Dual boot Vista and XP with Vista installed first

Betty · 02-24-2009, 05:17 PM

Most new laptops have only Vista available. Those with XP have it as a downgrade where you usually pay more for the computer and pay again for the downgrade.

I have a computer user that recently bought a laptop with Vista. The computer has to run XP to run our computer design software. Until we upgrade, it's not Vista compatible. We've got the upgrade but upgrading and testing it with our huge machinery is not a quick or painless process and is something that I'm not involved in.

I've installed XP on laptops that came with Vista before. Coworker brought his new HP laptop to me to put XP on. I go to search for drivers and don't come up with much. I contact HP and the first thing they tell me is that not everything may work or have a driver but that they'll help.

They eventually point me to a page with at least the drivers so I can get online and get the video to a decent level. Not a whole lot else really works based on those drivers. I chat more, try different drivers and this goes on and on.

Eventually I restore Vista, give the guy his laptop back and tell him I can't do it. I consider myself more than an intermediate user but less then advanced - especially in network issues.

Anyway, it occurs to me just now that what about a dual boot of the computer? How difficult is that to do? And will I have the same driver issues as before or is there some sort of magic that happens with a dual boot and I can get around that?

I don't think it will work because of the driver issue... right?

If not - can you think of any creative solution? This is only going to become more of an issue - not less. I don't want to upgrade everything to Vista - just this damn program - and the current version we're on isn't Vista compatible.

Andrew · 02-24-2009, 05:31 PM

I'd start by installing XP on a clean machine (back up first, of course) and then install Vista. I believe there is an option in Vista's install procedure to leave XP on the machine so you can dual-boot.

I doubt you will have any success installing XP on a Vista machine.

Ghoulish Delight · 02-24-2009, 05:38 PM

If you couldn't find drivers for XP, then it's not going to work.

If you can find drivers, then it's doable. Are there 2 hard drives in the laptop? That's would be the easiest, just go through XP setup and install to the drive that Vista isn't on.

If there's only one drive, then you might have to start fresh and partition the drive. Unless you have a utility like Partition Magic.

CoasterMatt · 02-24-2009, 06:00 PM

I thought my ears were burning...

Here's the guide that I followed.

Betty · 02-24-2009, 07:19 PM

CoasterMatt - Thanks for the link. I too had found that guide you posted - but since I can't get the drivers needed I guess it doesn't matter? I think that's what GD is saying.

Andrew - I can't get a laptop with the specs I need for a reasonable price with XP. The choices tend to be this one or that one online or a VERY expensive one. ($3k-6k!) Can't get one in a store at all.

What's frustrating to me is that this problem is only going to get worse and there is nothing I can do to get the other program upgraded... too many other day to day priorities for that department.

Oh well.

Pirate Bill · 02-25-2009, 09:11 AM

Instead of dual boot, have you looked into virtualization? The user can continue to use Vista as the main OS, but instead of going through the trouble of rebooting to use another OS for one program he can just open a virtual machine.

VMware has a free client and is easy to use. You can get pre-built virtual machines here. (Even though it's "linux box" you can install any OS.)

Virtual Box is another good free alternative and doesn't require the use of a pre-built virtual machine.

Betty · 02-25-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate Bill

Instead of dual boot, have you looked into virtualization? The user can continue to use Vista as the main OS, but instead of going through the trouble of rebooting to use another OS for one program he can just open a virtual machine.

VMware has a free client and is easy to use. You can get pre-built virtual machines here. (Even though it's "linux box" you can install any OS.)

Virtual Box is another good free alternative and doesn't require the use of a pre-built virtual machine.

Hmmm - interesting. I'll have to look into that. Not something I have any experience in - but I'm a quick learner.

Ghoulish Delight · 02-25-2009, 10:25 AM

For a single app, VM is definitely the way to go, good call, PB.

Betty · 02-25-2009, 10:28 AM

Can I use a laptop already purchased with Vista installed to do this - and not have XP drivers - and have it all work (in theory)?

Ghoulish Delight · 02-25-2009, 10:29 AM

Yes. VMware will install as an application in Vista.

02-24-2009, 05:17 PM	#1
Betty Kicking up my heels! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Silver State Posts: 3,783	Dual boot Vista and XP with Vista installed first Most new laptops have only Vista available. Those with XP have it as a downgrade where you usually pay more for the computer and pay again for the downgrade. I have a computer user that recently bought a laptop with Vista. The computer has to run XP to run our computer design software. Until we upgrade, it's not Vista compatible. We've got the upgrade but upgrading and testing it with our huge machinery is not a quick or painless process and is something that I'm not involved in. I've installed XP on laptops that came with Vista before. Coworker brought his new HP laptop to me to put XP on. I go to search for drivers and don't come up with much. I contact HP and the first thing they tell me is that not everything may work or have a driver but that they'll help. They eventually point me to a page with at least the drivers so I can get online and get the video to a decent level. Not a whole lot else really works based on those drivers. I chat more, try different drivers and this goes on and on. Eventually I restore Vista, give the guy his laptop back and tell him I can't do it. I consider myself more than an intermediate user but less then advanced - especially in network issues. Anyway, it occurs to me just now that what about a dual boot of the computer? How difficult is that to do? And will I have the same driver issues as before or is there some sort of magic that happens with a dual boot and I can get around that? I don't think it will work because of the driver issue... right? If not - can you think of any creative solution? This is only going to become more of an issue - not less. I don't want to upgrade everything to Vista - just this damn program - and the current version we're on isn't Vista compatible. __________________ Nee Stell Thue
	Submit to Quotes

02-24-2009, 05:31 PM	#2
Andrew Making Good Girls Go Bad Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Palo Alto, CA Posts: 734	I'd start by installing XP on a clean machine (back up first, of course) and then install Vista. I believe there is an option in Vista's install procedure to leave XP on the machine so you can dual-boot. I doubt you will have any success installing XP on a Vista machine. __________________ -- Andrew Just Andrew. Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. (I am large, I contain multitudes.) -- Walt Whitman, "Song of Myself"
	Submit to Quotes

02-24-2009, 05:38 PM	#3
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	If you couldn't find drivers for XP, then it's not going to work. If you can find drivers, then it's doable. Are there 2 hard drives in the laptop? That's would be the easiest, just go through XP setup and install to the drive that Vista isn't on. If there's only one drive, then you might have to start fresh and partition the drive. Unless you have a utility like Partition Magic. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

02-24-2009, 06:00 PM	#4
CoasterMatt BRAAAAAAAINS! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: One Step Beyond... Posts: 8,802	I thought my ears were burning... Here's the guide that I followed. __________________ Do you like my photography? Visit photosbymatt.tumblr.com to purchase prints!
	Submit to Quotes

02-24-2009, 07:19 PM	#5
Betty Kicking up my heels! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Silver State Posts: 3,783	CoasterMatt - Thanks for the link. I too had found that guide you posted - but since I can't get the drivers needed I guess it doesn't matter? I think that's what GD is saying. Andrew - I can't get a laptop with the specs I need for a reasonable price with XP. The choices tend to be this one or that one online or a VERY expensive one. ($3k-6k!) Can't get one in a store at all. What's frustrating to me is that this problem is only going to get worse and there is nothing I can do to get the other program upgraded... too many other day to day priorities for that department. Oh well. __________________ Nee Stell Thue
	Submit to Quotes

02-25-2009, 09:11 AM	#6
Pirate Bill Quality since 1973 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Right here Posts: 473	Instead of dual boot, have you looked into virtualization? The user can continue to use Vista as the main OS, but instead of going through the trouble of rebooting to use another OS for one program he can just open a virtual machine. VMware has a free client and is easy to use. You can get pre-built virtual machines here. (Even though it's "linux box" you can install any OS.) Virtual Box is another good free alternative and doesn't require the use of a pre-built virtual machine.
	Submit to Quotes

02-25-2009, 10:25 AM	#8
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	For a single app, VM is definitely the way to go, good call, PB. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes

02-25-2009, 10:28 AM	#9
Betty Kicking up my heels! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Silver State Posts: 3,783	Can I use a laptop already purchased with Vista installed to do this - and not have XP drivers - and have it all work (in theory)? __________________ Nee Stell Thue
	Submit to Quotes

02-25-2009, 10:29 AM	#10
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	Yes. VMware will install as an application in Vista. __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
	Submit to Quotes