Dual boot question(s)-XP & Vista

Lets say I have WinXP Pro on a SATA drive, and Vista on an IDE drive. If I boot to the SATA/XP drive, it will show the SATA as drive C: and the IDE as drive D: or E: or whatever. But if I boot to the IDE/Vista drive, will the SATA still be C: and will the IDE/Vista drive still be D: or E:? Or would booting to the IDE/Vista drive automatically label the booted drive as C:, and the SATA/XP would now be drive D: or E:? And would it really matter or effect anything? I'm thinking about a dual boot setup, and I already own the hard drives: a 160gb SATA currently running XP with all my apps, and I have an 80gb IDE 7200rpm collecting dust that I keep on ICE (In Case of Emergency). I'd like to put Vista on it the 80gb as a secondary OS; I'd be using the SATA/XP probably 85% percent of the time. Any ideas or suggestions? Any answers to the above drive letter question? Thanx in advance!

hopperdave2000

 

Hi Dave look at

http://technet2.microsoft.com/Windo...c349-427c-b035-c2719d4af7781033.mspx?mfr=true


Studio T

 

Apparently Vista is the guvna - and wants the C drive. It also does not like partition magic, which I lazely use, -I am still looking at other things - and like you, I have not installed my Vista yet, because, of these little niggles.
If you have Vista on, I would let it stay as C, rather than messing with boot files etc:
It will go on a seperate partition, so I will just accept it as C drive, and my XP as D, E, F, etc;.

 

this one didn't get much exposure at the time but may be of interest.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=123203


Studio T

 

I just replied to Studiots link
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=123203

But after more thought, I reckon will put mine, now on a seperate drive, and keep my XP seperate, and as mine is Sata, I think I will use selective startup choice from boot menu - Drive with Vista, Drive with XP .

 

Cool- thanx for the links and info. I haven't spent alot of time looking thru the links you helpful souls have provided (too freekin busy! Work is a four letter word )... I'll check 'em out soon tho'.....
Thanx again!

hopperdave2000

 

I've always had trouble dual booting Vista with XP until I got rid of the IDE drive. Ever since, I've had zero issues except for the problem between the chair and keyboard.

 

I used EasyBCD by NeoSmart Technologies for the dual boot, have no issues. EasyBCD is to be used in Vista tho.

 

Thanks for the infoPrivatePile-sir, I have not tried it, but will bear it in mind, if I don't get over Vista's dislike of partion magic - On Majorgeeks downloads
http://www.majorgeeks.com/compatibility13289.html