Running both XP and Vista on same computer

Could I keep XP as my main os with all of my same settings, and add Vista as
a secondary os?

I am doing that, but I have 3 partitions on my HD. One with XP, one with all
my files (My Docs), and the 3rd with Vista.
You will want XP installed first, and then install Vista. Vista's boot
manager will controll which to boot into. If you want to make changes, you
will have to boot up Vista and go through the My Computer options and edit
them in the boot manager there.

The setup works fine, but I do recommend you at least have 40GB partitions
for Vista, XP, and larger for your files.
I have 2-120GB drives in a Raid striping array (240GB drive) with XP-40,
Vista-40 and ~125GB for my "files" partitions. That way, which ever OS you
boot in to it's easy to find your docs. And with the 40GB OS partitions, it
leaves room to install programs for each OS.

"Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1E149C86-34EF-40FF-B1CE-7F53B16E9495@microsoft.com...
> Could I keep XP as my main os with all of my same settings, and add Vista
> as
> a secondary os?

When ytou do the dual boot, from the Vista desktop you can access your XP
desktop by using C:\Documents and Settings (or whatever drive/letter you use
for XP)\Chri's profile\Desktop and you can access your Vista desktop via
Vista Drive\Users\Chris's Vista Profile\Desktop. You
will find that you have to do a lot of okaying permission to transfer files
from a location on one drive to another but it only takes a second--for
example from a folder on Vista to a folder on the XP drive. The dual boot
works very well.

CH


"Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1E149C86-34EF-40FF-B1CE-7F53B16E9495@microsoft.com...
> Could I keep XP as my main os with all of my same settings, and add Vista
> as
> a secondary os?

Just remember that the RC1 is still buggy and follow Microsofts warning.
While most seem to be able to install with no problems, many have had
problems, up to and including losing use of the other drives. You should
not install on your main computer unless you are fully backed up and even
after install, you still have risks to your system.


"Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1E149C86-34EF-40FF-B1CE-7F53B16E9495@microsoft.com...
> Could I keep XP as my main os with all of my same settings, and add Vista
> as
> a secondary os?

I fully support John's advice but I go even further and say don't do it. MS
advises not to install Vista in a production environment or on a primary
home computer. They don't qualify that with "unless on another partition or
drive." They just say don't install on your primary home computer. They
have good reasons. If the only computer available to you to try Vista on is
one you and your family rely on then don't install it and simply wait for
Vista to release in January.

You can safely try Vista on such a machine by using Virtual PC or Virtual
Server, however, provided that your computer has sufficient ram.

"John Barnes" <jbarnes@email.net> wrote in message
news:uT7%23u3Y2GHA.4976@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Just remember that the RC1 is still buggy and follow Microsofts warning.
> While most seem to be able to install with no problems, many have had
> problems, up to and including losing use of the other drives. You should
> not install on your main computer unless you are fully backed up and even
> after install, you still have risks to your system.
>
>
> "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:1E149C86-34EF-40FF-B1CE-7F53B16E9495@microsoft.com...
>> Could I keep XP as my main os with all of my same settings, and add Vista
>> as
>> a secondary os?
>
>

Or by purchasing an additional hard drive on which to install Vista
stand-alone...

Lang

"Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
news:e$D42Bb2GHA.1568@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>I fully support John's advice but I go even further and say don't do it.
>MS advises not to install Vista in a production environment or on a primary
>home computer. They don't qualify that with "unless on another partition
>or drive." They just say don't install on your primary home computer.
>They have good reasons. If the only computer available to you to try Vista
>on is one you and your family rely on then don't install it and simply wait
>for Vista to release in January.
>
> You can safely try Vista on such a machine by using Virtual PC or Virtual
> Server, however, provided that your computer has sufficient ram.
>
> "John Barnes" <jbarnes@email.net> wrote in message
> news:uT7%23u3Y2GHA.4976@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Just remember that the RC1 is still buggy and follow Microsofts warning.
>> While most seem to be able to install with no problems, many have had
>> problems, up to and including losing use of the other drives. You should
>> not install on your main computer unless you are fully backed up and even
>> after install, you still have risks to your system.
>>
>>
>> "Chris" <Chris@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:1E149C86-34EF-40FF-B1CE-7F53B16E9495@microsoft.com...
>>> Could I keep XP as my main os with all of my same settings, and add
>>> Vista as
>>> a secondary os?
>>
>>
>
>