I have an HP Pavilion desktop that came Pre-loaded with Vista x64.
I am creating a dual boot configuration to allow me to use Windows XP pro.
I have used the SHRINK option in Vista to partition, format and give the partition a letter ( eg e:\). This part works fine.
The problem I am having is that when I try to load Windows XP Pro from the CD, Windows XP does not recognize the new partition E as being present to allow me to load the OS on it. Can anyone assist ??
You have to make sure E is a "primary partition"
By the way, once you install XP, its bootloader will override Vista's, and you won't be able to boot into Vista.
In XP, download a program called BCDEditor to fix this problem.
To al,
When you get a machine pre-loaded with vista, two partitions(drives) are already created. The c:\ partititon ( boot drive, primary, etc ) and the d:\ partition ( primary ) containing the recovery image files. Oddly enough, when using the vista SHRINK option, you can name the new partititon whatever you wish ( I chose e:\ ) and following the formatting of the partititon, this new partition as well as the other two, is also made primary. When trying to boot from the windows XP pro cd at startup, in theory it is supposed to see the new partition ( e:\) and allow me to load this OS on it. This is what is not happening and the source of my problem. The Windows load gets as far as running setup and then crashes. The choice to install the OS on the new partition is not given thus causing the problem and the reason for my seeking help. Vista does allow me to make the new drive " active " with a warning that if no OS exists on it the computer will be useless. If I make the new partition " active " then try to load the Windows XP OS, will this work ?? if not will I be able to restore Vista without too much damage?
The XP disk does have an option for creating partitions there. Perhaps you can create the partition from within the XP setup instead?
You must log in to post.
