What is the easiest and cheapest way to partition my HDD and install a Windows Vista Business?
What is the easiest and cheapest way to partition my HDD and install a Windows Vista Business?
I have 250 HDD internal now where I have a Windows XP Pro SP3 installed. But I need Windows Vista Business only for one application: Windows Mobile Device Center (previous version was called Active Sync). So that I can sync my PDA, a HP iPAQ 214 Enterprise, with my laptop. I have Active Sync but it does not work very well, and I know that Windows Mobile Device Center on Vista works much better. So that's the reason I need to have two OS installed: Windows XP and Windows Vista Business.
Is there any freeware for partition that will give perfect result? And do I risk anything (I can't afford to, by mistake, wipe away my already installed Windows XP Pro SP3 with all installed software)?
The laptop I have came preinstalled with Windows Vista Business so I already have the original CD, just to put it in the CD-drive and start installation after I've partitioned. But what is the best way to install Vista Business if I want it streamlined and optimized?
I have 250 HDD internal now where I have a Windows XP Pro SP3 installed. But I need Windows Vista Business only for one application: Windows Mobile Device Center (previous version was called Active Sync). So that I can sync my PDA, a HP iPAQ 214 Enterprise, with my laptop. I have Active Sync but it does not work very well, and I know that Windows Mobile Device Center on Vista works much better. So that's the reason I need to have two OS installed: Windows XP and Windows Vista Business.
Is there any freeware for partition that will give perfect result? And do I risk anything (I can't afford to, by mistake, wipe away my already installed Windows XP Pro SP3 with all installed software)?
The laptop I have came preinstalled with Windows Vista Business so I already have the original CD, just to put it in the CD-drive and start installation after I've partitioned. But what is the best way to install Vista Business if I want it streamlined and optimized?
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Easiest does not mean GOOD all the time. Read this article: https://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Miscellaneous/A_685-Multiboot-system-configuration-from-scratch.html
ASKER
Ok, thanks a lot Marsilies, I will definitely read through that guide and if I don't find any reasons not to use that method it seems the easiest and quickest way to get both Vista and XP.
Just one more question: At the same time as I use the Vista diskpart tool, how do I streamline the Vista installation so I can avoid all the nuisances that I experienced (and a lot of other people) when just install a plain unconfigured Vista? I mean, even if I'm going to use Vista only for one application (ActiveSync to synchronize my PDA) I still would like the whole Vista OS to run smoothly.
Just one more question: At the same time as I use the Vista diskpart tool, how do I streamline the Vista installation so I can avoid all the nuisances that I experienced (and a lot of other people) when just install a plain unconfigured Vista? I mean, even if I'm going to use Vista only for one application (ActiveSync to synchronize my PDA) I still would like the whole Vista OS to run smoothly.
ASKER
I have two DVD:s that I burned (my laptop was preinstalled with Vista Business when I bought it several years ago), so I suppose it's SP1. It should be no problem with the first version of Vista to proceed with the Vista diskpart tool, should it? And my Vista is not the English version.
Vista is the same throughout all languages, and I believe that article was written prior to SP1, so there should be no problem using an original Vista installation disc, or a Vista installation disc with either SP1 or SP2.
As for streamlining, I never really did it myself with Vista. MS fixed a lot of the speed issues with SP1, and with SP2, Vista is pretty solid. Also, the hardware has to be powerful enough to manage Vista, which considering your PC came with Vista, it should be fast enough. I'd try doing a fresh install that's fully updated and see if you experience any issues before trying to trim down Vista.
As for streamlining, I never really did it myself with Vista. MS fixed a lot of the speed issues with SP1, and with SP2, Vista is pretty solid. Also, the hardware has to be powerful enough to manage Vista, which considering your PC came with Vista, it should be fast enough. I'd try doing a fresh install that's fully updated and see if you experience any issues before trying to trim down Vista.
ASKER
Just wonder about two things before I start everything:
1. When I use the diskpart tool and type shrink in the command window I get a 50 % reduced partition size. Can I modify this later to, for example, 20 GB for Vista partition?
2. Can I use VLite (see my posting How can I do an optimized Vista-installation?) during the Vista installation after I've used diskpart?
1. When I use the diskpart tool and type shrink in the command window I get a 50 % reduced partition size. Can I modify this later to, for example, 20 GB for Vista partition?
2. Can I use VLite (see my posting How can I do an optimized Vista-installation?) during the Vista installation after I've used diskpart?
It will take 50% of available free space always. So you need to do this operation several times to get the wanted sizes.
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http://www.partition-tool.com/