Partition hard drive and make a dual boot?

Question

I want to create a new partition for my HP laptop, so I can install Vista and keep XP. How exactly do I go about doing that? Also, I need to have a double boot, so i can pick XP or Vista at startup. I know it can be done, but I have NO idea how.

Please and thank you!

Answer 1

Here's how:

(Word to the Wise: it is always a good idea to back-up your files when doing something of this nature.)

Step 1: Partitioning
First you need to create a partition. You said you were using an HP system. Under the Start menu in PC Help & Tools, you should see something to make an HP PC Recovery Tools CD. Create the CD than boot from it. Follow the instructions to create a partion. You can only do this once though, so choose the size carefully. You need to pick it large enough so you can hold what you want to. I wouldn't recommend going lower than 20 GB. After the partitioning is complete, the computer should reboot and load XP normally. Go to My Computer and verify that the new partition is there. Make note of the drive letter.

(If by a rare chance your HP did not come with the partitioner, you can also use the free Gparted live cd partitioner. It can be found at http://gparted.sourceforge.net/index.php

Step 2: Installation
Since you want to dual-boot, you have to boot the compputer from the Vista disk. When you get to the screen where it asks you if you want to Upgrade or Clean install. Choose Clean. Then it should let you pick the drive to install. Choose the newly created partition. Then continue with the installation until it's complete.

Step 3: Configure
When the installation is done, each time you start up the computer it will ask you which one to start. Vista will usually be the default startup option and there is usually 30 seconds to pick a choice. XP will become "Earlier Version of Windows". To change thse settings, boot into Vista. Press Start then right click the computer button and choose properties. Then on the left panel, choose Advanced System Settings. Under Startup and Recovery, click on the settings button. In the top section of the new box, it will give you some options. You can pick which operating system to select by default and how long to show the menu. I recommend you leave the recovery options time at the default. After you are done making changes. Restart and the boot menu should reflect your new changes.

Enjoy your new dual booting system.

If by chance you want to undo the dual boot setup, there is a great tutorial here: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20060622/installing-and-uninstall-vista-beta-2-for-dual-boot-with-xp/ You will need another partitioner though. You can use the Gparted one that I mentioned earlier.

Answer 2

There are some neat things that have been added to Vista but certainly not worth the trouble of partitioning your hard drive for. Vista is a resource hog so there is a good chance that if your computer is around a year old its going to squeak by at best. XP will work fine for now. I am on a Vista machine and there are a few things that I wish I had my XP machine back for. Keep in mind that the corporate world has not even thought about changing yet, XP is a robust and stable OS, not quite as good as Apple but it works.

Answer 3

There are various programs that will allow you to choose which partition i.e os to boot of.
If you install most Linux OS - ubuntu , mandiva etc etc they install this service as a matter of course so that uers can choose which os - windows , linux or other linux to use
This would be a solution if you have enough hard drive space
I would not want to dual boot vista and xp on the same partition
asking for trouble
Why even bother with vista in the first place ?

Answer 4

this is how u do it !!
1)clean fomrat your hard dirve or atleast the c drive
2)install xp in c drive (u have to install the earlier windows first)
3)now when u will b done wid this configure this to use it according to ur needs
4)once done insert windows vista dvd in xp and select new installation
5)now here make sure u select any partion other then c
6)n the setup will take over then
BINGO u done !

now when vista will b installed u will get 30 seconds to choose between xp and vista (default will b vista)
take care

Answer 5

Control panel, administrator tools. shrink the hard drive to get it half the size. you created UN allocated space now create partition in that space and format that new partition then install vista on it.

Answer 6

Microsoft has all the answers. Best of luck.

How to create a multiple-boot system in Windows XP - Link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306559/en-us

Answer 7

Hi. You will usually be prompted at boot time. Just pick which one you want.

Answer 8

http://lifehacker.com/software/top/windows-vista-beta--how-to-dualboot-windows-xp-and-windows-vista-179906.php
This website gives you instructions on how to do what you wish.

Answer 9

check this out..it has screenshots too

http://apcmag.com/5023/dual_booting_xp_with_vista

hope that helps