Published on June 28, 2007 By Hippie In Personal Computing
Is it possible to have XP, Linux, and Vista on the same drive for different Operating Systems. I have plenty of room, so that is not a problem. Can I slice up 3 partions, I guess is my question? Also, how hard is this going to be, and in which order should I start?
Comments
on Jun 28, 2007
I have heard of problems with Vista and multiboots, but I haven't tried so I can't say for sure. The usual rule for loading is that you load them oldest first. In this case, depending on the version of Linux, you would load XP or Linux first. My gut instinct would lean towards Linux, but I'm going to tell you right off the bat I'm operating from theory rather than practice on THAT one. I've multibooted Windows OS's and I have an Ubuntu machine, but I haven't tried mixing and matching yet. I need the machines I have to be functional too badly.
on Jun 28, 2007
ALWAYS load Windows BEFORE Linux so Linux can install its bootloader.
on Jun 29, 2007
ALWAYS load Windows BEFORE Linux so Linux can install its bootloader.


Thanks PurrBall.
on Jun 29, 2007
You can use a boot manager like Boot Magic etc for multi-OS
on Jun 30, 2007
I am currently running XP Pro and Vista Ultimate will dual boot up and have no problems at all.

The correct way to install XP, Linux & Vista would be to have or install XP first, then Vista and lastly Linux.
on Jun 30, 2007
I'm just in the thinking about it process now. I have Linux Ubuntu and Kubuntu. Probably use the first. Thanks for the help everyone.I'm probablygoing to have to go in the hospital and have a valve in my heart replaced, not looking forward to that. I thought about doing this before I found out about going in the hospital, so, right now I'm not sure when I'll try this, but It is something I want to try.
on Jun 30, 2007
I HAVE done it and it works. I did just as mentioned above. XP first then Vista and then I did Ubuntu. A friend of mine also had a heart valve replaced at the beginning of May. He has done extremely well and I pray the same for you!!!!!!
on Jun 30, 2007
The secrets are good partition management and boot manager software. BootIt is very good as is Acronis Disk Director. And of course you have to be careful. There are also EXT2/3 file system drivers for Windows so that you can get to the Linux partitions. Most Linux varients now come with NTFS support built-in, thouhg many are read only since read-write is problematic at best.

Using a combination of BootIt and Grub I have been able to run Mepis Linux, Vista, XP and MAC OS-x86 on the two hard drivers in my laptop. Didn't leave it that way but it wasan interesting exercise in partition management. I did a lot of Googling and found all the instructions I needed rather easily.
on Jun 30, 2007
Hi Hippie, I wish you the best of luck if you do have to have a valve replaced!!!

My wifes grandmother had a valve replaced many many years ago and she's still running around like a mad woman.

The day we visited her in the hopital, She apolgized to me because it was a pigs valve (I'm Jewish.) I told her it's ok because I do eat pork.

Take Care,
on Jul 04, 2007
Well, i found out last night, my Mother, that it's three valves. Everyone is saying, do it. I go talk to the DR Friday, so I've got to decide. I've got long hair and fairly long beard, I'm a musician, and my Father, who has been trying to get me to cut my hair since I was sixteen, I'm fifty six now, say's you better cut that hair and shave that beard. I said Daddy, are the DR's gonna shave their heads and everything. I will trim the beard, but No haircut. Very big thanks to all of you're good advice and particularly the prayers and wishing me well. It's Like I've said. This is the best spot on the net. Peace. Hippie