How can I dual-boot Windows XP and Windows Vista in such a way that each OS sees their respective partition as C Drive?

I have a drive partitioned into two halves. The first half currently has Windows XP installed, and the second half will have Windows Vista installed (once it's released). I want to be able to load into either OS, and...1) If I load Windows XP, the first partition is seen as C Drive.2) If I load Windows Vista, the second partition is seen as C Drive.

The reason I want to do this is so that there are less problems with program installations, etc. Asked by Yungsters 59 months ago Similar questions: dual boot Windows XP Vista OS sees respective partition Drive Computers > Software.

Similar questions: dual boot Windows XP Vista OS sees respective partition Drive.

Make sure Vista partition is a logical drive, not a primary drive. You have to make sure that the Vista partition is a logical drive and not a primary drive. When you install Vista on the logical drive, it will install Vista’s boot loader so when your computer comes up you will have the option to boot up from windows Vista or an earlier version of windows (in this case Windows XP).

The downside is if you want to uninstall Vista and return to Xp only, since Vista has replaced XP"s boot loader, you will have to repair the installation of XP to put NT Loader back on. You might want to visit this site too: windowstalk.org/dual_boot_vista.htm

Install a boot manager Boot It NG has a good reputation, and I've used it for other purposes, but not for what you're looking for. There are others as well, though, so it might be worth shopping for price ad features. I have several multi-boot computers, and have never had issues with programs installing in the wrong place.

If it's really a concern for you, what you might want to do is hide the inactive OS partition entirely so that whatever partition you're booting from won't see the other partition at all. If you need to access the same data files from both OSs, you can put them on a separate partition, a separate hard drive, or a network share.

Might be better to keep separate drive numbers Since Vista is still only available as beta, any advice you'll read online is only provisional - Trying to get two OS to recognize different partitions as C: could cause problems given that the same program may install differently under different OSs, but might call to the c: section it "thinks" is the right one, but is in the wrong partition. There's a good guide here on lifehacker:lifehacker.com/software/top/windows-vist..." rel="nofollow">lifehacker.com/software/top/windows-vist... Hope this helps, Mark Sources: lifehacker.com/software/top/windows-vist..." rel="nofollow">lifehacker.com/software/top/windows-vist... .

It's won't work the way you want, but I have a solution that I use It would be nice to have two or more operating systems on the same hard disk and appear as C: when booting to any of them, but it just doesn’t work that way. Each partition will need it’s own drive letter and each must be different. What I’ve done in the past was to use removeable drive trays, each with it’s own hard disk.It just takes a few seconds to swap out one for the other.

It’s much more convenient to have it done the way you would like, but I find this to be the next best thing. Oh, and I can see your point about having less problems with program installations. I have a specific program that will not fully install unless it’s on the C: drive.

It will stop in the middle of installing and then can’t be uninstalled. That’s caused me alot of grief in the past and one of the reasons I went with the drive trays. REMOVEABLE TRAY & RACK $5.99 Sources: Personal Experience .

1 newbie300582, regarding your answer "Might be better to keep separate drive numbers ": I don't want each OS to see both partitions as C Drive. I want each OS to see their own partition as C and the other as something else (e.g. D Drive).

Newbie300582, regarding your answer "Might be better to keep separate drive numbers ": I don't want each OS to see both partitions as C Drive. I want each OS to see their own partition as C and the other as something else (e.g. D Drive).

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