HI,

i wanted to know whether i can use Vista ultimate on my system which is currently running XP SP2. if yes then how do i switch between two OS.

Chutiton

I would say stick with XP first at least for a year or two. I've been using XP for five years. It has been working perfectly.

During the past two weeks, I experienced Vista. In my opinion, the way Vista handles security issues is quite annoying and sometimes difficult to comprehend.

There are also a lot of software compatibility issues. Many softwares that works fine in XP, sometimes does not work or works erratically in Vista. When come to this kind of problems, it is difficult to tell what could be the causes.

For example, right now I'm having problem with Microsoft Excel running erratically in Vista and still cannot figure out what has happened. Repairing it from the installation CD did not help.

However if you want to run a dual boot system, the following are the website you should visit.

How to dual-boot Vista with XP - step-by-step guide with screenshots | APC Magazine
and
How-To: Hide Vista Partition from XP with NeoGrub! at The NeoSmart Files

These sites will guide you thuough the steps and also suggest the softwares you will need in order the achieve your requirements. All of them are downloadable FOC.

snowflake22

Why would a person want two OS on the same computer?

To those of you who use Vista was it hard to learn to use the basic Vista program? If you use Vista what are some of the differences between Vista and XP.

What kinds of software wont work with Vista, but will work with XP?

retsoksirhc

People somtimes use two different operating systems for a number of reason.
Compatability - If they like, for instance, windows XP, but they have a program that only runs on windows 98, they could only use 98 when they needed that program. People might install both Vista and XP in order to try out all the new features in vista, and get used to working with it, even though they want to use XP as a backup for anything that doesn't work as expected.

Another reason may be separation. I could, for example, install two operating systems, one for entertainment, and one for work. If I only install work applications (MS office, acrobat reader, quickbooks, etc) on one operating system, then use the other for things like games and videos, there is a lot lower chance of anything I do on one interfering with the other.

Yet another reason might be education. You could install, say, Windows Server 2003 (like the student version you get in the back of the Microsoft study books), so that you can test and try it while learning to use it in a class, or on your own. You could still have Windows XP as your main operating system, but still have access to server when you need to try somthing.

As with any new (and most old) operating systems, there are going to be lots of bugs, so it only makes sense to have somthing to fall back onto, if you really rely on your computers functionality.

snowflake22

Now I see why a person would want two OS on the same computer. Why would a person want to still use a program that runs in 98? What kind of program would only work in 98?

What you said about the following makes sense.
People might install both Vista and XP in order to try out all the new features in vista, and get used to working with it, even though they want to use XP as a backup for anything that doesn't work as expected.
Another reason may be separation

What do you mean by rely on your computers functionality?

Does it take a lot of space to have two OS on the same computer? How much space does XP and Vista take up for each OS?

retsoksirhc

Windows XP uses what they call a Hardware Abstraction Layer. It's more secure than older versions of windsows, and that's why it's more stable. XP doesn't let programs talk directly to the hardware, whereas 98 did. If there was an application, lets say custom built for a company, that talked directly to hardware, then it most likely wouldn't work properly in XP. In that case, it would only work on 98.

Some people rely on the functionality of their computer for their jobs. I work for a company that contracts out technical support and network design and maintenence. I use Windows Vista most of the time, but if somthing goes wrong on it, or I can't do somthing that I need to, I also have windows XP installed. I can just switch to that, and do whatever I need to.

You can check the Microsoft website to see the minimum requirements for hard drive space for each operating system. I don't know them off the top of my head.

snowflake22

What is Hardware Abstraction Layer?
What do you mean by XP doesn't let programs talk directly to the hardware, whereas 98 did? What are you referring to when you say talking directly to the hardware?

Is it hard to switch from one OS to another.

I know one can have more than one web browser and even have an icon for both web browsers on the desktop.

Can one buy a computer in 2007 with XP on it or only Vista is on 2007 computers? If a computer in a store wasn't bought in 2006 can a person still get XP on it.

retsoksirhc

When a program wants to do somthing in windows 98, it can either go through a driver, to the hardware, or it can go directly to the hardware. Example: video cards. A game might go through directx, use the drivers windows has, and display information ont he screen through that. The program might also be designed to work with a specific video card, where it just sends information straight to the video card, without going through the windows driver.

In windows XP, program can only get ot hardware through drivers. The HAL sits underneath the operating system, and when somthing tries to send information directly to the hardware, the HAL checks to see if it's a driver. If it isn't, the information doesn't go through.

It's not hard to switch, you just reboot, and select from a menu.

snowflake22

What is a windows driver?
What is HAL?

Why does one have to reboot the computer in order to switch OS? Is the menu to swtich OS simillar to what you get if one wanted to have two different passwords for a computer so that way if two people are using the same computer the other person wont know what was done under the other persons password.

michealb

Window vista has a program that you can download that will look at your system and tell you wether your current system will run it.

Windows Vista: Upgrade Advisor