Vista-XP Pro Dual boot Strategy

[GreenGhost]

I will be building a new rig this weekend. Apparently, the Netgear adapter I bought won't work with Vista, don't know if my Logitch wheel will work, etc. So I would like to have XP Pro in there, too; for a while, at least.

My idea, after reading other threads.

1. Use an older 40GB drive and install XP (Drive C: ).
2. Install new SATA drive, make sure it works with XP.
2. Use the new SATA drive to install Vista (Drive V: ).
2a. Vista should take care of updating the boot loader on C:.
3. Install software in both XP and Vista, as needed.
4. After XP is not needed anymore, remove old drive C:
5. What happens? How do I get Drive V to become Drive C if the Vista boot things were in the drive that was removed?

Is there a solution, or a better strategy altogether?

 

[Palms]

Have you seen Vistabootpro 3.1

http://vistabootpro.org/

Could be what you need.

I have a similar set up like you, so when vista beta runs out for me i will have to take the path your taking to get back to only one system. Vistabootpro should do this.

palms

 

[GreenGhost]

I'll have it at hand...

 

[SimMike2]

If you want to wipe information about hard drive partitions and have this information rebuilt on the next boot, start Registry Editor (regedit in the run box.)

Under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SYSTEM
MountedDevices

Delete all the settings except the top Default setting. On the next boot, Windows will label all your drives in the most common method, starting with your primary boot partition as C: on up. I've done this countless times, especially when I transfer my OS to a bigger and faster hard drive.

 

[GreenGhost]

great, thanks.