Dual boot to Vista

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jim
  • Start date Start date
J

Jim

I'm considering adding a second HD to my Windows XP Pro system and
installing Vista Ultimate. My system passes the Microsoft upgrade advisor.

I'm not sure exactly how to procedure with the dual boot setup so I would
appreciate any and all suggestions.

TIA

Jim
 
On Dec 21, 1:15 pm, "Jim" <jrwo...@comcast.net> wrote:
> I'm considering adding a second HD to my Windows XP Pro system and
> installing Vista Ultimate. My system passes the Microsoft upgrade advisor.
>
> I'm not sure exactly how to procedure with the dual boot setup so I would
> appreciate any and all suggestions.

First advice: post your question ONCE and them be patient in waiting
for a reply.

You posted the same question four minutes after you poste this.
 
Sorry about that.


"Uncle Grumpy" <pauld1943@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b29f2970-0cfc-4e69-b8cf-2cbbdc1d81ae@f3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
On Dec 21, 1:15 pm, "Jim" <jrwo...@comcast.net> wrote:
> I'm considering adding a second HD to my Windows XP Pro system and
> installing Vista Ultimate. My system passes the Microsoft upgrade advisor.
>
> I'm not sure exactly how to procedure with the dual boot setup so I would
> appreciate any and all suggestions.

First advice: post your question ONCE and them be patient in waiting
for a reply.

You posted the same question four minutes after you poste this.
 
"Uncle Grumpy" <pauld1943@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:b29f2970-0cfc-4e69-b8cf-2cbbdc1d81ae@f3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
On Dec 21, 1:15 pm, "Jim" <jrwo...@comcast.net> wrote:
> I'm considering adding a second HD to my Windows XP Pro system and
> installing Vista Ultimate. My system passes the Microsoft upgrade
> advisor.
>
> I'm not sure exactly how to procedure with the dual boot setup so I
> would
> appreciate any and all suggestions.

Overview of what I did: ( I assume you're familiar with 'big picture of
dual-boot'?)

Google for / Download and read about " EasyBCD " .
Add new Vista drive as primary boot.
Install Vista on the drive AND EasyBCD
Make sure that drive boots/works Ok.
Then
Into EasyBCD and add your XP drive as a boot option.

Now when you PC boots, it boots to Vista/XP boot menu .
Set your defaults and all set.
If you ever tire of Vista, just remove that drive and the Pc will still
boot from original drive (XP) and XP still sees that drive ( the original
as C so all apps work OK)
ONE thing to be aware of though ... for multi-partitions or multi drives
in XP ....
IF in XP you have 'non-default' drive letter assignments, to keep all
drive letter the same on both OSes ( for instance rather than using D,and
E on my XP install I had my two CD drives as R and W. ), you'll have to
boot Vista, pick drive letters for 'Vista assigned letters and reboot) . I
ALSO have a drive with all my downloaded stuff on a drive - D:\ so I had
to go into disk manager in Vista and assign letters they want I liked so
that D: always equals "the drive I want". That way all shortcuts still
pointed to same places.

One other item ... if you use a mail client ( Outlook / Express etc), I
put my mail on a neutral drive so when I click "mail icon", it goes to the
right place and I don't have to download mail twice - store in 2
locations. Think thru 'that king of thing' BEFORE you start your Vista
install to make life easier for you down the road.

Bobb
 
"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:uQ2$WkNRIHA.5164@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
> "Uncle Grumpy" <pauld1943@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:b29f2970-0cfc-4e69-b8cf-2cbbdc1d81ae@f3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 21, 1:15 pm, "Jim" <jrwo...@comcast.net> wrote:
>> I'm considering adding a second HD to my Windows XP Pro system and
>> installing Vista Ultimate. My system passes the Microsoft upgrade
>> advisor.
>>
>> I'm not sure exactly how to procedure with the dual boot setup so I
>> would
>> appreciate any and all suggestions.
>
> Overview of what I did: ( I assume you're familiar with 'big picture of
> dual-boot'?)
>
> Google for / Download and read about " EasyBCD " .
> Add new Vista drive as primary boot.
> Install Vista on the drive AND EasyBCD
> Make sure that drive boots/works Ok.
> Then
> Into EasyBCD and add your XP drive as a boot option.
>
> Now when you PC boots, it boots to Vista/XP boot menu .
> Set your defaults and all set.
> If you ever tire of Vista, just remove that drive and the Pc will still
> boot from original drive (XP) and XP still sees that drive ( the
> original as C so all apps work OK)
> ONE thing to be aware of though ... for multi-partitions or multi drives
> in XP ....
> IF in XP you have 'non-default' drive letter assignments, to keep all
> drive letter the same on both OSes ( for instance rather than using
> D,and E on my XP install I had my two CD drives as R and W. ), you'll
> have to boot Vista, pick drive letters for 'Vista assigned letters and
> reboot) . I ALSO have a drive with all my downloaded stuff on a drive -
> D:\ so I had to go into disk manager in Vista and assign letters they
> want I liked so that D: always equals "the drive I want". That way all
> shortcuts still pointed to same places.
>
> One other item ... if you use a mail client ( Outlook / Express etc), I
> put my mail on a neutral drive so when I click "mail icon", it goes to
> the right place and I don't have to download mail twice - store in 2
> locations. Think thru 'that king of thing' BEFORE you start your Vista
> install to make life easier for you down the road.
>
> Bobb
>
PS re: previous reply: I have SATA with XP , and IDE with Vista , so
easy for me to toggle boot drive. If I remove one, it just tries the next
in my order.
If you're both SATA or both IDE , then you'll have to change boot order of
your drives in BIOS from primary or secondary drive.
 
Many thanks Bobb.

I have XP on the SATA and Vista on the IDE.

I already did the Vista install (success) before I got your message - may
have another question about changing the boot.ini file to get both OS
choices on bootup. I now use the F11 key to choose the boot drive.


Jim

"- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
news:%23QUyVxWRIHA.4684@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> "- Bobb -" <bobb@noemail.123> wrote in message
> news:uQ2$WkNRIHA.5164@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Uncle Grumpy" <pauld1943@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:b29f2970-0cfc-4e69-b8cf-2cbbdc1d81ae@f3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>> On Dec 21, 1:15 pm, "Jim" <jrwo...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>> I'm considering adding a second HD to my Windows XP Pro system and
>>> installing Vista Ultimate. My system passes the Microsoft upgrade
>>> advisor.
>>>
>>> I'm not sure exactly how to procedure with the dual boot setup so I
>>> would
>>> appreciate any and all suggestions.
>>
>> Overview of what I did: ( I assume you're familiar with 'big picture of
>> dual-boot'?)
>>
>> Google for / Download and read about " EasyBCD " .
>> Add new Vista drive as primary boot.
>> Install Vista on the drive AND EasyBCD
>> Make sure that drive boots/works Ok.
>> Then
>> Into EasyBCD and add your XP drive as a boot option.
>>
>> Now when you PC boots, it boots to Vista/XP boot menu .
>> Set your defaults and all set.
>> If you ever tire of Vista, just remove that drive and the Pc will still
>> boot from original drive (XP) and XP still sees that drive ( the original
>> as C so all apps work OK)
>> ONE thing to be aware of though ... for multi-partitions or multi drives
>> in XP ....
>> IF in XP you have 'non-default' drive letter assignments, to keep all
>> drive letter the same on both OSes ( for instance rather than using D,and
>> E on my XP install I had my two CD drives as R and W. ), you'll have to
>> boot Vista, pick drive letters for 'Vista assigned letters and reboot) .
>> I ALSO have a drive with all my downloaded stuff on a drive - D:\ so I
>> had to go into disk manager in Vista and assign letters they want I liked
>> so that D: always equals "the drive I want". That way all shortcuts still
>> pointed to same places.
>>
>> One other item ... if you use a mail client ( Outlook / Express etc), I
>> put my mail on a neutral drive so when I click "mail icon", it goes to
>> the right place and I don't have to download mail twice - store in 2
>> locations. Think thru 'that king of thing' BEFORE you start your Vista
>> install to make life easier for you down the road.
>>
>> Bobb
>>
> PS re: previous reply: I have SATA with XP , and IDE with Vista , so
> easy for me to toggle boot drive. If I remove one, it just tries the next
> in my order.
> If you're both SATA or both IDE , then you'll have to change boot order of
> your drives in BIOS from primary or secondary drive.
>
 
"Jim" wrote:
> Many thanks Bobb.
>
> I have XP on the SATA and Vista on the IDE.
>
> I already did the Vista install (success) before I got your message - may have
> another question about changing the boot.ini file to get both OS choices on
> bootup. I now use the F11 key to choose the boot drive.


Vista doesn't use a boot.ini file for its boot management. If Vista is
installed after XP, the installer will kludge things for XP's boot manager
if you ask it to, but if you don't have software dual boot now, just keep
using the BIOS's HD Boot Order to switch between the 2 HDs. It'll
make things simpler when you finally get rid of one of the OSes.

*TimDaniels*
 
Thanks Tim,

Vista is installed on a separate HD and yes, I'm using the bios boot order
to switch the drives on boot up. This works fine but just wondering if
EasyBCD would make things simpler?

Jim

"Timothy Daniels" <NoSpam@SpamMeNot.com> wrote in message
news:eYc6fqZRIHA.3676@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> "Jim" wrote:
>> Many thanks Bobb.
>>
>> I have XP on the SATA and Vista on the IDE.
>>
>> I already did the Vista install (success) before I got your message - may
>> have another question about changing the boot.ini file to get both OS
>> choices on bootup. I now use the F11 key to choose the boot drive.
>
>
> Vista doesn't use a boot.ini file for its boot management. If Vista is
> installed after XP, the installer will kludge things for XP's boot manager
> if you ask it to, but if you don't have software dual boot now, just keep
> using the BIOS's HD Boot Order to switch between the 2 HDs. It'll
> make things simpler when you finally get rid of one of the OSes.
>
> *TimDaniels*
>
 
"Jim" wrote:
> "Timothy Daniels" wrote:
>> "Jim" wrote:
>>> Many thanks Bobb.
>>>
>>> I have XP on the SATA and Vista on the IDE.
>>>
>>> I already did the Vista install (success) before I got your message - may
>>> have another question about changing the boot.ini file to get both OS
>>> choices on bootup. I now use the F11 key to choose the boot drive.
>>
>>
>> Vista doesn't use a boot.ini file for its boot management. If Vista is
>> installed after XP, the installer will kludge things for XP's boot manager
>> if you ask it to, but if you don't have software dual boot now, just keep
>> using the BIOS's HD Boot Order to switch between the 2 HDs. It'll
>> make things simpler when you finally get rid of one of the OSes.
>>
>> *TimDaniels*
>>
>
>
> Thanks Tim,
>
> Vista is installed on a separate HD and yes, I'm using the bios boot order to
> switch the drives on boot up. This works fine but just wondering if EasyBCD
> would make things simpler?
>
> Jim


It might be fun to play with, but it won't save much time at startup.
I'd only use it if I had multiple OSes on the same HD because the BIOS's
HD Boot Order can't select among partitions on a HD. Otherwise
EasyBCD is just something else with updates and bugs to keep track of.
If you like experimenting with free software, though, go for it.

*TimDaniels*
 
Thanks Tim, I think I'll continue to use the BIOS's Boot Order.

Jim

"Timothy Daniels" <NoSpam@SpamMeNot.com> wrote in message
news:%23xhcGOeRIHA.4584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> "Jim" wrote:
>> "Timothy Daniels" wrote:
>>> "Jim" wrote:
>>>> Many thanks Bobb.
>>>>
>>>> I have XP on the SATA and Vista on the IDE.
>>>>
>>>> I already did the Vista install (success) before I got your message -
>>>> may have another question about changing the boot.ini file to get both
>>>> OS choices on bootup. I now use the F11 key to choose the boot drive.
>>>
>>>
>>> Vista doesn't use a boot.ini file for its boot management. If Vista
>>> is
>>> installed after XP, the installer will kludge things for XP's boot
>>> manager
>>> if you ask it to, but if you don't have software dual boot now, just
>>> keep
>>> using the BIOS's HD Boot Order to switch between the 2 HDs. It'll
>>> make things simpler when you finally get rid of one of the OSes.
>>>
>>> *TimDaniels*
>>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks Tim,
>>
>> Vista is installed on a separate HD and yes, I'm using the bios boot
>> order to switch the drives on boot up. This works fine but just wondering
>> if EasyBCD would make things simpler?
>>
>> Jim
>
>
> It might be fun to play with, but it won't save much time at startup.
> I'd only use it if I had multiple OSes on the same HD because the BIOS's
> HD Boot Order can't select among partitions on a HD. Otherwise
> EasyBCD is just something else with updates and bugs to keep track of.
> If you like experimenting with free software, though, go for it.
>
> *TimDaniels*
>
 

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