View Full Version : Dual boot without wiping HD?
wisedude
10-08-2006, 07:37 PM
I have windows XP, just downloaded and burned vista RC2. Can I dual boot without first wiping my hd? If so, please tell me how!
daytripper67mi
10-08-2006, 08:08 PM
create an empty partition,boot from vista disk choose the empty patition to install vista,itll create the boot manager automatically,i used partition magic to create the partition
wisedude
10-09-2006, 08:13 AM
Will creating an empty partition risk destroyin geverything on my current one? Also, if I decide vista sucks can I easily remove the partition, delete vista, and have it boot always in to xp?
XSAlliN
10-09-2006, 09:49 AM
You can format the partition whit Vista on it but you'll need to set new bot parametres or you'll see both OS at start, that's the only minor problem, XP will be just fine.
wisedude
10-09-2006, 10:16 AM
You can format the partition whit Vista on it but you'll need to set new bot parametres or you'll see both OS at start, that's the only minor problem, XP will be just fine.
Alright, that all went over my head. Basically, I installed XP with all the default settings. Now, to create a partition for Vista, what EXACTLY do I do with the norton partition magic program. I don't want to lose my data and I want to keep my XP install..
illmatik
10-09-2006, 10:19 AM
If you had XP create and take all available disk space at install, then you need partition magic to resize your XP partition to make room for the Vista one. Just make sure you have enough free space on your XP partition for the vista one or you will lose data! (I don't think newer versions of PMagic will let you do this or will at least warn you, but the earlier versions didnt)
wisedude
10-09-2006, 10:28 AM
I have a 250 gig HD. If the default setting is XP taking all the space, then that's what I did. So am I CREATING a new partition, or resizing? I don't really understand how I can resize if I just have on to begin with.. Please explain
XSAlliN
10-09-2006, 02:43 PM
Now, to create a partition for Vista...
You instaled Vista on the same partition whit WinXP? :nono:
Just copy the data you don't want to losse to other partition (you could make a BackUp of WinXp and Program Files), Format and go whit a clean instal of WinXP - the only clean solution, in the future don't repeat this mistake - 1 OS per Partition (create more partions if you need more then one).
wisedude
10-09-2006, 05:34 PM
No lol, i've yet to install vista. I'm just saying, if I have a SINGLE partition, how can I resize it? Don't I need to create another one, and doesn't that entail erasing it all? Also, how big should the vista partition be..
XSAlliN
10-10-2006, 09:18 AM
how big should the vista partition be..
At this question only Time can answer, as you can see aplications get more complex and some of them get biger whit every version they realease.
PS.Don't you have more partitions? (you need at least two partition per system - unless you have a smal HDD, real small 230 MB :) )
dig412
10-11-2006, 05:42 AM
You could use http://www.sysresccd.org/Main_Page to shrink your XP partition so you have a few GB over whats being used. You can then create a new partition that takes up the reast of the drive to put Vista on.
How much room you leave for XP depends on which OS you plan on using more. Is vista just for playing with, or are you going to switch over fully?