disc or would I be able to run the OS installer from a removable drive?

 

[Ketchup]

IIRC you should be able to put the iso on a flash drive using Rufus and it will at least start the install process. The hardest part with XP is the hard drive controller. If the image you are using can't detect the drive, it will be time to get out a floppy drive or add drivers to your XP image.