Windows Vista is available as a free download on Microsoft website. The software that will expire on June 1, 2007 so you still have an year to play around with the new OS without paying a penny.You can safely try Windows Vista Beta 2 as it can dual-boot with Windows XP. So you don't risk loosing any of your programs settings or data files.
In order to setup Windows XP system to dual-boot Vista, you will require a partitioning utility like PartitionMagic to create a new Windows Vista partition on your hard disk and then install the OS by booting from the Windows Vista Boot DVD.
Gina Trapani has a detailed tutorial on how to dual-boot Vista with Windows XP. Once the process is complete, you'll get a choice to boot into XP or Vista.
Important: If you haved downloaded the Windows Vista ISO installer, you will required a DVD burner to create a boot disk. The installer is 3.5 Gigs and won't fit in a CD-ROM. Also, Windows Vista Beta 1 uses a different bootloader (bootmgr) than Windows XP (ntldr).
Reader Comments
just an fyi -
there are daemon tools which can take a iso file as input and simulate a additional cd rom on your machine - which essentially means that you dont need to burn the iso file.
cheers,
amit(itsmeamit7@gmail.com)
Written on 13/6/06 6:16 PM
That is true only when an OS is actually running. Once you reboot and it goes into Vista Installation mode, the daemon tools are useless or rather..inaccessible..you WILL need an actual DVD to proceed through the installation.
Written on 6/2/07 12:42 AM
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"That is true only when an OS is actually running. Once you reboot and it goes into Vista Installation mode, the daemon tools are useless or rather..inaccessible..you WILL need an actual DVD to proceed through the installation."
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This is incorrect, When installing with deamon tools, all the nessassary files are copied to your hard drive prior to booting. I have installed vista using an iso and deamon tools.
Written on 22/8/07 12:21 AM