How To Run Vista And XP On The Same Machine

Have you been wondering whether you'll be able to run Vista and XP for a passing fancy machine with upgrading XP, or trying to find a way to switch between Windows XP and Vista on account of issues with legacy software, appear and feel, testing, curiosity, etc.? In this article you will discover useful specifics of upgrading from XP to Vista. This information is also valuable should you be running Windows XP and want to fit Vista beside XP in a very dual-boot configuration.

In a dual-boot configuration you install Vista side-by-side with Windows XP, or the opposite way round. Upon booting your computer you are able to decide which computer to start. You will be shown the way to setup a dual-boot with XP installed first, how you can dual-boot Vista and XP with Vista installed first, and the way to revert a dual boot configuration time for Windows XP or Vista only.

Important note: Before you change your system to Vista or implement a dual-boot configuration you have to make a backup of one's entire computer configuration including all programs and data. Store the full system backup elsewhere than on the local computer.

Upgrading

If you are thinking about upgrading your laptop from Windows XP to Vista download the Windows Vista Upgrade Adviser, a tiny program and that is helpful to you in determining whether your pc is ready for Windows Vista. The tool scans your personal machine and generates a comprehensive report of your respective system’s hardware and software Vista readiness including drivers. Any compatibility issue detected carries a tip of tips on how to resolve it, plus the Windows Vista Upgrade Adviser tool is really a recommendation which edition of Vista will are perfect for you.

Here’s the hyperlink to the introduction to the Windows Vista editions together with their price tags. Check out the Vista upgrade paths from previous versions including Windows XP together with the available installations options: A clean install by using transferring programs and data manually always works, however some upgrades can additionally be made by using in-place installations.

Please note in addition that with Windows Anytime Upgrade it is possible to upgrade Windows Vista to a more powerful edition of Vista at any time later when you really need the better version. In case you have special hardware and you're simply unsure when it works with Windows Vista examine the vendor’s website or go to Windows Vista Compatibility Center.

You obtain the different Vista editions’ varying hardware requirements including RAM, processor speed and hard disk capacity inside the “Windows Vista recommended system requirements”. As a rule of thumb you need to at least double Microsoft’s “minimum” dependence on good system performance and acceptable buyer experience.

Dual-Boot Configuration

In a dual-boot configuration you install Vista side-by-side with Windows XP, or the other way round; upon booting your computer you may decide which computer to start. In order to configure your personal machine for dual-booting Windows Vista and Windows you must have one partition for each computer. You will be shown how you can create free space for just a second partition without third-party tools inside the sections below. We then install the 2nd Windows on top of the free space, thereby creating the 2nd partition.

Please note that

• in a very Windows XP/Vista dual-boot setup programs ought to be installed just as before for your second Windows, whether it is either XP or Vista.

• although data on either partition will be shared, you could possibly opt to produce a third partition for data just to facilitate removing of XP or Vista.

How to dual-boot Vista and XP with XP installed first

If your personal machine has XP installed keep your system is Vista ready as outlined from the section Upgrading above. Because Windows Vista makes a lot of temporary files during setup we'll have to get back approximately 16 GB of disk space.

1. Boot for your CD/DVD ROM drive together with the Vista installation DVD inserted

2. Proceed using the installation and soon you see Type your product or service key for activation

3. Press Shift + F10

4. Type Diskpart

5. Type List Volume

6. Type Select Volume X; X being the NTFS Partition you intend to shrink to generate free disk space

7. Type shrink minimum=16000

8. Type Exit

9. Continue the setup, and install Windows Vista on the unpartitioned space

10. When Vista has become installed download and install the Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86)

11. Download and install EasyBCD

12. Launch EasyBCD

13. Click Change Settings

14. Rename Earlier Versions of Windows to Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional, whatever you decide to have

15. Click Save Settings

16. Exit EasyBCD and restart your personal computer

The Windows Boot Manager now permits you to choose between XP and Vista at boot time.

How to dual-boot Vista and XP with Vista installed first

1. In Start Search type diskmgmt.msc. Alternatively it is possible to boot in the Vista DVD you need to DISKPART as outlined inside the previous section.

2. In Disk Management right-click a partition and select Shrink Volume. Enter the volume of space to shrink in MB (approx. 10 GB) and click on Shrink. Then close Disk Management.

If you have DISKPART:

a) Type List Volume

b) Type Select Volume X; X being the NTFS Partition you need to shrink to produce free disk space

c) Type shrink desired=10240

d) Type Exit

e) Click the cross with top right corner with the install screen.

f) Click Yes to verify that you wish to cancel the install. Eject the Vista setup DVD

3. Boot your personal computer with your Windows XP setup DVD and install XP to the free space

4. Download and install the Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0 Redistributable Package (x86)

5. Download and install EasyBCD

6. Launch EasyBCD

7. Click Add/remove Entries, after which change the drive on the partition the place you installed XP. In Type customize the dropdown menu to Windows NT/2k/XP/2k3

8. Change Name to Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional, anything you have

9. Click Add Entry, as well as the click Save

10. Click Manage Bootloader. Select Reinstall the Vista Bootloader. Click Write MBR

11. Exit EasyBCD and restart your laptop

How to Revert a Dual Boot Configuration Back to Vista or Windows XP only

If you will no longer want Windows XP

2. In Manage Existing Entries select Windows XP, and after that click Delete. Click Yes. Click Save

3. Exit EasyBCD and restart your personal machine

4. Free up the disk space with the XP partition with Vista diskmgmt.msc, or, alternatively, use Diskpart’s extend command

If providing want Vista

1. Open EasyBCD

2. In Manage Bootloader, select Uninstall the Vista Bootloader (use to revive XP). Click Write MBR

3. Exit EasyBCD

4. Boot in your CD/DVD ROM drive together with the Vista DVD inserted

5. Continue the “install” soon you see Type your service key for activation

6. Press SHIFT + F10

7. Type Diskpart

8. Type List Volume

9. Type Select Volume Y; Y being the Partition you intend to extend

10. Type Extend (All on the free contiguous free space about the disk can be used)

11. Type Exit

12. Click the cross at the top right corner. Click Yes to verify that you need to cancel the install.