Adding Windows XP To Create A Dual-Boot System With Windows Vista
 

An increasingly popular alternative to downgrading from Windows Vista to Windows XP is to create a dual-boot system (also known as a side-grade). Why would anybody want to have a dual-boot system?

The main reason to have a dual-boot system with Windows XP and Windows Vista is to wait for more Vista application and hardware drivers to be available on the market. Another reason might be to keep using older applications that are not planned to be supported by Windows Vista; this decision might be further determined by the version of Vista that you have (especially any 64 bit version). There is also an option in Windows Vista to run applications in a previous Windows mode.

You shouldn’t be overly concerned about Windows Vista being 100% compatible with other companies’ drives at the present. Many have already released their drivers and the rest will have to follow suit and upgrade their drivers and for release soon, too. Microsoft will be putting out new Service Packs (Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista is already out) and other upgrades, as always, so don’t be too hasty in retreating back to running only Windows XP. If you do choose to do so, it might just turn out to be the worst decision you have ever made for both you and your computer system! So, if some applications are working fine in Windows Vista why not continue to use them in Vista with a dual-boot to Windows XP? Of course, you won’t have access to those applications from Windows XP, and vise-versa, but you will be able to use them by simple booting to the operating system of choice! This just might equate to having the best of both worlds.

Still NOT Convinced?

Windows Vista is the latest Microsoft OS and it won’t be going away anytime soon; hopefully not for at least another 5 – 7 years when Microsoft releases there next operation system; a nightmare cycle doomed to repeat itself, yet again, for many! Thus, it just might be better to hang on to Windows Vista; especially if your system fully supports the O/S and if you have the extra space on your hard drive required to use a dual boot system. With the current capacity of hard drives this shouldn’t pose any problems, these days, unless you have already overloaded your system since installing Windows Vista or buying it preloaded.

Pre-installation Preparations

Go onto the internet and perform a search to ensure that Windows XP drivers are available for your system from the manufacturer of your system and/or from the motherboard manufacturer before you start to install Windows XP. In addition, make sure that you have SATA Controller drivers available for Windows XP for your SATA drive installed on the system. The SATA drivers will be essential in order for Windows XP setup to be able to view the installation partition. Copy all of the required files to CD and use it when prompted during installation of Windows XP. Also include Service Pack 2 with the downloaded files if the Windows XP CD or files doesn’t already include it.

It would also be prudent of you to check with your system manufacturer to see if your computer system warranty allows a dual-boot-system without voiding all guarantees, warranties and support. Many of the newer systems (especially the 64 bit systems) are also designed and configured to only run with either a 32 bit or a 64 bit O/S like Windows Vista. This is mostly due to newer hardware and drivers. You should investigate all aspects and scenarios before committing to change your system configuration.

Post Windows XP Installation

After you’ve installed Windows XP and all of the software and applications you need, you will have a choice between using either of the two systems each time you boot your computer. Alternatively, you can preset your computer to boot to the O/S of choice and still have the option to change to the other O/S during the boot process.

Even if you only choose to use XP for now, and later reuse Vista, it will save you a lot of time, energy, and resources in the long run. When choosing to have a dual-boot system you’ll still have to either continue to update Vista, your applications, and hardware on an on-going basis as patches and drivers become readily available, or all at the same time at some point later on down the road. Either way you’ll still be ahead of those who decided to downgrade to Windows XP.

Creating a New Partition for Windows XP

A new partition table is required to be made before installing Windows XP to create a dual-boot system with Windows Vista.

Getting Started

• Click “Start” and enter “computer.”

• Then, select “Computer Management” from the menu.

Shrink your Vista Partition

• In the left pane, click “Disk Management.”

• In the center pane, right-click the “C:” drive and at the bottom choose “Shrink Volume”.

Installation

Changing the drive letters will leave the drive partition structure in a less confusing form than having the hard drive partitions irregularly lettered. It will not alter the way the DVD drive functions. The letter “D:” will be available for the new Windows XP partition. (Note that if you already have a drive “D:” you should use “F:” for your DVD/CD drive and “E:” for your new partition.)

• After the primary partition has been shrunk there will be Unallocated space displayed in black. You should change the drive letter of the DVD drive by inserting a DVD or CD into the DVD drive and closing it.

• When the Autoplay dialog box appears, right click the DVD drive in Disk Management and select "Change drive letter and paths..." and then click Change.

• From the drop down menu to the right of the dialog box that appears, select “E:” and click OK, and then click Yes when asked to confirm your action.

• Remove the CD or DVD from the drive.

Allocate Space

The amount of space you want to allocate for the new partition for Windows XP should be carefully considered. It's recommended that you take into account space required for programs and future data to be saved there. Also, take into consideration the amount of space that will still be available to Windows Vista. The hard drive size will be your decisive guide when selecting the amount of space to allocate to each of the operating systems. A minimum of 10 GigiBytes is a good guideline to follow.

• Click “Start” and enter “computer.”

• Then, select “Computer Management” from the menu.

• In the left pane, click “Disk Management.”

• In the center pane, right-click the “C:” drive and choose “Create New Volume”.

• Look for a box labeled “XXXXX gigabytes unallocated,” where XXXXX is the amount of space you entered.

• Right-click the box and choose New Simple Volume.

• Enter the amount of space desired in the box that appears click OK, and then click Yes when asked to confirm your action.

Create a new partition

Now, the Windows XP partition can be created using the unallocated space to make identification of your XP installation drive easier to recognize.

• Right click the unallocated space and select "New simple volume".

• Follow the "New simple volume Wizard" and accept the defaults until you get to "Volume label" and type XP.

• Then, select "Quick Format" to speed up the process.

• Follow through the wizard to completion. Click OK, and then click Yes when asked to confirm your action.

Set the Drive Configuration

At this point it is critical that you close all open utilities on the computer, so that the changed hard disk drive structure is fully accepted and incorporated into the Windows Vista configuration settings. The computer will require to be rebooted twice to finalize the setting up of the new partition.

• Close Disk Management.

• Exit the Computer Management utility.

• Reboot the PC for Windows Vista to begin the new drive configuration process.

• Reboot the PC again to complete the new drive configuration.

Install Windows XP

Now, that all of the pre-installation preparations have been completed you are ready to install Windows XP as one of the final steps in creating a dual-boot system with Windows Vista.

• Put the Windows XP CD in the DVD or CD drive and reboot the computer.

• Follow the installation instructions; be certain to select the new partition “D”, not the C: drive, for your Windows XP as the destination drive.

• Remember to use the CD you made with drivers and any other updates when prompted for them.

VistaBootPRO Utility

Once you've installed Windows XP, you'll need to run a free utility called VistaBootPRO (some versions of Windows Vista come with this utility) to configure a boot menu for your system. Note that it’s not possible to boot into Windows Vista for the time being. If you need a copy of the utility it can be found on the internet.

• First, install VistaBootPRO. Be certain to follow the prompt to install Net Framework 2.00 as VistaBootPRO will not run without it.

• Next, install the Vista bootloader.

• Then, Open VistaBootPRO (ignore the prompt to backup drives B:, C:, and D:).

• Next, find the System Bootloader tab, select "Windows Vista Bootloader".

• Then, select "All Drives" from the first section and then in the second section.

• Next, click Install Bootloader.

• Then, go to the Diagnostics item found on the menu bar and select "Run Diagnostics". VistaBootPRO will return back to the Manage OS Entries page and display entries for "Earlier versions of Windows" as well as "Microsoft Windows Vista".

• Finally, reboot the computer system one last time (for now).

• After the reboot, The Vista dual-boot menu will appear displaying a Windows Vista option and a Windows XP option (in the Earlier versions of Windows menu).

• Select the Windows XP to boot.

• At this point you should revisit the internet for additional updates for your Windows XP installation.

• Next, you can start to install all of the programs and software that you want to use with Windows XP, keep in mind the partition size, and then revisit the internet as required to update drivers and to find more patches.

Alternative Option

There is another way to run Vista on computers systems that don’t support all of its features, but gives you the same look and feel. So, if you’re still running 16-bit software that does not run on Vista and you prefer not to downgrade or to have a true dual-boot system you can try a Virtual PC version. Microsoft has a free download of its version and there are others out there to be found. You can have a Vista computer that allows you to also have, in a separate window, Windows XP. You shouldn’t encounter any problems running those old 16-bit applications still kicking around your office.