Dual Boot Vista/XP?? (Vanity)

Self | March 1, 2007 | Self

[CedarDave]

Pardon a vanity, please. So many articles are coming out about Vista horrors (I'm on Shadowace's Tech ping list) I need to ask a question and get assistance.

My out-of-state sister, a complete computer newbie with absolutely no knowledge of how they work or why except how to save a Word document at the office, went and ordered one from Dell last month so she can get email and do some web browsing when she retires later this year.

They sent her one with a Vista OS and what she is finding out is the almost no one can help her do the most minimal of tasks -- friends who know about XP can't assist and even her new high speed internet provider says they do not support the Vista system. They put the cable modem in and that was it. Her wait time on technical assistance from Dell has been lengthy and she has trouble understanding the techies from India (no one ever told her how to shut down a computer so she had problems trying to startup after using the "off" button a few times).

However, she told me today that, BTW, they sent her an XP OEM disc with the computer!! I'm planning on calling Dell for her and see if the XP system version can be installed (maybe it is already, I don't know).

Do I want a dual boot or should I just have the Vista OS un-installed and have her run only XP? Comments anyone?

And, no, she isn't going to buy a Mac.

[Woodman]

You do not usually need to use a different partition for a duel boot unless you want to use a different disk management system (NTSF vs. FAT32).

[Woodman]

Are you sure, I know that was true when doing Win 9x vs NT, but I don't think that holds up as long as it is all NTFS. It is entirely possible I am wrong, I did say sight unseen. Personally I always do some research before I leap.

[Doohickey]

Won't work. Trust me. Vista doesn't use boot.ini

[roaddog727]

Vaporize Vista and Load XP as a single OS

[Woodman]

If that's true than you are right. How does Vista support multiboot? Or does Vista support it at all?

[Woodman]

DoHickey says don't follow my advice, stick with him for now.

[Woodman]

Why throw out something he paid for. At a minimum create a legal VISTA CD and install it later when ready for prime time.

[Doohickey]

Vista uses something called BCD (Boot configuration data) instead of NtLdr so that it can support EFI systems. Sure, you can multi-boot with it, but you need to install the legacy PC/AT BIOS OSes first.

[Woodman]

Makes sense.

[dennisw]

You are right about the Dell XP OEM disc. But dig this --- 4 years ago my sister got a Dell with Windows Millennium with a free XP upgrade. The XP upgrade turned out to be an XP Home disc that could be put on any darn computer. In fact I installed it in mine, used it for one year until she wanted it back to upgrade to XP

That's how chaotic the Millennium-XP crossover was

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Couldn't resist, huh?

I do not own a Mac. Have never owned a Mac.
In fact, I usually cruise through Swordmaker's Mac threads to play disruptor.
But based upon CedarDave's sister's needs, the Mac clearly presented the best option.

Plus, you're right. I couldn't resist the urge to run about screaming, "Shoulda bought a Mac. Shoulda bought a Mac!"

[Woodman]

There is a way, but it is more difficult.

From this KB Article: http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/85cd5efe-c349-427c-b035-c2719d4af7781033.mspx?mfr=true
...
How to modify BCD when installing a previous version of Windows onto a computer running Windows Vista
To install an older Windows operating system on a computer running Windows Vista, use the following procedure.

To install a previous version of Windows onto a computer running Windows Vista

1. Install the previous version of Windows.

2. Log on to the older operating system and restore the latest boot manager by running the following. Fixntfs.exe will be in the \boot directory of the active partition.

fixntfs /lh

3. Create a BCD entry for the older operating system by specifying the following. Bcdedit.exe is located in the \Windows\System32 directory of the Windows Vista partition. Description is the description of the new entry for the older operating system.

Bcdedit /create {legacy} /d “Description”

Bcdedit /set {legacy} device boot

Bcdedit /set {legacy} path \ntldr

Bcdedit /displayorder {legacy} /addlast

4. Restart the computer in order for the changes to take effect.
...

[Barrett 50BMG]

"That gets back to my original question about a dual boot machine. If both OS are on it, the original diagnostics should remain."

EasyBCD 1.52

She would still be better off with a single boot machine im opinion... but well... there you go... If you want you could also put Linux on there for her, she could have a tri-boot system. ;)

[Barrett 50BMG]

"Won't work. Trust me. Vista doesn't use boot.ini"

Vista uses BCD...

[dennisw]

You would want Dell to install XP because there are Dell diagnostics and other programs that help Dell diagnose problems remotely (over the internet)

That gets back to my original question about a dual boot machine. If both OS are on it, the original diagnostics should remain.

They will be on the Vista partition only. She will not be able to have Dell remotely diagnose her XP problems unless she can somehow load Dell diagnostics onto it, Which is not a big deal but would be for her. She might be able to install diagnostics with Dell tech help. 

Does she have 512mb memory? If she has that and not 1gb then Vista isn't worth using anyhow.

I see Office Deport and others selling lots of base level computers that had XP two months ago and now have Vista. The specifications are the same. Memory only 512mb. This is ridiculous because XP runs OK on 512 but not Vista

[Woodman]

Yes and it can be configured, but even in the article I cite, it is recommended to install the older system first.

[6ppc]

Or do you have to tell it what to do everytime?

I upgraded an XP box to Vista at work and it comes up to a dual boot screen that defaults to the last version you booted. It automatically starts if you don't intervene within a few seconds.

I'm afraid talking her through an XP install may be a challenge in itself, much less a format and XP install to a clean hard disk. Also with Dell machines you generally have to reinstall drivers from a separate CD one at time...real pain in the butt.

[Barrett 50BMG]

Yes and it can be configured, but even in the article I cite, it is recommended to install the older system first.

IF you want a dual-boot/multi-boot system, I like using Linux and then use GRUB as the boot manager... IF anything ever goes haywire you can easily boot from the live CD and reinstall the Grub boot manager and it will fine all your windows partitions again..

PCLinuxOS is good for this.

[Woodman]

Been there done that. Does GRUB work correctly with VISTA?

[Barrett 50BMG]

"Been there done that. Does GRUB work correctly with VISTA?"

yep.