How to Set Up a Dual Boot with Windows Vista & XP Pro

by Contributing Writer

Overview

Whether it is to run programs incompatible with Windows Vista or to keep separated your business and personal computer environment, you can set up a dual boot with Vista and XP Pro. Dual boot means you will have to choose the operating system that you want to run when the computer starts. You will only be able to run one operating system and not one operating system inside the other like in a virtualized environment.
Setting Up Windows XP

Step 1

Insert the Windows XP CD in the CD/DVD drive after turning the computer on. When prompted, press any key to start from the CD. Follow the on-screen instructions to start setting up your Windows XP system.
Step 2

After accepting the license agreement, select "Unpartitioned space" and press "C" in the "Windows XP Professional Setup" page. Create a primary partition and enter a size of 50% for the total disk size. Use the same process to create another partition of the same size, this time selecting "logical" instead of "primary."
Step 3

Once created, select the "C:" partition to install Windows XP and select "Format the partition using the NTFS file system (quick)." Follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up Windows XP.

Setting Up Windows Vista

Step 1

Insert the Windows Vista DVD and boot from the DVD. Follow the on-screen instructions, enter your license key and select which version of Windows Vista you want to install.
Step 2

At the "Which type of installation do you want?" prompt, select "Custom(advanced)." In the "Where do you want to install?" Windows prompt, select the "D:" partition and make sure it is the right one by checking if it is a "logical" partition on the right end of the line. Click "Next."
Step 3

Finish the installation of Windows Vista on your computer by following the on-screen instructions.

Step 1

When rebooting you will be presented with a menu asking you to choose which operating software you want to start. Select Vista and press "Enter."
Step 2

In Windows Vista, click on the "Start" menu and go to "Control Panel." In the new window, click "System." In the upper-left corner select "Advanced System Settings" and go to the "Advanced" tab in the new window.
Step 3

Click on "Settings" in the "Startup and Recovery" section on the bottom of the page. Choose which operating system you want to use by default. Decide how long you want to have to choose an operating system before that default operating system starts. Click "OK" to save the settings.