Installing Windows Vista in a dual-boot configuration along side Windows XP is a great way to experiment with the new operating system until you get comfortable with it.
In order to install Windows Vista in a dual-boot configuration along with Windows XP, you need to have either a second partition on your existing hard disk or a second hard disk in your system. To give yourself enough room to experiment, you should have at least 20 GB and preferably 40 GB of space available on either the second partition or on the second hard disk.
You can approach the dual-boot installation operation in one of two ways -- by cold booting from the Windows Vista DVD or by inserting the Windows Vista DVD while Windows XP is running.
Once you have your second partition or second hard disk operational, just insert your Windows Vista DVD, restart the system, and boot from the DVD. Once the system boots from the DVD, Windows Vista’s Setup will begin loading.
Windows Vista’s Setup will take a few moments to load files before the installation actually commences.
The default settings on the regional and language screen are for the U.S. and English.
To get started, click the Install Now button.
At this point in the installation, you’re prompted to type in your product key for activation.
Even though this dialog box contains a harsh warning, Microsoft wouldn’t have made automatic activation a choice if opting out was really dangerous.
When you don’t enter a product key, Setup doesn’t know what edition you have a license for and so prompts you to select one of the seven editions
Unless you’re very curious, you can just click through the license terms screen.
When you boot from the Windows Vista DVD, the only installation type tha
I created a second partition on a 160 GB hard disk on which to install Windows Vista. Once the select a partition or disk and click Next, the rest of the installation will continue as it normally would.
The Windows Boot Manager allows you to select which operating system you want to boot.
If you decide not to activate during your dual-boot installation, you can keep track of how many days you have until you must activate on the System page.
Above images are courtesy of techrepublic
