There is an update for Windows XP that will update the network settings for workgroups that have mix of XP and Vista machines.
I am expecting to need to do this on Tuesday for a family member in Uni. Thankfully the Uni’s IT dept posted a bulletin about the problem. So if this works (or not), please ping us back and let us know.
Dual boot is not necessary. Follow this:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922120
Make sure to d/l and install SP3 BEFORE you install the microsoft hotfix.
Prerequisites
To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP SP3 installed on a 32-bit computer.
Once you get the hotfix running, you can uninstall Vista.
Dual booting with Vista is a massive headache, you will find your best answer from Linux forums (people are triple booting Xp, Vista, Linux), because the Vista bootloader destroyed GRUB and LILO bootloaders.
You say I have to have 32-bit XP running? Does that mean that 64-bit won’t work in this case? If that’s the case, then why in the world didn’t Microsoft take this into consideration when designed the software? Rheutorical question, not really expecting an answer.
Something else I thought of; does anything need to be done to the Vista machines to let them see seen by the XP machine?