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Thread ID: 88213	2008-03-19 05:40:00	Vista/XP Dual boot config	Mike (15)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
650772	2008-03-19 05:40:00	I have Vista and XP installed in a dual boot configuration, and I want to know how to get them both to see its own boot drive as C:\ (so when booting to Vista the Windows folder is C:\Windows, and when booting to XP the Windows folder is C:\Windows, but both versions of the OS are installed on different drives/partitions). Currently Vista is working well on C:\, but XP has installed to G:\ - how can I get XP to install on its own C:\? I know this can be done, as I've had it in that arrangement for the last 6 months, however I can't remember how I got it set up like that, and I screwed everything up the other day so had to do a reinstall :) Any suggestions? I wonder whether I installed XP first then Vista into that setup... or somehow tell the PC that Vista is on another drive when I install XP (that would be the preferred option... somehow lol) Mike.	Mike (15)
650773	2008-03-19 08:44:00	... Im totally stuck here, I have always dual booted via diffferent drives (e.g C: D: E: F: yes I have quad booted :))	SPARTAN 860 (2618)
650774	2008-03-19 09:23:00	Wouldnt you edit boot.ini ? Normally, people do install the earlier version of Windows first then the latest. For a dual boot.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
650775	2008-03-19 18:39:00	You can't put both on the same partition. They do not play together.	Bantu (52)
650776	2008-03-19 18:45:00	Wouldnt you edit boot.ini ? Normally, people do install the earlier version of Windows first then the latest. For a dual boot. Thanks for your replies Speedy and SPARTAN. In the past I've had different drives, but I have found that a lot of programs prefer to be installed on C:\ and often its available they still write to C:\ even if they're installed on another drive and the OS is on another drive etc., so now I try to get both instances of Windows to think its sitting on C:\ - I managed to do it in about Oct last year when I last installed XP but I can't remember how to do it... and now thinking about it I'm wondering if I already had XP installed but just started using it occasionally again back in Oct... :) Editing boot.ini (or bcd or whatever its called now in Vista) only changes settings for the bootloader like where each instance of Windows is installed etc. - doesn't necessarily need a drive letter, as you point it at the HDD and partition rather than a drive letter... I think somehow I need to tell Windows during installation (or even during initial setup when selecting drive for install) that the drive is going to be C:\, but I can't figure out how to do that. Its frustrating, because I know it can be done as that's how I've been using it up to now, but I can't replicate it now... More suggestions welcome (I'll try anything I can lol) else I might be spending the long weekend reinstalling XP and Vista again (XP first this time to see if it works better)... Cheers, Mike.	Mike (15)
650777	2008-03-19 18:46:00	You can't put both on the same partition. They do not play together.I don't want them on the same partition... I want them to see themselves as being installed on C:\ even though they're on different drives - each OS can look at different drives with different letters, but for some reason during setup they decide which letter they're installing on because they see that other OS already there on what it decides is C:\ Mike.	Mike (15)
650778	2008-03-19 18:54:00	I have both installed here and instead of using a boot.ini as such to swap them I just bounce into BIOS on bootup and switch the boot order. Both are effectively C drive. Maybe that works for you. Just takes a bit more time to boot up but it does give them both the C letter. and the one that is not active is the last letter of my drive list each time.	Bantu (52)
650779	2008-03-19 20:12:00	I have found that a lot of programs prefer to be installed on C:\ Really? I've only ever found one that didn't give you a choice.	pctek (84)
650780	2008-03-19 20:15:00	Really? I've only ever found one that didn't give you a choice. Second that :thumbs: Most programs want to install as Default on C: - doesn't mean you have to, you can use a different partition.	wainuitech (129)
650781	2008-03-19 20:56:00	Second that :thumbs: Most programs want to install as Default on C: - doesn't mean you have to, you can use a different partition.Irrelevant :D I still want both OS's to see themselves as installed on C:\ :) That said, I'm not saying I can't install software on other drives, I have found that some (even when installed on other drives) still write different things to C:\ (badly coded I guess) even when the OS is on a different drive. But I don't want the OS to be a different drive - I want my OS to be C:\ Mike.	Mike (15)
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