Can I put 2 different versions of Windows on 1 computer?
 

Got a new laptop over the weekend. It came with Vista Home Premium 64-bit.
On occasion I need to VPN into my company's network. My company provides me with specific antivirus and personal firewall software that has to be on the computer otherwise the network will refuse the connection. My company also provides the Cisco VPN software.
My problem is that they say none of the software will work on 64-bit systems. They haven't yet released the 64-bit versions for us to use.
The antivirus and firewall seem to work ok even though they say they won't but I cannot get the VPN software to run. Guessing that it has a 16-bit installer.
Anyway, given that the laptop has a 320GB hard drive and space isn't an issue for me, can I add a partition and load a 32-bit version of either Vista or XP on there? If I can, is there anything else that I need to do to get a prompt on startup asking me which operating system I want to use?
Thanks for any help.

You can do what you want. You need a multiboot solution. (You can have any combination of windows versions, linux, solaris, etc, all on the same computer, and boot any of them.)

This article is specific to Windows.

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...4c0201033.mspx

You might want to create a separate partition for your data and documents so they can be accessed easily from either version of windows. Either way, you can still access them. Putting them on a separate partition makes it easier, and you don't have to mess with the other OS root drive.

Here's another article on how to add XP dual boot to a system installed with vista first:

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dual_boot_v...step_guide.htm

The interesting part there is that when you install XP, it will overwrite the boot record, so you have to restore it and fix it up. It's all in the instructions.


-David

The other thing to consider is installing Virtual PC. Put the new OS inside Virtual PC and connect to your VPN from there.

That was my first thought (VMWARE). Less hassle and more flexible than dual boot.

As always, I appreciate the information and responses. Thank you.

I just saw the thread about the Acer laptop at Costco. As good of a deal as I got on the HP, the Acer is cheaper and will do everything I need so I may just get that one. Then I won't have to worry about dual boots etc, etc.

In case you're interested, I got the HP that was on sale at BigLots over the weekend. HP P8300, 4GB RAM, 320 HD, lightscribe, etc, for $599.

The VPN software won't run because it requires a driver to operate. Cisco only has a 32-bit driver.

While you can run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit OS, drivers have to be written & compiled specifically for the architecture they're running on.

You easily multiboot x86 and x64 Vista on the same box (or any other combo of Windows really). The rule of order is to load them oldest to newest, so 2000, XP, Vista, etc.

I would say +1 on the suggestion to use VPC/VMWare. This is how I run all my VPN clients.

I took a look at Microsoft Virtual PC but under physical requirements and host operating systems, it does not list Centrino chips and Vista Home. Does anyone know if it will still work on this system?

Thanks again.

The chipset won't be a problem but I'm not sure about Vista Home. I think that the bit you are seeing about it is that the license you have doesn't allow for the installation of Vista Home in the guest session since you only get the one license, but I'm not really sure. You will need a license for either the XP or Vista 32-bit install that you are going to do, but otherwise it should work OK.

After reading some more, it seems like it should work, it's just that MS won't provide tech support for VPC on Vista Home. I have XP (and the license) so I guess I'll give it a shot.