Since there are devices that do not have the compatible driver for Vista and some old application that do not work well under Vista, the option to have two installed operating system in your computer is a nice option to choose. You will be able to try the latest operating system by Microsoft and at the same time have the option to work with the older operating system that you already comfortable with.

Installing an older operating system in Vista will need a bit of work. As far as my limited knowledge, you will need to install a certain application that specially developed to make this option possible. The name of this application is EasyBCD, you can try to find this application using google. Now let's go to the step by step on how to install Windows XP on your pre-installed Windows Vista.

First, if your harddrive is not partitioned into two drives or more, we need to partition it into two or more drives using DISKPART that provided in Vista installer DVD. Boot your computer using your Vista installer DVD. Enter the command window by pressing Shift + F10. once you're in command window there are several step you need to go through.

1. Type "DISKPART" and enter to run DISKPART.
2. Next you need to see your existing drives, type "list disk" and enter to see the list of existing disk.
3. Choose the one you want to partition by this command : "select disk [the disc number]", ie : "select disc 0"
4. See the volume exist by : "list volume".
5. Select the volume we want to partition by : "select volume [the volume number]".
6. Finally, we will split it to two volume by SHRINK command, type "SHRINK" and enter. DISKPART will automatically take as much as it can to form a new volume.
7. Type "EXIT" and enter to quit from DISKPART.

You might want to do it in another way, once you enter DISKPART, try to type "/?" and enter to see a more complete command in DISKPART.

Now we have another volume drive where we able to install our Windows XP. Turn off your computer and re-boot using your windows XP installer disc. Install Windows XP in the other volume. You know the drill, just follow all the instructions and dialogs.

Once your Windows XP installed you will noticed that you can't run your Windows Vista. Now before you beat me into a messy pulp, I'm not ruin your Vista, we still have few more step before we can have Vista and XP in one computer.

This time reboot using your Vista installer disc. In your installing window, choose "Repair your computer". Your computer will show you the Vista that already installed in your computer, choose it nd click the next button. In the system recovery Option, choose "Startup repair", Windows Vista will fix the problem. Restart it, this time you will see your beloved Vista again. But still no XP, this is where EasyBCD cames handy.

Install your EasyBCD in your Vista, run the application and choose "Add/Remove Entries". under Add an Entry, choose the version for the windows you install before, in this case Windows XP, and choose the drive where you install it. Click "Add Entry" button and then "Save".

For the last time in this article I will ask you to restart your computer. This time you will see the option to choose between using Windows Vista or Windows XP as your operating system. Congratulation you have Windows XP installed in your pre-installed Windows Vista computer. Thanks to those who made EasyBCD, without it, I don't know, what should I do with my new laptop.

Learn more about this author, Kan Hodo.
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