Dual Booting Windows XP with Vista

passingthrough · May 26th, 2007, 03:05 AM

Hello,
I recently acquired a lenovo laptop which came with preinstalled Windows Vista Business. However as i need XP, i tried to install it with no success.
first i created a partition using Vista and formatted the partition. I tried to install Xp on it but in the early stages of XP I get a message stating the "No Hardrive is not found. Please check and try again."
i have installed XP on other Desktops with no problem but this is the first time for me to install it with Vista as well as on a laptop.
Any ideas what I am doing wrong or what needs to be done to correct this?

BTW, my latop is the new N200 T7300 core2Duo with 2 GB RAM, and 160 HD.

kYdizzle · May 26th, 2007, 04:09 AM

check the hard drive's manufacturer's website for any possible compatibility issues

also, look for any chipset issues for the new Intel PM965 that your laptop has inside, that could also be the issue

you said that windows XP found No hard drives, so it has to be a chipset or HD issue, although you could try deleting the extra partition, and just let XP set it up just a thought

also, i have heard that for dual boot to work most of the time, you have to install XP first, then vista, as the vista boot-loader will know what to do with XP, but not the other way around.

if you have a spare compatible laptop hard drive, you could see if it is the HD, or having vista on your current one.

or you could delete your current vista partition also, and letting XP install on the HD clean (i would do this if you know it is not the HD or chipset

xiaomhome · May 26th, 2007, 04:10 AM

Do you have the Windows Vista + XP installations medias???
If yes get your XP installation cd (get your floppy containing the drivers for your harddisk, hold F6 after pressing any key to start the installation from the cd), remove ALL partitions (delete em all, remember to backup precious data) create 2 new partitions the first one will be for XP the second will be for Vista. Install Windows XP in the first partition, now get your Vista DVD and install it in the second partition. Thats it, Vista will creat a dual boot files configuration for you. I know this is the hardest and cleaner way, but i didnt start messing with my vista files yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kYdizzle

check the hard drive's manufacturer's website for any possible compatibility issues

also, look for any chipset issues for the new Intel PM965 that your laptop has inside, that could also be the issue

Also get a floppy containing your HardDrive driver.

lumo · May 26th, 2007, 11:18 AM

most laptops only come with RECOVERY CD, so iff you delete the recovery partition you are in bad luck (mine came with xp home, when i got it) first to do was deleting all, and installed xp pro, but i cannot backup the xp home now... so i got a licence for nothing!

passingthrough · May 27th, 2007, 04:50 AM

Thanks for all the replies. My laptop comes with Vista preinstalled. I was able to create recovery disks in case of some foul-up.
I talked to Lenovo about the problem and they said that they will see if there are any recovery CDs for the XP and send them to me. I will keep my fingers tied on this.
I was able to check my harddrive which is a Hitachi travelstar model HTS541616J9S to see if there are compatabiltiy issues with XP and could not find anything in this regard.
I am at a loss on how to proceed. Any other suggestions?

xiaomhome · May 27th, 2007, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by passingthrough

Thanks for all the replies. My laptop comes with Vista preinstalled. I was able to create recovery disks in case of some foul-up.
I talked to Lenovo about the problem and they said that they will see if there are any recovery CDs for the XP and send them to me. I will keep my fingers tied on this.
I was able to check my harddrive which is a Hitachi travelstar model HTS541616J9S to see if there are compatabiltiy issues with XP and could not find anything in this regard.
I am at a loss on how to proceed. Any other suggestions?

Uh sorry, i meant your chipset driver that controls your Harddisk, for an example the chipset of my motherboard is VIA, i looked in their website and followed their instructions to create a floppy disk with the driver's files. In your case i think you will find them with the intel ide controllers since your motherboard was made by intel. Also Lenovo should support you with that.... i guess... Try speaking with them about your problem.

Zamoldac · May 27th, 2007, 01:01 PM

if the hard disk is SATA win xp might need an aditional floppy disk with drivers.. i think

lumo · May 27th, 2007, 02:01 PM

no way, i installed xp on a sata raid0! without any drivers!!!

Ltcrusher · May 28th, 2007, 01:23 AM

Raid 0? Very "save". LOL.

For a "Multi-OS-PC" the normal Way would be to install the oldest OS you want to use at first - e.g. Windows 2000 -> Windows XP. The newer OS will check the older once and installes a small Bootmanager for you in the boot.ini

Greetings

Frank

lumo · May 28th, 2007, 10:02 AM

typisch piefke, altklug bis aufs letzte!
raid0 is save if you have a backup system smartass!
with the multi-os-install he's right