Dual boot: one 32x, one 64x

[C32C3]

Greetings,

I have Win7 Ultimate 64x installed on my C: drive. I think to install Vista Ultimate 32x on a partition on my second drive. The reason is that I have two softwares that will not run on a 64x OS. Updating these softwares is not worth the cost because its only now and again that I use them.

While doing this is not desired I am willing to do it to save the $.

Question is, will this cause me problems?

Thanks for your thinking with me.

 

[theog]

You can dual:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5166-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-vista.html

Have tried installing Programs in:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html

 

[severedsolo]

Another option, as you have Ultimate, is to install Windows XP Mode, which is a full Virtual Machine copy of XP (32 bit) and run the program like that. No need to install a new OS, plus it saves you money on the license (as Ultimate already comes with a free XP license)

Download Windows XP Mode

 

[C32C3]

Another option, as you have Ultimate, is to install Windows XP Mode, which is a full Virtual Machine copy of XP (32 bit) and run the program like that. No need to install a new OS, plus it saves you money on the license (as Ultimate already comes with a free XP license)

Download Windows XP Mode

I will take a look at the WinXP Mode however if memory serves me correctly it puts a big strain on your systems resources.

I don't understand your statement about the XP Mode saving me money. I have a license for all three OS's, Ultimate, Vista and XP.

Ultimate comes with a free XP license? Since when? I don't need it but its interesting to know that.

 

[severedsolo]

Ah... I misunderstood your original post, I thought you said that you didn't want to do it, you'd rather save money... I obviously misunderstood.

It doesn't really put taht much strain on your resources. If my little Celeron can handle it, your machine definitely can.

and yes, it comes with a free XP license, to be used with XP Mode, it can't be used in a "proper" XP boot.

 

[theog]

WinXP Mode is free with Ultimate.

 

[C32C3]

I thank you both for your assistance. However, one of the things I wish to accomplish is to regain use of my Epson 1640SU scanner. An update to its software is no longer available from Epson so they referred me to a third party. I bought the software which is Vista compatible but not compatible to Win7. I don't make much use of it so I will not be buying another upgrade. Another hopeful gain will be to continue using Adobe Acrobat 7 which is not 64x compatible.

At the moment I am leaning towards deciding for a dual boot, namely, Vista Ultimate 32x and my present Win7 Ultimate 64x. I hesitate because it just doesn't set well with me to have a 32x & 64x installed on the same pc.

 

[severedsolo]

Are you sure the software isn't 7 compatible?

In 9/10 cases if it runs on Vista it runs on 7. If it's a 64 bit issue with drivers, then XP Mode will probably handle that fine.

In terms of Dual booting, having X86 and X64 on the same system makes no difference Your processor is capable of handling both just as well.

It just seems like a massive PITA to dual boot just for a printer though.

Edit: Ah... I see what you mean, Epson are only offering 32 bit drivers, and you have 6GB of Ram.

 

[theog]

Do make your Recovery Disks before you start doing any of the options.

 

[C32C3]

Correctly said, the problem is as you stated, namely the 3rd party software that I purchased isn't compatible with a 64x OS.
I am not sure what a PITA is but if you mean that creating a dual boot for the sake of saving the cost of a new scanner and being able to use Acrobat 7 I agree that its a bit much but it is cost effective. The scanner is in perfect condition and I paid a few hundred for it; the same for Acrobat 7. I'd rather use the money I will save with a dual boot and use it for buying a new system.

P.S.
Why make a recovery disk before making a dual boot?

 

[severedsolo]

P.S.
Why make a recovery disk before making a dual boot?

It's a "Just in Case" measure. Either method has risks to it. With a Dual boot you are editing the boot manager, if something goes wrong then it could potentially leave both OS'es unbootable, so you need a recovery disk to get it working again.

Also, occasionally a OEM recovery partition won't boot after installing a different OS, so it's necesssary to have the disks.

Likewise, XP Mode is a Windows Update, again with the possibility of something going wrong and needing a recovery disk.

You should have recovery disks anyway... computer problems aren't known for waiting until you have recovery options.

What I meant is, it seems like an awful lot of effort to dual boot for your printer. I get that you want to save money, which is fine, but XP Mode will probably do what you want it to. Personally, I dual boot Linux and Windows, and it annoys me like nothing else, when I have to boot into Windows to use one program, and then boot back into Linux again.

 

[C32C3]

What you say is true and I will remember what you say about recovery disks.
I also dislike dual boots. Necessarily, they make changes to the boot manager and to undo the changes can be a hassle. The delay on startup is also a pain.
My gut feeling is that the XP Mode is not the solution but its worth a try.
Question: what changes to my registry will installation of the XP Mode make? If its not the solution I am looking for can it be uninstalled and my system returned to its previous state?
When I have time I will use the link you provided and read more about the XP Mode.
Thanks.

 

[severedsolo]

Uh... I don't know is the honest answer. I've never tried to remove XP Mode.

I know that XP Mode makes an entry in the Add/Remove Programs option in Control Panel, so I assume it can be uninstalled like that. It is effectively Microsoft Virtual PC, which can be uninstalled. If you have to go down the route of installing the Hyper-V workaround (update 3) then that may not be removable, I don't know.

I'm not trying to discourage you from dual booting, if you think that's your best option then go for it, I'm just trying to provide an alternative.

 

[richnrockville]

WinXP Mode is free with Ultimate.

WinXP mode, I believe is free with professional on up.

Rich

 

[seavixen32]

What you say is true and I will remember what you say about recovery disks.
I also dislike dual boots. Necessarily, they make changes to the boot manager and to undo the changes can be a hassle. The delay on startup is also a pain.
My gut feeling is that the XP Mode is not the solution but its worth a try.
Question: what changes to my registry will installation of the XP Mode make? If its not the solution I am looking for can it be uninstalled and my system returned to its previous state?
When I have time I will use the link you provided and read more about the XP Mode.
Thanks.

XP Mode can be removed in Uninstall a Program without any adverse effects. It won't affect your system at all.

When you uninstall it a warning is flagged up that any legacy software installed using XP Mode will also be removed.

If you are considering setting up a virtual machine, you might want to have a look at VMWare - I've tried it and I think it's far superior to Microsoft's Virtual PC.

http://www.vmware.com/products/player/

 

[MilesAhead]

What you say is true and I will remember what you say about recovery disks.
I also dislike dual boots. Necessarily, they make changes to the boot manager and to undo the changes can be a hassle. The delay on startup is also a pain.
My gut feeling is that the XP Mode is not the solution but its worth a try.
Question: what changes to my registry will installation of the XP Mode make? If its not the solution I am looking for can it be uninstalled and my system returned to its previous state?
When I have time I will use the link you provided and read more about the XP Mode.
Thanks.

If the use of the scanner is very infrequent you may want to investigate making a bootable USB key or USB external drive or drive in a docking station.

You can find out how to make just about any media boot an OS on this site:

reboot

 

[DeaconFrost]

I avoid multi-boot setups like the plague, so I'm definitely in the camp of virtualizing. You can run the printer's software in XP for whenever you need it. Should you ever upgrade the printer to something compatible, you can easily remove XP Mode without take a chance of rendering the system unbootable.

 

[MilesAhead]

I avoid multi-boot setups like the plague, so I'm definitely in the camp of virtualizing. You can run the printer's software in XP for whenever you need it. Should you ever upgrade the printer to something compatible, you can easily remove XP Mode without take a chance of rendering the system unbootable.

If you have a backup image you'd have to be pretty careless to do so. Esp. if the XP boot drive was external! I mean, there's paranoid and there's paranoid. Plus there's no better simulation that the actual OS and hardware. Sucks to spend 4 hours getting a VM set up only to find the thing don't work when done!

edit: btw one reason I suggested an external USB is I'm told an "easy" way to make it bootable is to get an image from an OS you are not using anymore(like from an old PC with XP installed as C drive) and restore it to the external drive. No messing with boot menus. Just use the boot option on startup screen to boot from the USB. Much less error prone. Many of the "guides" how to mix and match Vista/XP don't put in the vital info how to cure "ntdetect.com|ntldr missing or corrupt" and that single step is what makes people waste all the time and pull their hair.

edit2: of course running off external USB 2.0 it's gonna' be pretty damn slow. That's why I suggested only for very infrequent use.

 

[DeaconFrost]

If you have a backup image you'd have to be pretty careless to do so. Esp. if the XP boot drive was external! I mean, there's paranoid and there's paranoid. Plus there's no better simulation that the actual OS and hardware. Sucks to spend 4 hours getting a VM set up only to find the thing don't work when done!

That's the point. It does work in a VM. These reasons are exactly why VMs were created and have replaced the need to dual boot.

edit: btw one reason I suggested an external USB is I'm told an "easy" way to make it bootable is to get an image from an OS you are not using anymore(like from an old PC with XP installed as C drive) and restore it to the external drive. No messing with boot menus. Just use the boot option on startup screen to boot from the USB. Much less error prone. Many of the "guides" how to mix and match Vista/XP don't put in the vital info how to cure "ntdetect.com|ntldr missing or corrupt" and that single step is what makes people waste all the time and pull their hair.

It isn't easy at all, and isn't feasible, either. XP Mode also doesn't take 4 hours to set up, so I'm still not sure why you are bashing it. Have you ever given XP Mode a shot? I'm asking honestly, because it seems you have fears about it and have been told incorrect info.

edit2: of course running off external USB 2.0 it's gonna' be pretty damn slow. That's why I suggested only for very infrequent use.

It wouldn't be pretty damn slow, it would be unusable, wasting hours as you mentioned above, instead of just sticking to a solution that only takes a few minutes to set up.

 

[GEWB]

See if this tutorial is of help:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5166-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-vista.html

Regards,
GEWB