I installed Vista in a 200 Gig Hard Drive with all updates, pulled the hard drive. Then Installed a XP Pro SP3 on a 40 Gig Hard Drive. Now I want to hook up both on same machine, have both set for Cable Select when it boots, it can operate on the XP, and it see the Vista drive and files and folders, but doesn't load Vista. Can this be done witout Partition Software. Not a Computer Expert, Type slow.
I am reasking in different category in hopes of more answers. Thanks

I've created dual-booting systems before. Unfortunately, not with Vista. Most people put the older operating system on the first partition and the newer operating system on the next. I think that's how you have it. The BOOT.INI file in the root of the C: drive, determines which drive to boot from. There might have to be a boot loader file for Vista, but I'm unsure. Boot.INI is a hidden file, so you'll have to view hidden and system files.

Microsoft has a page showing an example of a dual-boot XP/2000 system.

How to edit the Boot.ini file in Windows XP (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/289022)

And Tom's Guide has a thread that discusses this:

boot.ini file for vista and xp (http://www.computing.net/answers/windows-vista/bootini-file-for-vista-and-xp-/2537.html)

Be sure and check out EasyBCD:

EasyBCD Download (http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1)

Here are a couple of references to dual booting XP with Vista

How to dual-boot Vista with XP (with XP installed first) (http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_xp__stepbystep_guide_wi th_screenshots.htm)

How to dual boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) (http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_vista_and_xp_with_vista_installed _first__the_stepbystep_guide.htm)