[sherluck]

Originally Posted by s4baz

Below is the way I installed XP on my computer, after Vista was already installed... creating a dual boot.

First find the drivers for your network components, wireless card or nic, and save them to an external device such as a floppy disk or flash drive.

Then you will need to go into the BIOS on your computer startup. Scroll to the System Configuration tab and go down to the SATA Native Support and change its setting to Disabled. Then hit F10 to Save and Exit.

Next, insert your Windows XP CD and create the partition you wish to install XP on. After the installation is complete you should boot automatically into XP.

Now you need to move some files. First, make sure you have set your folder options to see hidden files and to show protected operating system files. Then open Windows Explorer and go to the drive where Vista is installed. Copy the folder Boot, and the files bootmgr, boot.ini, NTDETECT.COM and ntldr and paste them to the root of your XP drive.

Then download Vista Boot Pro and save it to your desktop or somewhere else that you can easily access. Unless you already have .Net Framework (v2.0 at least) it will redirect you to a Microsoft page where you can download this necessary component.

Install and run Vista Boot Pro and open the "Bootloader" tab. Select "Reinstall the Vista bootloader" and press Apply. Then go to the Manage OS Entries tab and select "Add new operating system entry" and make sure you select "Windows Legacy". Give the new entry a name (ie: Windows XP) and select the drive letter you have XP on and then select Apply. You can also choose which entry you would like as the default the system will boot to.

And now you should be able to dual boot between Vista and a previous OS.

I have visa basic pre installed (no disc)
Problem I partitioned the disc formatted the new partition. when I restarted the computer, I get the message
no bootmgn? re-try press clr-alt-sup it is trying to boot from the new partition which is empty

[sherluck]

How do you cancel a created partition and return to the original

[sherluck]

how do you restore the original partition having partitioned the disk

[sherluck]

Originally Posted by sherluck

I have visa basic pre installed (no disc)
Problem I partitioned the disc formatted the new partition. when I restarted the computer, I get the message
no bootmgn? re-try press clr-alt-sup it is trying to boot from the new partition which is empty

how do you restore the partition to a single partition

[richard94]

Sherluck: You can't.
unless you have sophisticated data recovery programs or you backed up your HDD.
Sorry.

[managed]

Sherluck, how exactly did you create and format the new partition ?

[sherluck]

How does one find the hidden files on vista i.e. bootmgr,boot.ini

[richard94]

open up computer
press alt
Tools>Folder Options
View tab
"Show hidden files and folders"
untick "hide protected operating system files (recommended)"
note: only do the last one if you're trying to find a system file.

Also, when you're done, undo all of these steps. It makes folders look neater.

[sherluck]

I have created a new partition and named it D drive ready for xp but when I reboot the computer it trys to boot to the empty drive not the C drive where vista lives???????????????
It sees D as the primary drive

[elnasty]

Hi,I've just joined this site and looks interesting.
I've a desktop pc running vista ultimate and want to add a dual boot for xp pro,mainly for compatability with old software ie help files not supported anymore.(I know about winhlp32) and halflife.
As has been said upgradeing ie 98se to xp,is easier than downgradeing,although I haven't tried installing xp pro yet.
I have a 250G hd,there's free space that I use for the gigabytes xrecovery2 (press F9 at boot and it restores a perfect working previously saved image of the pc,groovy!)
I don't want to mess this up obviously.
So I'm gonna reread this thread and search more.
If you get xp working then obviously you are gonna reinstall your motherboard,graphic,printer etc drivers for xp or hasn't that thought occured to some.
Once the motherboard drivers are installed you got ethernet and usb and can get on the internet for proper non microsoft generic drivers.
Some install shield driver setups don't work with vista so going to the manufactures site is better.
stan

[elnasty]

PS what reasons do people want to use xp if they got vista?
not being funny,just want to know.I didn't like it at first,eveything had changed
like a tesco supermarket but now it seems,after updates,stable and fast...and there's dream scene moving wallpaper.
It took me a while to get used to xp and now once again with vista but is it really that bad?
With xp I used winamp but it's not too clever with vista.
stan

[sherluck]

I have preinstalled vista in french. Once installed you cannot change.
Vista takes ages to start up thats the reason I want to dual boot

[Katmeat]

Any thoughts on whether it would be permissible for me to load the Windows XP software from another PC that I own on the Vista computer, if used solely for purposes of allowing the Vista computer to run 3rd-party software not compatible w/ Vista? Or, must I purchase a new license for the XP software?

Rather than spend the money on another license, I may just dump the old computer and remove its HD and use it in the Vista computer.

[DaveA]

Originally Posted by Katmeat

Any thoughts on whether it would be permissible for me to load the Windows XP software from another PC that I own on the Vista computer, if used solely for purposes of allowing the Vista computer to run 3rd-party software not compatible w/ Vista? Or, must I purchase a new license for the XP software?

Rather than spend the money on another license, I may just dump the old computer and remove its HD and use it in the Vista computer.

If the OLD copy is a retail version that you bought, then YES, you can MOVE it to another machine. BUT, if it is a OEM that came with your machine, then NO.

[elnasty]

Microsoft wouldn't let me activate xp after installing it on 5 other differrent pc s