Dual boot XP/W8 and maybe Linux

pedsto

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Intend to buy or build a W8 machine. I would like access to my XP programs and data while I gradually install the programs on the W8 platform. My thought was to move my XP HDD (I have an IDE to SATA adapter) to the W8 machine and have a dual boot capability. I have read several of the threads in this forum on this subject but all seem to involve installing XP. Can anyone comment on feasibility and any how-to details? Thanks
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    XP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Hmmm, from what I've read (and it has to be inferred rather than directly stated)
all the present EFI boards are bisexual and can run XP 32. Anyone have any
direct experience?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    XP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
My best advice here is, if you have the multiple drives to do so, install each OS independently on them, one per drive. That way, you don't have one messing with the MBR of the other, you just arrest the POST at the boot selection prompt, and tell it which drive to look to. I'm in the same boat as you, Pedsto, I have a couple of old programs that I keep XP around for, and some hardware that liked 32-bit XP but hates 64-bit Win 8 (or 7, for that matter). I also have Ubuntu 12 in 64-bit, just to play with and learn a few things. Just make sure when you install an OS, you disconnect the other drives, or it will monkey up their MBRs.

(PS -- I'm running an older board, an AMD AM2+, but it handles 32 and 64 equally well.)
 

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System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit, Windows 7 Pro 64-bit, Windows XP Pro 32-bit, Ubuntu 14.04 64-bit
Hi there.

All these dual boot scenarios IMO call for installing your preferred HOST SYSTEM and then running the others as Virtual machines rather than dual boot - that way you don't have to worry about UEFI on the VM's (I'll bet also a lot of people didn't realize too that you can create a UEFI VM on a NON UEFI system too !!! or even the OTHER WAY around - NON UEFI VM on a UEFI system) - You don't have to worry either about finding correct video drivers for the VM's either - very important now if you want say your XP system to display HD resolution or better on a LARGE external monitor too.

- Virtual machines have come a HUGE way in recent years -- in any case XP hardware will run without problem as a VM.

Install VMWARE PLAYER or VBOX (my preference is VMware) - both FREE. After powering up a VM for the first time go to the settings and install VMware tools (VMware) or VM additions (vbox) - these fix things like the Video - 60 cm LCD screens etc weren't around when XP was current -- now in a VM you can run your OS'es on HUGE monitors in glorious HD full screen if you want to.

A W98 VM looks far better on my 60 inch monitor than it ever did on the old 12 inch CRT display current at the time W98 was around !!!!.

The other advantage is that you don't have to shut down the host - simply start and stop the VM when you need to.

Modern hardware will run these at about 97% Native speed so you won't even notice you are using a VM and it's a lot more convenient (and safer too) - you can isolate your XP from the Internet while concurrently still running IE from a Windows 8 or Linux or both systems.

On an 8GB RAM machine (Laptop) you can easily run 4 or 5 VM's concurrently - I've got W2003 server, w2012 server, XP(English), XP(Icelandic) and W7 x-64. On a 16GB machine you can run a load more. Using SSD's will also speed things up hugely too.

My Host system is X-64 Windows 8.1 - I also have a SUSE Linux server where I also fun some W8 M's on a LINUX host too --works great whether you use Windows or Linux as the host machine.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
Hi there.

All these dual boot scenarios IMO call for installing your preferred HOST SYSTEM and then running the others as Virtual machines rather than dual boot -
...Modern hardware will run these at about 97% Native speed so you won't even notice you are using a VM and it's a lot more convenient (and safer too) -

Yeah, but with my method, they run at 100% -- even on older hardware. And if I decide I'm done with an OS, I can just pull the drive, or wipe it, no other uninstall needed. I've never cared for VM much, the only thing I use it for is my Android installation, which won't run on AMD gear otherwise.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit, Windows 7 Pro 64-bit, Windows XP Pro 32-bit, Ubuntu 14.04 64-bit
Thanks. I've also had a conversation with ASUS tech support and they verify
it can be done.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    XP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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