Dual Boot setup...

[fink]

I may soon be setting up a new PC w/Vista Ultimate
and XPpro on a single drive. I want Vista on C and XP on D. But I'll need to install XP first so Vista will recognize it and create a proper dual boot file system.

I can easily partition the drive to whatever I want before the installs but I can't recall if I can make XP install on D initially or will it default to C?

(reason I want Vista on C is because it will always see itself as C and having it there will simplify using Acronis Trueimage.)

[Steve R Jones]

Format and partition the drive early on in the XP install....Select D to install XP.

[fink]

tanks

[SuperSparks]

Be aware that there are issues with dual-booting Vista and XP, especially with regards to System Restore. If it will serve your needs, then you might want to consider running WinXP as a Virtual Machine instead.

[Train]

Or you might even want to use a 2nd hdd with a OS on each and select which OS to boot to in bios.

Dual boot like you posted means the system restore stuff in XP gets wiped out.

[fink]

Don't use system restore. Use Acronis TI.

I had this setup for a while previously but reversed on this computer (XP on C and Vista on D) with no problems except when I booted to Vista it, typically, saw itself as C so making an image with Acronis got a bit complicated because using Acronis and in particular its (or any other) bootdisk the drive letters got very mixed up.

Having Vista actually on C would solve that problem. It will be on my next computer which I'm currently in the pre-buy/research/pricing stage.

To be honest I'm not particularly interested in using Vista, I just want it available to occasionally play with so when someone asks me a quesion about it I'll have more first hand experience rather than using google or saying I dunno.

[Train]

Fair enough reason.

[fink]

Besides I have my Vista Ultimate DVD's that MS gave me for beta testing it and I think it's sort of a shame they aren't being utilized in any way. I'm guessing that by the time I get comfortable with it Windows 7 RC1 will be out LOL.

[Train]

Buy a NEW laptop with Home on it. Now do a clean install of Ultimate.
In 6 weeks you will be familiar with it.

2 GB of ram and a optical mose is all the changes I made. Love the difference too.

[fink]

It's a consideration but half of buying a new desktop is the fun of finding components and then building a custom box. Probably more than half LOL.

Besides I have a decent Toshiba laptop that I rarely use... can't see buying another just for a couple months worth of use then I'll have two laptops that i don't use

[Train]

Then ship one my way

[fink]

Yes, sure. That'll happen

The new build may be delayed a bit. Suddenly have to pay for some dental work on my cat first.

[Train]

Dental bills

[SpywareDr]

Say what? Update the cat before the computer? Couldn't that be classified as computer abuse?

[Train]

Say what? Update the cat before the computer? Couldn't that be classified as computer abuse?

I agree