How do I create a xp/vista dual boot drive?

[zompton]

As i posted before i am getting Vista 64 in a few day. I have decided i would like to keep all the existing data on my hard drive and create another partition for vista on the same hard drive. Is this possible without re-installing xp again? If so how would i go about doing this during installation? When its all done, would i just change the boot drive in the bios to pick the OS, or is there an easier way? Here is my system specs again;

Case: Antect 900
CPU: Q6600 B3
RAM: 4GB DDR2 800
GFX: 8800 GTX
HDD: WD320AAKS (current xp install, i want vista on this drive too) and WD500AAKS (data storage only)
MB: Abit IP35 Pro
Sound: Creative Xfi Xtremegamer
DVD: Asus DVD Bruner x2

If anyone could explain this process for me that would be great, thanks.

 

[coldneutron]

u could do it that way. just google xp/vista dual boot to find step by step guides. vista will use its boot loader for both os and give u a choice at boot. if u don't already have another partition u will have to create one with a program like partition magic or gparted.

however, since u already have 2 hd, i would load vista on the other hd with the first hd disconnected. then use the quick boot feature of the bios to select the hd to boot from.

 

[zompton]

The 500GB has roughly 80GB free, and thats because I have already deleted every thing i don't mind losing. If i cant keep my current xp install (say on 120gb) and add the new Vista install (on the other 200GB) then ill just do vista alone.

 

[carver_g]

As i posted before i am getting Vista 64 in a few day. I have decided i would like to keep all the existing data on my hard drive and create another partition for vista on the same hard drive. Is this possible without re-installing xp again? If so how would i go about doing this during installation? When its all done, would i just change the boot drive in the bios to pick the OS, or is there an easier way? Here is my system specs again;

Case: Antect 900
CPU: Q6600 B3
RAM: 4GB DDR2 800
GFX: 8800 GTX
HDD: WD320AAKS (current xp install, i want vista on this drive too) and WD500AAKS (data storage only)
MB: Abit IP35 Pro
Sound: Creative Xfi Xtremegamer
DVD: Asus DVD Bruner x2

If anyone could explain this process for me that would be great, thanks.

I had that exact situation today: XP already loaded on a drive, one partition using all the space, and the client wanted to dual-boot Vista on the same drive to do some software testing.

I followed the steps on this website and it worked great:

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_xp__stepbystep_guide_with_screenshots.htm

After all is done, you will get a menu after post where you can choose to boot XP or Vista.

 

[zompton]

Okay there is one problem i forgot to mention. When i installed xp i forgot not to plug in the flash card readers. Right now my primary drive is the I drive. If i follow that guide, will i be able to set the vista partition to C, xp partition to D, then add the flash card readers cd drives ect ect?