Temperamental69

Hey all, I'm a newb when it comes to this stuff so be kind

I currently am using Windows Vista Home Basic 32-bit. However, I am getting new RAM for christmas, and my friend recently sold his computer, and sold me his copy of Vista Ultimate 64-bit.

Now.. When I install this, how do I get to dual-boot.. Will it give me an option to select it when I restart after installing? Or do I have to do some kind of trickery? I want to have the option of being able to choose which OS boots up, either by a selection screen or something, but I don't want the OS that I choose to be my permanent one or overwrite the current one. I want both OS'es. How do I go about doing this?

David_1337

Google has plenty of guides for dual booting, otherwise wait a few minutes and this page will be filled with options. :P

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Chipp

When you install Vista X64, it will recognize the 32-bit install and add it to it's boot loader. However, even in the very worst of cases it'll take a few simple changes to boot.ini in the x64 installation to add the x32 installation to the boot loader.

I've never tried to dual boot with Vista, but it might not allow you to resize your current partition during the install. If thats the case, simply exit the install without making any changes and download a boot CD like this and use it to resize your current partition to whatever size you wish.

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Temperamental69

One more question I have to add to my original ones as well for you guys.. Sorry I forgot...

Will I have to reinstall any files or drivers? Or should everything already be ready to go pretty much on my new OS when I boot into it sicne I won't be removing my current one? I want to be able to run my games and stuff on it, will I have to reinstall them in this OS?

jdub01984

Yes, you are going to have to reinstall all your software again. The only real way to get around that is to do an upgrade install, but you will then lose your 32-bit install.

Temperamental69

Basically, my main concern is this..

When I install the 64 bit version, will it just go ahead and overwrite my current installation of 32-bit Vista? Or will it give me the option in the setup to choose or something to that degree.. I don't want to mess up my current OS and be able to not boot into it anymore.

billbartuska

Bill Gates is smart enough to provide for multiple boot of Vista flavors. It's all there and works flawlessly. Just go ahead and install.

The advice to create a separate partition (or install to a separate drive) is good, but not absolutely necessary. The problem is that if you put both installs on th same partition (note, they do have to be into separate folders though) you'll have a lot of stuff doubled up. Like two My Documents folders, two Desktop folders, etc.. It gets kind of confusing to keep track of which OS is using which folder, where to install programs, etc., that's all.

And if you do add a second HDD, do not disconnect drives when installing the second copy in an attempt to keep the installs separate (this is true for setting up almost any multi boot scenario, the exception being the case where you want to install an older OS after a newer one has been installed. Doing that gets really messy). Disconnecting drives, will make the installs separate and you'll have all kinds of trouble booting since the new install will not have been aware of the previous install and all Bill's good work for keeping them separate, both functioning, and both bootable will be for naught.

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