What do you think would be best?

[ingeborgdot]

I have vista 64 as my main os. Would it be best to run a dual boot using xp pro or to make a virtual machine and add xp pro that way?

 

[corkyg]

IMHO, the best would be a separate HDD with the XP Pro OS in a mobile rack so you could switch as needed without the pitfalls of dual boot.I use two separate computers linked by LAN. One is Vista and the other XP. I can run them both at the same time doing different things. It's very handy.

 

[Nothinman]

Depends on what you want XP for, if it's for games then a VM is out of the question.

 

[Brazen]

right, it greatly depends on your needs in XP.

 

[ingeborgdot]

It will be on a Q6600 oc to 2.8 with 4gb of ram. My main reason is because of video editing software. I need it and there is none out there that I know of that works with vista 64. I do a lot of video editing that is very demanding.

 

[ingeborgdot]

After looking around I think I may dual boot but some say I need bartpe. Is this true or can I just install xp and do my stuff and then install vista and go about my business?

 

[htne]

The rule of thumb is:

Install the operating systems in reverse order of age, that is, oldest first, then next oldest, then latest.

1) Windows XP
2) Windows Vista
3) Ubuntu 7.10
4) Debian unstable (Sid)

 

[Blazer]

if you want xp on your vista pc and you only have 1 hard drive just use device manager to uninstall C: drive and shut down, install another hard drive and install xp on it, shut down and reinstall your orignal C: Drive [vista] with the vista dvd in the cd/dvd rom and do a repair install, should fix that and give you an option on boot up to select the os to start.

 

[ingeborgdot]

I have read that it is easier to install xp first and then vista but that if you unistall xp for any reason that vista won't boot. What truth is there to that?

 

[mechBgon]

My preference is to install XP on one hard drive, then shut down and unplug that hard drive's data cable. Now install Vista on a second hard drive, and then shut down and reconnect the WinXP drive. If your motherboard has a boot-device selection menu, which I believe your EPoX does (hit F12 at the POST screen), you can now boot whichever OS you want, and you can remove either HDD without affecting the remaining OS. Would that work for your purposes?

 

[Blazer]

thats very true, either OS that used in a dual boot config that gets removed will result in the same [no boot], ANY OS.

here is Vistabootpro description http://www.vistabootpro.org/, i used it while dual booting the beta's, it works but you WILL need to read directions to become familar with the installation AND removal of ANY dual booting subjects.

the download is at the bottom of the page. good luck!!!!!!!

 

[ingeborgdot]

I have dual booted and all seems to be working fine but I have a question. On my xp side my drives are different then on my vista side. I loaded xp first so c: was xp. Then I loaded vista later and when I was on my vista side vista became c: at least on vista side. I then formatted E: and my other hdd F. I looked at my drives on vista and here is what they are-
C: Vista
D: XP
E: Music and documents
F: Pictures, videos and programs files

When I go to my xp side the drives are arranged differently.
C: XP
D: Music and documents
E: Vista
F: Pictures, videos, and program files
It seems to be working fine but is this the norm. I tried to arrange it right but this is how it turned out. Anyone care to explain? Thanks.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: ingeborgdot
I have dual booted and all seems to be working fine but I have a question. On my xp side my drives are different then on my vista side. I loaded xp first so c: was xp. Then I loaded vista later and when I was on my vista side vista became c: at least on vista side. I then formatted E: and my other hdd F. I looked at my drives on vista and here is what they are-
C: Vista
D: XP
E: Music and documents
F: Pictures, videos and programs files

When I go to my xp side the drives are arranged differently.
C: XP
D: Music and documents
E: Vista
F: Pictures, videos, and program files
It seems to be working fine but is this the norm. I tried to arrange it right but this is how it turned out. Anyone care to explain? Thanks.

Windows will always see its own drive as C:. You can change everything else in computer management under admin tools.

 

[Nothinman]

Windows will always see its own drive as C:

If that were true we wouldn't see those "How do I change my system drive letter?" threads regularly.

 

[ingeborgdot]

This is actually on a new abit IP35 Pro board. I have already installed the other way but that actually sounds like a better method? I am not sure what is best.

 

[Blazer]

drives can be renamed in "Computer managment" [cannot rename a loaded os drive] .

its not best to have a loaded OS on C: and programs on another drive, or your documents on another drive.

i put copies of my documents on another drive, i use another drive for my OS imaging using Acronis and created the bootable CD for recovery if a problem should arrise.

as so i avoid registry and system error's and my Acronis bootable CD media doesnt fail from missing or corrupt file errors, and my system is plenty fast.

C: OS, Programs, Documents, Defrag only this drive.
D: For Document Copy's.
E: Acronis backup.
F:CD/CVD Burner.
G:CD/DVD Player.