Dual booting Vista x64 with XP x64

[MrMaguire]

I want to install Windows Vista x64 alongside Windows XP x64, but I want to retain Windows XP's bootloader with the recovery console as an option. Is that possible, how do I go about it?

[jaclaz]

I want to install Windows Vista x64 alongside Windows XP x64, but I want to retain Windows XP's bootloader with the recovery console as an option. Is that possible, how do I go about it?

 

The normal XP booting:

BIOS->MBR->PBR->NTLDR->Choices in BOOT.INI:

1. arcpath to Windows installation

2. PBR/bootsector copy pointing to the CMDCONS (Recovery Console)

 

The way the Recovery Console is loaded is detailed here (JFYI):

http://reboot.pro/topic/2362-makebscmd-alpha-release/#entry18878

 

The normal Vista booting:

BIOS->MBR->PBR->BOOTMGR->Choices in \boot\BCD:

1. path to Windows installation WINLOAD.EXE

 

The Vista booting installed after the Windows XP:

 

BIOS->MBR->PBR->BOOTMGR->Choices in \boot\BCD:

1. path to Windows installation WINLOAD.EXE

+

ANY ENTRY in BOOT.INI which is NOT an arcpath i.e. 2. PBR/bootsector copy pointing to the CMDCONS (Recovery Console), if needed pre-modified with the "cmdcons" string as per given reference.

 

The real issue you may have is if you use the same volume to install the XP and the Vista (because of possible conflicts with paths), if you install (say) the XP to C:\ (first primary partition, active) and the Vista to (still say) D:\ (either second primary partition or logical volume inside extended) you will be fine.

 

In any case, you can still add to the BOOT.INI (to be parsed by the BOOTMGR) a copy of a PBR loading the "old" NTLDR or add to it grldr (grub4dos) and from it boot *anything*.

 

jaclaz