RE: Dual boot Vista over XP problem.



-----Original Message-----
From: Squidward [mailto:unununium333@xxxxxxxxxxx]
Posted At: Monday, September 24, 2007 8:46 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Dual boot Vista over XP problem.
Subject: Dual boot Vista over XP problem.

Hi,

Firstly forgive the longish post. My system is Dimension 8300 running
WinXP
Pro SP2 1Gb Ram 120gb HDD.

Basically I'm attempting to install Vista Ultimate OEM (32bit) along
side XP
Pro so as to dual boot.

I've found a way to do this from this guide
http://www.ehow.com/how_2029534_boot-vista-xp.html
but I've run into a problem.

According to XP's Disk Management I've got 2 partitions on my HDD. One
looks
like its hidden (no volume label) with a capacity of 55mb in FAT and
the
other is obviously my C: drive with a capacity of 111gb in NTFS. The
HDD
itself is "Basic" type not "Dynamic" and that's my problem, because if
I
want to install Vista as per the guide I have to be able to create a
"simple
volume" but this can only be achieved on a "dynamic" disk.

So my questions are

1) what is this FAT 55mb partition?
2) If I convert my disk from basic to dynamic what will happen to the
hidden
partition?
3) If the partition is something to do with Dell (ie restore
partition)
what
are the consequences if it gets lost in the conversion?

I hope someone knows what I'm on about here, not specifically Dell
related
but I live in hope. Any info appreciated.

Cheers

Rob
--
Red meat isn't bad for you, blue-green fuzzy meat is bad for you.



OK, here's a bunch of points:

1) the 55mb partition is your diagnostic partition. It's small -- leave
it alone
2) You do not want a dynamic disk.
3) You need either A) another partition or B) another drive.

To get another partition, you need a product like Partition Magic,
unless you're willing to reinstall XP. A MUCH better solution is to
just buy another drive, they're cheap, if your machine has a spot for
it.

All you do is install the drive, run the Vista setup FROM WITHIN XP and
install to the new drive. Vista will install the boot manager. If you
do figure out a way to create a new partition, it works the same way.

I have dual boot running fine on three of my systems.

.

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