How to install 2 OS in 1 computer?

I'm thinking of trying the Vista out but I don't wanna uninstall my XP in case I hate it. Can anyone write a short/simple guide?

 

You need to make a separate partition for Vista so that you don't overwrite your XP install. After that is done, boot up to the DVD and do a custom install to your new partition.

 

Oh, I already have a second partition. I use it as an easy backup. Anyways, how am I gonna choose the OS I want to boot?

 

Vista installs with a boot loader. As long as you do a clean install to your other partition, and not an upgrade install on your XP partition, you will get a choice on boot which OS you want to run, with Vista being your default OS.

I think you get 30 seconds to choose which OS.

 

Shit, my Vista won't load after I installed it. It comes out my mouse behind a black screen and restarts to do the same thing again.

 

Did you do as the others have suggested, format the partition before the install with an NTFS file system? (clean install) Did you install to the correct partition drive letter?
To format ofcourse means that any data you had previously on that partition will be lost, unless you have backed it up to a disc or whatever!

As Birdbath mentions, if this is done correctly, upon boot you will see a boot menu screen asking you to highlight which OS you wish to boot to, with the choices as Vista (default) or 'earlier version of windows' (namely XP).

Is it possible that you have installed vista on the unintended partition over the top of XP?.....you must check the drive letters for your partitions!

If all this checks out, maybe the install failed....so format first and try again

Regards...

 

Did you first check to see if your hardware supports Vista? Run Vista Advisor I don't know if that's your problem but it's a good place to start, could be your video card.

 

I've got a Radeon 9600 that supports DirectX9, Intel Celeron 1.7ghz and 512 RAM. I should be able to support them.

 

Personally I use removable hard drive bays. Keeps things simple (KISS). It also lets you experiment on hard drive that don't have anything important on them.

 

Known issue with ATI cards. Can you boot the Vista partion in safe mode? If yes, disable the ati card in device manager, reboot, and install the latest drivers from the ATI website.

Do you know if the installation definately, for sure, completed? The black screen may be for the final part of installation.

What usually works for this, assuming safe mode does not work, is to re-start the installation, wait until the final reboot (says "completing installation" or something similar), hit shift+F10, which will open up a command prompt, and then type "devmgmt.msc". Device manager will open. Find your adaptor (will either be under "display adaptor", or will be listed under "other" or "unknown" devices as "vga compatible" or similar), right-click on it and choose disable. Setup will finish just fine, you can install the latest ATI drivers from the website and then enable the card.

Note that if you hit Shift+F10, and you get an "x:\..." prompt, it is too early. You can do the device manager thing once the command prompt opens to c:\windows\system32.

Hope this helps!