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Best dual boot XP & Vista setup?

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tokyotech   03-29-2008 at 05:59:44 PM

I'm going to build a new computer. It will have a new 500 GB Seagate 7200.11 32 MB cache. I want to reuse my current 500 GB Samsung Spinpoint 7200 RPM 16 MB cache, which is currently used only for backup storage. What's the best way to have both XP and Vista on the new computer (which is also possible to do)?

  • Vista on the new Seagate; XP on the the old Samsung (will all my files be wiped out during the installation?)
  • The reverse of the above
  • XP on 100GB partition on the new Seagate; Vista on the remaining 400GB; use the old Samsung as I have been all this time. XP will only be used to run Internet Explorer 6 and minimal web design tools.


Questions on the last method:

  • 1) will I be able to crossover to the XP partition to access the web sites I designed and use them on Vista? Or is there some barrier?
  • 2) Is it required to install a program on both partitions if I want to use that program on both Vista and XP?
  • 3) What's the best way to choose the partition sizes. The only reason I need XP is to run one freaking program: IE6... But to test on IE6, I need Photoshop, Dreamweaver, etc...

------------------------------ Gigabyte ga-p35-ds3l mobo, Wolfdale E8400 3.0Ghz, Evga GeForce 8800GT 600Mhz, Seagate 7200.11 500GB HDD, G.Skill 800 2GB DDR2, 500 W Enermax PSU, Windows XP 32 bit, Acer 22' LCD, Logitech X-540 5.1 Speakers, NZXT Apollo case.
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arkadi   03-29-2008 at 09:24:23 PM
- 0 +

I think you should make 2 shared data partitions
1. you can live the old drive the way it is
2.xp needs proximately 4-10 gb of space depend on the programs you will install. so make it 20-30gb so you will have some spare space.
3.Vista will use more, but 40 will do.
4.you will have 2 install the software separated 4 xp and vista, no way around it.
5.make 1 partition from what left (you will have total 4 partitions, 1 for Vista, second 4 XP , third 4 data, and 1 on second drive 4 data/backups.
6.If you want to gain some performance, you can make raid0 if your hardware supports it, but it will come on expanse of reliability, and you will have to move temporary you data from you old drive. (if you not sure, don't do it, raid is tricky when it comes 2 fixing something if you have a problem)
PS: Vista works much better with 2gb of ram, i see you got 1.


Message edited by arkadi on 03-29-2008 at 09:29:03 PM
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