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I have vista 64 as my main os. Would it be best to run a dual boot using xp pro or to make a virtual machine and add xp pro that way?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by chris5126

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Short, practical followups to the points from and — focused on things that matter when you actually set this up.

If you go the virtual machine route

  • Pick a modern hypervisor (VirtualBox or VMware Player/Workstation) and install the vendor's guest tools inside XP for better drivers, mouse/clipboard/file sharing and time sync.
  • Give XP a modest but reasonable config: 512–1024 MB RAM, 10–20 GB virtual disk (dynamically allocated is fine), 1 vCPU unless you have lots of spare cores.
  • Enable hardware virtualization in BIOS/UEFI if available; it improves stability and some performance features.
  • Use snapshots before you make changes inside the VM so you can rollback quickly.
  • Expect limitations: direct GPU acceleration, PCI devices and some hardware dongles may not pass through cleanly. If the specific XP app relies on that hardware, VM may not work.

If you go dual-boot

  • Image your current Vista system first (full-disk image) so you can restore if something goes wrong.
  • The easiest way to avoid bootloader and partition headaches is to install XP onto its own physical disk. Temporarily disconnect the Vista drive when installing XP, then reconnect it afterward.
  • If XP does overwrite the boot manager, restore Vista with the Vista DVD/Recovery or use a boot manager tool (EasyBCD or the BCD tools) to add an XP entry.
  • Keep driver installers and recovery media handy; 32-bit XP drivers differ from Vista x64.

Which to pick

  • Choose a VM for convenience, snapshots, testing, and running simple legacy apps.
  • Choose dual-boot if you need full direct hardware access, maximum raw performance, or support for devices that virtualizers cannot passthrough.

Backup before you touch partitions or installs.

Recommended Answers

All 10 Replies

Member Avatar for jbennet

If you used that XP to upgrade to vista from ,you will not be able to activate it, by the way

Member Avatar for Member #23858

Nope. Brand new full retail for all.

Member Avatar for jbennet

Dual boot. Its better that way.

If im corect, i think that vista now has the handy ability to shrink NTFS partitions now under disk management, or else you could use a livecd like the GParted one

Member Avatar for Member #23858

Ok. Why do you say dual boot is better? Thanks.

Member Avatar for jbennet

because then you get access to your real hardware, and things tend to run faster.

Member Avatar for chris5126

he is right dual boot will make the operating system run a lot faster, but if you need to have both o/s running at the same time for some reason then a virtual machine is the way to go. Also make sure you make two seprate partitions or better yet use two different hdd. There are some good tutorials on installing vista with xp worth a read

Member Avatar for Member #23858

Just google to find them?

Member Avatar for chris5126

yer google is the way forward i cant rember which way round your ment to do it whether its vista first then xp or install xp first then vista.

Member Avatar for jbennet

xp first i think. The older windowses are picky

MS have lots on dual booting 2000 and XP, which ive used before. should be ones for vista

Member Avatar for chris5126

yep i think you right and then xp will be under older windows systems on the boat loader menu

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