How to install Windows XP?

[JimmiG]

I was going to install XP alongside my Vista x64 in a dualboot config. The reason is because a certain game (X-Plane) only works with a very limited number of Catalyst drivers (mostly very old ones). Rather than being forced to use an old version with all my games, I figured I'd just create a small XP partition since I've got plenty of harddrive space.

I used GParted from a Fedora Live USB stick to make some free space and create a new NTFS partition. The textmode part of the XP install works great. I've already integrated the AHCI drivers so it finds my harddrives and copies the files.

However once it reboots and is supposed to begin the GUI portion of the install, it fails to boot at all citing some missing file. It also breaks Vista, making the system unbootable.

Making Vista bootable again is fairly easy using the automated repair from the Vista DVD, but this doesn't repair the partial XP installation, obviously.

Once inside Vista, I tried using EasyBCD to manually add XP. After rebooting, the XP entry does show up, but it won't load when selected, it just complains that NTLDR is missing. Is it possible to dual boot XP and Vista, when installing XP after Vista? Can XP be installed on a logical/extended partition or does it need to be installed on the primary partition of a drive? Any ideas?

[DeaconFrost]

If you plan to install XP second, you are going to need some kind of third party boot loader to handle it. You also shouldn't ever have a partition created and formatted before loading the OS. If you break off some space for XP, leave it blank and unformatted.

[JimmiG]

Any suggestions for a third party loader?

[DeaconFrost]

Hopefully, someone else will have some recommendations. I avoid multi-boot systems like the plague.

[03grandam]

Hope this (http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed_first__th e_stepbystep_guide.htm) helps ya.