How to have Vista and XP on the same computer?

[Hooper]

I hate Vista, I like XP, help me keep Vista but also have the option of switching to XP whenever I feel.

I think you can have to different Operating Systems on the same computer if you "partition" (I think thats what I have heard) your hard drive. Now, if I do that can I just switch between Vista and XP like how we do at school (we switch between XP and Mac).

Now, I already have Windows Home Basic installed on this computer and I'am not liking it because I cannot patch PES6 properly and there are just loads of compatibility issues.

I have my old Windows XP disc in my cupboard, now, if I just grab that and whack it in will I be able to install it? Or do I need to do some stuff prior to this to make sure my computer doesn't crash and burn. Iam not a complete noob, so if I get a good list of instructions and precautions I think I should be alright.

Please help good 'ol Hoops:upray

 

[omkarjere]

First of all you need to have atleast 2 partitions on your HDD then format your PC then install XP and after installing XP you can install Vista on a different partition. After both OS are installed and when you start your computer you will be given choice XP or Vista then the one you choose starts. If you start XP and want Vista restart your PC then select Vista or vica versa

 

[Hooper]

First of all you need to have atleast 2 partitions on your HDD then format your PC then install XP and after installing XP you can install Vista on a different partition. After both OS are installed and when you start your computer you will be given choice XP or Vista then the one you choose starts. If you start XP and want Vista restart your PC then select Vista or vica versa

How do I partition my hard disk? Is there a guide or something? And how do I "format" my PC?

Is this an easy thing to do, or do I need to call in a computer guy to do it?

 

[omkarjere]

How do I partition my hard disk? Is there a guide or something? And how do I "format" my PC?

Is this an easy thing to do, or do I need to call in a computer guy to do it?

It is recommended that you call a computer guy and tell him to do what I said. It can be risky if you try this if you don't have that much computer knowledge.

Call a Tech guy and tell him what do you want (both XP and Vista) and if he decides to format your PC (mostly he will) tell him to backup the data on your HDD before continuing to format.

 

[Hooper]

Damn, thats going to cost money. I know a bit about computers. Not formating but. Well, would it be easier if I just wiped Vista and just installed XP?

 

[omkarjere]

Damn, thats going to cost money. I know a bit about computers. Not formating but. Well, would it be easier if I just wiped Vista and just installed XP?

You cannot delete Vista becoz when you try deleting it will generate a error the only way is by performing a DOS based format. If you wish I can tell you how to do it but don't blame me if something happens to your PC.

 

[Hooper]

Well, can you tell me how to then? Then I will get my nerd mate over to see if it is possible. So yes, can you please tell me how to do it.

But when you delete Vista how do you put XP on when there is no OS?

 

[cnbd_novice]

But when you delete Vista how do you put XP on when there is no OS?

Not sure but don't you just pop-in the installation CD and choose "Boot from CD"?

I believe you can run "multiple operating systems at the same time on the same physical computer" using the free Microsoft Virtual PC 2007.

 

[Hooper]

but don't you just pop-in the installation CD and choose "Boot from CD"?

How? From the black screen?

Its says "Use virtual machines to run operating systems such as MS-DOS, Windows, and OS/2. You can run multiple operating systems at once on a single physical computer and switch between them as easily as switching applications—instantly, with a mouse click."

Is this what I want?

 

[Abhas]

To install XP, u need to Boot from the CD...
for doing that, make sure in the BIOS, the 1st boot device is the CD ROM...
then just insert the CD, and restart your machine, on the restart, you will be shown a message saying "press any key to boot from Cd"
just press enter. The system will boot from the windows XP CD, and it will load certain files and drivers necessary to start the installation.

On the main screen, you will be asked what you want to do. Press Enter to install Windows XP
Next screen will be the EULA, Press F8 to proceed (Your wish if u want to read it )

Then, it will search for any previous installations of Windows XP, if none, it will prompt you to select the partition you want to install it on (by partition, in layman terms, means, c:, d:, e:, etc on your HDD)

Just select your drive, and select Enter.
Next it will ask you to either format it with NTFS filesystem, or FAT filesystem, or to leave the drive intact. Choose to leave the drive intact, if u do not want to lose any data. It is recommended to format with NTFS though...

anyway, i think, after selecting your option, it should start installing Win XP, and you would just need to follow the prompts...

Keep the CD handy

I hope this clears how to install Windows XP...

 

[AbBh]

Its says "Use virtual machines to run operating systems such as MS-DOS, Windows, and OS/2. You can run multiple operating systems at once on a single physical computer and switch between them as easily as switching applications—instantly, with a mouse click."

Is this what I want?

I don't think so. I think you wont be able to play games comfortably in a Virtual Machine.

 

[Abhas]

You have only 512 mb RAM, if you use Virtual Machine, then You are effectively dividing it further... (around 128 mb would go to the VM)

This leaves you with around 380 mb RAM to run Vista... This would spell doom for your computer.

playing games is far off... you won't be able to do anything with that ram

 

[Cricketman]

I want to have a dual boot-
Possible to have mac leopard on a Windows PC?
And Linux, of course..

 

[Hooper]

To install XP, u need to Boot from the CD...
for doing that, make sure in the BIOS, the 1st boot device is the CD ROM...
then just insert the CD, and restart your machine, on the restart, you will be shown a message saying "press any key to boot from Cd"
just press enter. The system will boot from the windows XP CD, and it will load certain files and drivers necessary to start the installation.

On the main screen, you will be asked what you want to do. Press Enter to install Windows XP
Next screen will be the EULA, Press F8 to proceed (Your wish if u want to read it )

Then, it will search for any previous installations of Windows XP, if none, it will prompt you to select the partition you want to install it on (by partition, in layman terms, means, c:, d:, e:, etc on your HDD)

Just select your drive, and select Enter.
Next it will ask you to either format it with NTFS filesystem, or FAT filesystem, or to leave the drive intact. Choose to leave the drive intact, if u do not want to lose any data. It is recommended to format with NTFS though...

anyway, i think, after selecting your option, it should start installing Win XP, and you would just need to follow the prompts...

Keep the CD handy

I hope this clears how to install Windows XP...

Ok, that is awesome. That doesn't seem to hard to do at all. And doing this means that I will have both Vista and XP on my system right?

Does Partiton mean to split my HD in two? So for example, it will make a C:/ hard drive and a D:/ hard drive? Then I could have Vista on C and XP on D?

Then I could leave my C:/ (Vista) drive intact no problems and then NTFS format the D:/ drive for XP?

 

[siddharth2002]

When you come across drive partitioning during Windows XP install- Choose to "Create new partition" and give it a size of, say 20480.
Then let Windows XP install itself. Once you have done it, get your machine on the internet and confirm here. We will post steps to install Vista later on only after you have gone through above part first.