Vista dual boot

12noon · 13-05-2007, 07:35

A friend has been telling me that he has been trying to set-up his PC so that he could either boot into Vista or Linux. Now his big problem was that Vista doesn't have a boot.ini file. He thinks that he might have the answer in a piece of software that he has found though. The program is called VistaBootPRO and can be downloaded at http://www.vistabootpro.org

Anyway he's going to let me know how he gets on later today. It would be nice if someone on here has already worked out how to dual boot with Vista though and post here with a description of how it was done.

13-05-2007, 07:37

I would just install linux and see if it fubars Vista id fix the mbr. I have been told Grub can handle the Vista boot loader anyway

12noon · 13-05-2007, 07:46

When you install Linux, the grub loader sees Windows XP but not Vista.

13-05-2007, 07:46

Even on newer Distros?

so to use your program you need to install what first? if linux doesnt see vista do you install linux first then vista then add linux to bcdedit? what happens if you install vista first? wouldnt Grub kill that?
Id just use me bloody caddies

Terminal commands to add vista to grub here http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/about78184.html

Im glad i wont be trying this

12noon · 13-05-2007, 07:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

Even on newer Distros?

Hmmm, don't know about that. I've no idea how old the distro is. I think he's using SimplyMEPIS 6.5

13-05-2007, 07:54

problem as I see it is that program wont help if vista is installed first.

12noon · 13-05-2007, 08:02

Hmmm, from what he's just said. He puts Vista in first. Then VistaBootPRO. Then Windows XP and VistaBootPRO again. Then repair Vista via DVD (found that Vista would now dual boot with Windows XP) and then install Linux.

13-05-2007, 08:05

Grubs a different kettle of fish though. Xp will zap Vistas mbr so like you say a fixmbr off vista will get you back into vista then obviously you add xp's boot details and your away with those. But Grubs different is it not? you can install linux and repair to vista the same but will Grub be addable to bcdedit? I do not know im not a linux fan so im just throwing my thoughts at it and will look on with interest at the results

Mauldor · 14-05-2007, 00:57

I am sure a quick Goolge will get the answers, sorry if you have already done this like.

http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/about78184.html

12noon · 14-05-2007, 01:45

Nice one. I'll show him that link, it might solve some problems.

14-05-2007, 06:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mauldor

I am sure a quick Goolge will get the answers, sorry if you have already done this like.

http://www.pro-networks.org/forum/about78184.html

that link carries the exact information in my link in post 4 sometimes I wonder why I bother

Mauldor · 14-05-2007, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

that link carries the exact information in my link in post 4 sometimes I wonder why I bother

Its All About the Pictures

DocDutch · 14-05-2007, 12:53

at work on a test machine I'm running a program called Boot IT (www.terabyteunlimited.com) which does the trick, I got XP, Vista and PCLinux2007 running on it without a single problem.

okay issue with boot it is that you would need t olearn how it works properly to play with it.