Windows Vista Beta 2 Help

[spidross01]

Hi fellas

I want to try out that beta 2 of windows Vista, but i DO NOT want to wreck my system with a version of Vista that will not allow me to go back to XP Sp2. So my question is can i install on another hard drive attached to my pc that is empty, it is actually an internal 200GB running on its own, normally i use it to store just stuff and bits and bobs on or for putting stuff on before reformatting. My main drive is a 500Gb Sata. The Pc is fully up to speed for vista have checked.

The way i am thinking is creating a dual boot system, but is that possible if so how do i go about doing it and how do i swap operating systems??

Cheers in advance

[Luciel]

it's possible with xp and previous and i assume vista supports it, basically unplug ur xp hdd, plug the empty new one, install vista as if u had nothing else on the pc, then plug the xp hdd back on and when u start the system u will be give a choice of what os to start.

[spidross01]

cheers mate

but i was wondering if there was another way of doing it, i had thought about doing it that way, but didn't really want to mess around and start undoing dives etc.

I just recall reading something somehwere that it was possible to install another operating system on another drive/partitioning a drive and then when the PC start's up it gives you the choice with whcih drive to boot from

But really appreciate the reply mate and any other ideas are much appreciated

[DABhand]

You dont have to remove, but if you do and plug back the HDD you wont get the OS choice.


Best to have both in, and when asked during Vista install, choose the other HDD to install vista onto it, and you will get the choice at the start and your old XP installation will be intact.

[spidross01]

ok will give it a try, do i need to alter anything in bios to ensure that the computer looks at the second hard drive as well during the boot process or does it do it automatically when booting windows?

Many thanks for all the help by the way

[DABhand]

If its a fairly recent machine then it should see your 2nd HDD automatically (make sure if sharing the ribbon with another device that you make one master and one slave)

But no harm in looking to make sure all IDE channels are on auto.

[Luciel]

dab is right you dont have to remove but i said it just in case (better safe than sorry huh?) and it's not really removing, just unplug the power cable : )

[spidross01]

cheers fellas gonna give it a try today will let you knowand youare right better safe than sorry !

[Dieselbrad]

I just wanted to add you could just create a 5 gig partition on the same drive from the MMC and install Vista to that. When you boot the PC Windows Boot Loader will ask you to choose which Version of Windows you want to run.

Best off all. When you want to remove Vista you can just format that partition, and remove the Vista entry from the bootLoader using Msconfig.

If I understand Luciel correctly I think installing on 2 diff HDD will just prompt the Bios to choose the first one and boot? I never needed anything more than a Win/*nik combo so I'm not sure if Windows would detect the other install? Hmm

Let us know how it goes.

[TippeX]

dual boot worked for me, well its more a dual boot -> normal dual boot..
windows vista, then a 'windows legacy' menu...
course, my vista has expired now, so i get a nice bsod when i run it, didn't affect the dual boot though..

just install vista in xpsp2, it'll allow u to upgrade or install clean, install clean gives the dual boot option... only prob is i dunno how to uninstall it now to install the beta rc2 heh but i'll figure that out when i got time