T61 Dual Boot Vista (pre-install) and XP USB External Drive

[YKK]

Hi, Everyone

I'm new to this forum and also to T61 and Vista. I have been using Vista for about 1 Year. However, I now need to use XP for some application at work. I don't want to partition that internal drive for XP, partly because I have already partition it for Data Files and the drive is only 120GB. Furthermore, I don't want to mess up the system by clean install XP and then install Vista.

Is there any way to keep the Vista intact and install XP on the USB external drive? I have already tried it but the system would not allow me to do so eventhough it pick the drive. It does not proceed any further and I have to quit the installation.

Can any one help me urgently on this matter? Thanking in Advance

YKK

[Marin85]

Welcome to the forum!

First result from google How to install and run a FULL Windows XP from a USB drive

A side note: You may want to consider running XP in a VM machine on your Vista setup. In that way you will be able to run both OSes even simultaneously and you won´t need an external drive.

Cheers,

Marin

[YKK]

HI, Marin

Sorry mate, What do you mean by "VM Machine"?

I appologise for my ignorance. Thanks

YKK

[Marin85]

What do you mean by "VM Machine"?

Take a look at Virtual Machine (VM) at wiki. Put simply, it is a way to install an OS (=operation system) (windows, linux etc) within another operation system using software specialized for this purpose. This software makes the second OS to run like a program on the first one and thus makes it possible for you to run both of them simultaneously on the same computer (actually, you can even create and run multiple VMs, the only limiting factor are the available resources).

Marin

[YKK]

Hi, Marin

Got it mate! Great!

Just another question. For example, I install XP in the Virtual PC (VM), will it allow me to use printers, scanners, etc via USB port ... through XP?

I must say this is one of the best forum I have been in.

Thanks..... YKK

[Marin85]

Just another question. For example, I install XP in the Virtual PC (VM), will it allow me to use printers, scanners, etc via USB port ... through XP?

I can´t say about Virtual PC, I use VMware (unfortunately it´s not free), and if configured, you can (or at least should be able to) use USB devices without problems. Since you mention scanner..., if you do some kind of visual editing, I think you won´t very happy with the performance of the VM because its graphics is not directly supported in the way your main OS is supported by the video card, also the processor performance will be reduced in the VM.

[YKK]

Hi, Marin

Thanks for your great help yesterday. I was on Virtual PC 2007. One problem is with this system is that I can't get connected to USB ports.

Now I'm after the VMware. There is a VMplayer which is free one. I dont know whether it will work or not for me. So I have checked the VMware site and there are several type. I really don't know which one to buy? Any recommendation can you give.

Thanks Mate... YKK

[Marin85]

I use VMware workstation because it allows me to create VMs. For VMplayer I believe you will need to have a pre-created VM.

Marin

EDIT: I forgot to mention that there is a trial version on their website, so one could try it out to see whether everything works as one needs it to