I have decided to add a Windows XP partition to my existing Windows Vista system, for gaming purposes. I found a couple of tutorials on the net and followed them exactly as written, only to be left with a system that contains Vista and half of XP, and not bootable at all. GREAT!
I’ve tried Vista’s repair utilities, Bootrec.exe /fixMBR, Bootrec.exe /fixBoot - nope. Moved the BCD and bootmgr files and then force Vista to regenerate them - nope. Heck, I can’t even boot up from the XP installation CD anymore. Tried BartPE, both the CD and USB version - can’t boot. Installed an additional Vista to another partition (and run the repair utilities again) - still can’t boot. Knoppix Linux Live CD works, but it won’t recognize the filenames with Chinese characters in them, so I can’t back up my files. Vista’s repair utility can’t recognize/display them either.
Why go through all the trouble? Because I don’t want to open the computer case to install another harddrive. Yes I’m that lazy. Luckily I still have this laptop to rely upon, although I can’t type Chinese on it (for now). Speaking of this laptop, it has a dual-boot configuration of Windows Vista and Linux. Tried two flavours of Linux - Fedora and Ubuntu - and they both work well in the dual-boot configuration. Now why can’t Microsoft’s Vista co-exist happily with Microsoft’s XP on this system? I know a lot of people successfully install both OS by following those tutorials, but look like no one has useful solutions to those people who do not have success.
Next, let’s try installing XP to an external USB harddrive. (Yes, I still don’t want to open that computer case.)
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