Windows XP Pro and Windows X64

[AMDZen]

So I'm building a new computer, Athlon64 of course, and I was able to get a copy of Windows X64 as well. I wan't to dual boot both versions of XP since I know X64 is still having issues, and probably still needs drivers as well. Basically I just need to know how to go about doing this.

Its all new hardware, so I know I will need to make 2 partitions when I install the first OS. The questions I have are; which one do I load first? Does it matter? Will each installation see the other and set the boot.ini properly? Does Windows use some sort of LILO like Linux? I've dual booted OS's before, but only XP with various versions of Linux. However, I will most likely not be using Linux on this computer, just on my other machine.

I've done a lot of googling but it seems like everything I can find just describes how to fix boot situations by using the Recovery Console. Which leads me believe that its a built in function for X64 to identify the 32-bit version and set up dual boot automatically. So I'm making the assumption that I should load XP Pro (32 bit) first and then X64 but I don't want to go into this blind. Both OS's will be on the same Hard drive so let me know if that presents a problem. Thanks.

 

[daveshel]

I am dual booting that same combination. I installed the 63-bit version first, then the 32-but added itself to the top of the boot menu, which I suppose is functionally equivalent to LILO, and can be modified from system properties > advanced > startup and recovery.

 

[AMDZen]

Thanks. I guess that would explain why I couldn't find much info on it, because of how easy it is. Definetely a n00b when it comes to dual booting two different versions of windows.

Just to make sure then. There is really nothing I need to do, simply install one and then the other (doesn't matter which one is first) and then go to that startup screen and select which one I want each time, then reboot to it. Kind of like Apple with OS9 and OSX.

Also - One last question. So if I want to dual boot windows 98 and windows xp, I can do that as well by simply doing the same thing - except I need to install any older OS first right? So Install 98 and then install XP? Thanks for your help Dave

 

[daveshel]

I could not swear that the installation order of Win32 and 64 doesn't matter, because I only did it one way. As for 9x, I haven't done that in years, but I do seem to recall that installation order matters but I don't remember the details.

 

[SUOrangeman]

SN25P with dual-core on 74GB Raptor ....

I installed WinME but it doesn't boot. Have yet to try Win98.
I installed XP64 after MCE05. I'm essentially using XP64 as my main OS.

-SUO

 

[kalster]

i already have windows x64 installed, can i install windows xp 32 bit (on diff parition), will my bootmenu have both OS's.