Dual-Boot XP & Vista on New System

[2Cold Scorpio]

I'm getting a new PC (A Dell Inspiron 1720 notebook) in a couple of months that'll come with Vista Home Premium preinstalled. However, I wish to format the computer, partition it, and install XP and Vista in a dual-boot configuration. I forsee one prolem though: the new system does not have a floppy drie, and I don't think either of my old XP disks are bootable (One is the Dell XP Home disk I got with my previous system, and the other is a disk i burned with the files to install XP Pro (legally; I was allowed to download the image file as part of my being a CIS major). However, I don't think the seond one is bootable (it didn't seem to be on my last reformat, anyways...).

So my question is...how do I reinstall XP without a floppy drive or a bootable CD? Reinstalling Vista should be easy, but I'm not sure how to get my CP disk to install without a boot floppy...Also note the new system has only one DVD drive, so I can only load one disk at a time.

Any help would be greatly appriciated.

[StoX]

You could make a BOOT-able CD, or get a copy of bootable XP - as long as you have a legit license I can't see anything wrong with buying a 'backup copy' off eBay

[2Cold Scorpio]

You could make a BOOT-able CD, or get a copy of bootable XP - as long as you have a legit license I can't see anything wrong with buying a 'backup copy' off eBay

So, like, opy the Win98 Boot Disk files to a CD, then swap the disks when the tools aree loaded?

Also, secondly, would it be possible to modify my old XP Pro disk to be bootable (seeing as its simply all the install files with no boot file)? If so, how would this be done? I'm still a student, so I can still use that version (and the old system is going to be completely formatted after the new one is set up anyways).

[StoX]

You could probably use nLite to make a BOOTable image as well as customise your installation: http://www.nliteos.com/nlite.html

[2Cold Scorpio]

This looks like the solution I need, but it won't let me download it! I added the site to IE7's safe list, and shut off my firewall, ut it still gives me an error page...

[StoX]

I've just downloaded it and then uploaded back up here: http://www.******.com/2cold.zip

If you could let me know when you have it, so that I can remove the file and link

[StoX]

BTW, the file wouldn't open on my system - but I think that it's partly due to not having Framework 2.0 and also an install due for wiping!

[2Cold Scorpio]

Ok, I got it (sorry for the delay; I meddled about in the Games section until a reply came in). You may remove file now. Btw, for my own archiving purposes, which version of the software is this?

Also, I wish to thank you for helping me out. Now instead of doing a sloppy upgrade install of XP or buying a new one, I can likely get things running smoothly. Thanks again!

[StoX]

No probs (I think u can click a 'thank user' button in the post?)

The version is 1.4, it should say in the .zip file...

The nLite site has loads of help and there are guides you can easily find on Google for customising your install, enjoy

[2Cold Scorpio]

Nevermind; I saw the version number when I unzipped it. I can't install it on this machine either (I'm on a relative's machine due to my old one having one foot i nthe grave and being on life-support. However, I can do this task on it (It does have the latest .Net Framework), or maybe even on the Vista machine before reformatting. Either way, I have the file, so you can take it down. Thanks for all your help!

Edit: I'm still pretty new to this forum, and I don't see a thank user button. :S

[StoX]

Good stuff! nLite is a great bit of software with loads of customising features - the most handy is integrating the service packs so you don't have to re-download and install them all after a clean install!

I've found the 'thank user' button, it's at the bottom of the post with the 'quote', 'multi-quote off', 'quick reply' buttons.

[master811]

Good stuff! nLite is a great bit of software with loads of customising features - the most handy is integrating the service packs so you don't have to re-download and install them all after a clean install!

I've found the 'thank user' button, it's at the bottom of the post with the 'quote', 'multi-quote off', 'quick reply' buttons.

I have a feeling the thank user button doesn't show until a certain number of posts, I remember having the same problem. I think its around 20-25 or so.

[StoX]

I have a feeling the thank user button doesn't show until a certain number of posts, I remember having the same problem. I think its around 20-25 or so.

Well that explains why I couldn't find it earlier!!

[2Cold Scorpio]

Yeah, me too; all I see is 'Send PM', 'Quote', 'Multiquote On/Off', and 'Quick Reply'.

Another question then about slipsteaming SP 1 & 2 in: how do I D/L the files for it and arhive them without installing the SP (or in my case, its already installed)? 5 years of patches are a lot to get... And how do you integrate them into the instal? (Along those same lines, I'd like to get IE7 and maybe WMP11 integrated too...lol)

[master811]

Yeah, me too; all I see is 'Send PM', 'Quote', 'Multiquote On/Off', and 'Quick Reply'.

Another question then about slipsteaming SP 1 & 2 in: how do I D/L the files for it and arhive them without installing the SP (or in my case, its already installed)? 5 years of patches are a lot to get... And how do you integrate them into the instal? (Along those same lines, I'd like to get IE7 and maybe WMP11 integrated too...lol)

www.nliteos.com will slipstream SP2 for you (you don't need SP1 as well) and goto http://www.ryanvm.net/msfn/ to get the update packs for it (which include all update since SP2 came out) the forum has links to where you can slipstream WMP11 and IE7 as well. nlite makes it very easy to do, i've done it quite a few times.

[2Cold Scorpio]

Hey, thanks for your help, guys. I'll work on this the next couple of days and see how it goes. =)