how do I partition a HD when my computer has windows xp and I can't start up in dos mode?

Question

I am trying to partition my Hard Drive, so that I can run Windows XP and Windows Vista (Vista on the new partition). I want to gradually move to Vista without having to clear everything off my HD right away.

Answer 1

You can forget about DOS mode. You'll simply install both XP and Vista using NTFS, and you'll have no reason to format a FAT32 (DOS-oriented) partition. Vista won't support it.

Once you have one of the OSs installed. Put in the installation disk for the second OS. Don't try to install while Windows is open. Put the installation disk in, turn off the computer. Turn it back on, and press any key to boot from the CD. You'll be given the option at this point to install on a partition of a size you'll create at this point.

Describe the new partition and complete the installation of the second OS on the newly-created partition.

When you reboot, you'll see that you now have the option to choose which of the OSs you want to work with.

You're taking the path that I recommend users consider to gradually move from XP to Vista.

Answer 2

Bad news: Neither Windows XP nor Vista are DOS based operating systems: You are going to have to load you DOS operating system from an external drive: You can set up your partitions through there.

Two ways to do this: One is when computer first comes up go to your start up menu: You should have command there asking where to use internal or different drive on start up. But you are going to have to have a DOS disc in your external drive. I use my 3" floppy drive:

Or. once up go to run and click on CMD then load your DOS through there. But if on your computer it is like on mine you get a dinky little window, You might want to start up in DOS.

More bad news: Talking to Computer Tech the other day and he told me they are still having problems with Vista. You might want to hold off switching to Vista until they get all the bugs out.

Yeah I know it is a major pain in the @ss especially like me where all my programs like my AutoCad, Basic, C++, and Allen Bradley are DOS based, so I can't run them in XP.

Answer 3

Why would you want to go into DOS?
Repartitioning can be done in Windows XP. Use a reliable disk manager (e.g. Acronis Disk Director). It also has a utility called OS Selector so that you can choose your OS with one click.