Help setting up dual 8.1 and Vista boot drives

moonsharky

New Member
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Even though there's other dual boot threads, I couldn't find one that's relevant to my particular set up...

I have a powerful new 64 bit desktop running Windows 8.1 installed on the C: drive (it's a SSD)

Three internal HDD's ( in a RAID configuration) as D: and E: drives.

In addition to several external USB drives, I have 2 internal (removable hot-swap HDD drives) as local Disk Q:, and Local Disk R:

I'd like to install Vista Home Premium (32 bit) Operating system on Local Disk Q: as a secondary boot option. The reason for this is that I have an important program I need to install that's not compatible with a 64 bit OS.

Could someone please walk me through the steps to set this up, as I just don't know how to do it, and wouldn't even know where to start? Thanks.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Antivirus
    avast

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3820 CPU OC @ 3.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte G1.Assassin2
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 16GB Quad Channel DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia by EVGA - GeForce GTX 670 4GB
    Sound Card
    On board Creative SB X-Fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    acer 24" H243H
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Main 500GB Hybrid Drive @ 7,200RPM
    Secondary OCZ SSD Vertex 3 Max IOPS
    PSU
    Silent Pro 1000w gold 80+
    Case
    Azza Hurrican 2000
    Cooling
    Liquid CPU cooler & fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Tek Republic Wired Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    5ms Ping 5.15Mb/s Download .64Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes
I have a powerful new 64 bit desktop running Windows 8.1 installed on the C: drive

I'd like to install Vista Home Premium (32 bit) Operating system on Local Disk Q


As the new MOBO's now have a UEFI/BIOS firmware.
32bit OS will not install in UEFI mode.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Despite the BIOS, can you still dual boot 32&64bit OSes if you do not use UEFI mode?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3820 CPU OC @ 3.80GHz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte G1.Assassin2
    Memory
    Corsair Dominator 16GB Quad Channel DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia by EVGA - GeForce GTX 670 4GB
    Sound Card
    On board Creative SB X-Fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    acer 24" H243H
    Screen Resolution
    1920 X 1080
    Hard Drives
    Main 500GB Hybrid Drive @ 7,200RPM
    Secondary OCZ SSD Vertex 3 Max IOPS
    PSU
    Silent Pro 1000w gold 80+
    Case
    Azza Hurrican 2000
    Cooling
    Liquid CPU cooler & fans
    Keyboard
    Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000
    Mouse
    Tek Republic Wired Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    5ms Ping 5.15Mb/s Download .64Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer
    Antivirus
    Defender, Malwarebytes
Despite the BIOS, can you still dual boot 32&64bit OSes if you do not use UEFI mode?

YES, just same as dual boot x32 & x32.

Win8-7-XP-000001.PNG
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
Thanks for the reply guys. In those links you provided, there are many different options, and tutorials, and I'm a little confused as to which one is best for my situation. It seems like the tutorial below would be the way to go, except for one catch. It's How to Create a Windows 8 VHD at Boot to Dual Boot with Windows 7 or Vista. And what I need, of course, is How to Create a Windows 7 or Vista VHD at Boot to Dual Boot with Windows 8.1 Pro. Is the procedure exactly the same, as described in the thread below? I just want to be sure I've chosen the correct option for my circumstances.


http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2393-windows-8-vhd-create-boot-dual-boot.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Antivirus
    avast
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