peter

Here are a few answers and a suggestion.........
If you install the "normal" dual boot way when you boot a screen will ask
you which OS you wish to boot to...you pick one....any one...thats the OS
that you will be working in when the system starts.No you cannot switch to
another OS from the other OS...if you startup in Vista you are in Vista
until you reboot and startup with XP.Your Network/Router will need to be
configured under each OS seperately..but a lot of that is automatic with the
exception of security/passwords/etc.
Mail needs to be configured under each mail program.
Any programs that you wish to run under both OS need to be installed under
both OS...if you wish program ABC to run under XP you need to install it
while your running XP and the same under Vista
VistaBootPro is a nice program...but it is still a program and as such
things can go wrong....like when you decide you dont want XP anymore.
Might I suggest that you disconnect the drive that XP is on and then install
Vista as a new install onto that new HD.There will be no boot files
changed...there will be no software "dual Boot". The way to access/Boot from
either drive is to access the BIOS and set that particular drive as 1st Boot
or 2nd boot if your CD/DVD is set to 1st.Some BIOS let you chose which drive
to boot from during the boot process by means of the F12 ...by pushing F12 a
screen would show with the HDs listed and you pick which one to boot
from.Check to see if your BIOS has that option.
I did this for awhile with XP and Vista till I decided to just stick with XP
on this machine and use Vista on the other.It was easy at that point to just
format Vista off the drive without having to go to the trouble of editing
the whole boot process.
As for programs I would suggest 2 partitions on each drive...one for the OS
and one for the programs for that particular OS...eg new HD 2 partitions D
and E
D for Vista E for all the programs that you want to use under Vista.....
Be sure to turn off System Restore under XP for the drive that Vista is on
and Vice Versa.
Good Luck
peter
"John Anderson" <jwanderson_98@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:B2AA8425-1B49-4EDA-8D3A-8C3F4333E980@microsoft.com...
> My system is currently using XP Pro.
>
> If I want to have a dual boot system and install a second hard drive,
>
> then install Vista Ultimate on the new hard drive,
>
> then use the VistaBootPro
>
> Which OS do I allow the system to boot to?
>
> Which OS will have the VistaBoot Pro program installed?
>
> Will one OS mess up the other?
>
> When I switch from one OS to the other is it like rebooting?
>
> If I ie: boot to Vista, then switch to XP, would I then be able to run
> those XP programs that are incompatible with Vista?
>
> Will switching back and forth affect a pre-existing network and router?
>
> --
> John Anderson