[AlexanderFC]

This is how my hd's look at the moment:



Obviously the first partition on 'Disk 0' is Windows Vista.

The unallocated space on 'Disk 1' is the partition I've made to hopefully install Windows XP.

I have never done this before and do not know where to start. Saying that, if there are any risks involved in doing this I would be more than grateful becoming aware of them.

I have a Windows XP Professional disk from a previous computer, but not a Vista disk as my laptop came with it already on.

I am creating a partition solely to be able to use a program which is not compatible with Vista.

Thank you for any help.

[Mumbodog]

After you install XP on that partition, it will break the bootloader for Vista, you will have to do a startup repair of Vista to get it working again.

Here are some ISOs of Vista recovery CDs, 32bit and 64bit, (you never said which you have) Download the appropriate iso and burn it to CD as an image, then boot from it to do the startup repair after installing XP.

http://www.mediafire.com/?zzzmyi0mmzr 32bit

http://www.mediafire.com/?vnxn4yjtgyg 64bit


How to do the startup repair
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tuto...torial148.html



Once all that is done, you will need to install this free program in Vista to set up the dual boot so you can choose XP or Vista at boot time.

http://majorgeeks.com/VistaBootPRO_d5625.html

.

[AlexanderFC]

And I thought it would just automatically allow you to choose which to boot at startup!

Thank you very much for that but just so I don't make any mistakes how do I actually install XP on that partition?

And do you recommend backing my files up or is this a fairly low risk operation?

Thanks again.

[Mumbodog]

I always recommend backing up important data, you never know what can go wrong.

Installing XP on newer hardware can be difficult to extremely difficult, what Make and Model is the Laptop?

.

[AlexanderFC]

These are the specs of my laptop:



Right I'm going to back up what I need. Then prepare myself!

[Mumbodog]

Looks like Acer has some of the drivers for XP for that model

http://gd.panam.acer.com/home/

[AlexanderFC]

Thank you. Right so now I have backed up everything, to I just search msconfig and select to boot disc first? (With the XP disc in the drive obviously)

[joeten]

Hi this may help guide you http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_v...step_guide.htm

[AlexanderFC]

Nothing is ever simple! I'm now getting an error message stating this file:

\i386\ntkrnlmp.exe

I think it may be saying it can't find it or something. It also says:

...error code 4



Just read on the Microsoft website to press F7 when it prompts you to press F6 for SCSI/Raid drivers.

I'm going to try that...


Did not work. Damn.

[joeten]

Hi is it possibly a problem with the disc or the drive

[AlexanderFC]

It's a possibility. The drive is fine, it's just the disc is fairly scratched, I'll give it a good buff and try again.