Dual boot 32 and 64 bit vista

As the subject implies, I'm considering runing the 64 bit and 32 bit
versions of vista side by side.

Some of my hardware isn't supported in 64 bit, but I'd like to have the
OS up and running so that I can eventually switch over to run 64 bit
only.

Licensing isn't an issue, as I have a 64 bit oem license installed, and
a friend has a retail 32 bit license that he will trade me for some
hardware. I don't want to give up around 200 bucks worth of good
equipment if I'm not going to be able to do this, so guidance or
opinions are welcomed.

Here's some hardware info:

AMD Athlon64 6400+
2 gig corsair ram
Asus k8u-x
2 IDE hdd's
2 SATA drives (RAID possible, but just in SATA mode for now - 64
doesn't even recognize the controller!)

and software related:
Vista64 installed on primary ISE Master, siingle partition covering the
entire drive

Can I put the 32 bit OS on the empty IDE drive, in it's own partition?
Even better, could I halve the primary IDE master partition, and put
32bit and 64 in separate partitions on the same drive?

It'd be good If I could leave that primary slave IDE drive available
for both installs, since the 64 bit doesn't see my SATA controller and
I'd need that second IDE drive as a shared location that both installs
could access (mostly for media).

Also, if no one can help me with this, can someone at least let me know
how I'd go about salvaging the current 64 bit install if I hosed the
bootloader? Maybe I can back up the MBR and restore it somehow from a
boot disk? I have a nice usb boot drive that is 1 gig, so I can load
all kinds of apps on it if necessary, and access them all from the
command line if I need to save myself from myself.


--
phatnutz

You can see if Vista Disk Management will allow you to shrink the current
IDE Master drive enough to add a second partition. You should have no
problem running both 32-bit and 64-bit side by side. If you can't get Vista
DM to shrink it you will need a Vista compatible partitioning software
program. Acronis and BootItNG are Vista ready. Many run into problems
later with partitions created using Partition Magic. It does not claim to
be Vista compatible and isn't.


"phatnutz" <phatnutz.2p38t7@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
newshatnutz.2p38t7@no-mx.forums.net...
>
> As the subject implies, I'm considering runing the 64 bit and 32 bit
> versions of vista side by side.
>
> Some of my hardware isn't supported in 64 bit, but I'd like to have the
> OS up and running so that I can eventually switch over to run 64 bit
> only.
>
> Licensing isn't an issue, as I have a 64 bit oem license installed, and
> a friend has a retail 32 bit license that he will trade me for some
> hardware. I don't want to give up around 200 bucks worth of good
> equipment if I'm not going to be able to do this, so guidance or
> opinions are welcomed.
>
> Here's some hardware info:
>
> AMD Athlon64 6400+
> 2 gig corsair ram
> Asus k8u-x
> 2 IDE hdd's
> 2 SATA drives (RAID possible, but just in SATA mode for now - 64
> doesn't even recognize the controller!)
>
> and software related:
> Vista64 installed on primary ISE Master, siingle partition covering the
> entire drive
>
> Can I put the 32 bit OS on the empty IDE drive, in it's own partition?
> Even better, could I halve the primary IDE master partition, and put
> 32bit and 64 in separate partitions on the same drive?
>
> It'd be good If I could leave that primary slave IDE drive available
> for both installs, since the 64 bit doesn't see my SATA controller and
> I'd need that second IDE drive as a shared location that both installs
> could access (mostly for media).
>
> Also, if no one can help me with this, can someone at least let me know
> how I'd go about salvaging the current 64 bit install if I hosed the
> bootloader? Maybe I can back up the MBR and restore it somehow from a
> boot disk? I have a nice usb boot drive that is 1 gig, so I can load
> all kinds of apps on it if necessary, and access them all from the
> command line if I need to save myself from myself.
>
>
> --
> phatnutz

Hi,

> Can I put the 32 bit OS on the empty IDE drive, in it's own partition?

Yes. But the boot files (bootloader) will be located on the system drive.

> Even better, could I halve the primary IDE master partition, and put
> 32bit and 64 in separate partitions on the same drive?

Again, yes. But you don't mention how big the drive is. You want to have
lots of room to breathe here. Disk manager will allow you to shrink the
existing volume, creating space enough for a second one.

While installing the 32-bit version shouldn't munge the system, you can
recover by booting the Vista DVD and doing a startup repair, or by entering
the recovery environment if necessary.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"phatnutz" <phatnutz.2p38t7@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
newshatnutz.2p38t7@no-mx.forums.net...
>
> As the subject implies, I'm considering runing the 64 bit and 32 bit
> versions of vista side by side.
>
> Some of my hardware isn't supported in 64 bit, but I'd like to have the
> OS up and running so that I can eventually switch over to run 64 bit
> only.
>
> Licensing isn't an issue, as I have a 64 bit oem license installed, and
> a friend has a retail 32 bit license that he will trade me for some
> hardware. I don't want to give up around 200 bucks worth of good
> equipment if I'm not going to be able to do this, so guidance or
> opinions are welcomed.
>
> Here's some hardware info:
>
> AMD Athlon64 6400+
> 2 gig corsair ram
> Asus k8u-x
> 2 IDE hdd's
> 2 SATA drives (RAID possible, but just in SATA mode for now - 64
> doesn't even recognize the controller!)
>
> and software related:
> Vista64 installed on primary ISE Master, siingle partition covering the
> entire drive
>
> Can I put the 32 bit OS on the empty IDE drive, in it's own partition?
> Even better, could I halve the primary IDE master partition, and put
> 32bit and 64 in separate partitions on the same drive?
>
> It'd be good If I could leave that primary slave IDE drive available
> for both installs, since the 64 bit doesn't see my SATA controller and
> I'd need that second IDE drive as a shared location that both installs
> could access (mostly for media).
>
> Also, if no one can help me with this, can someone at least let me know
> how I'd go about salvaging the current 64 bit install if I hosed the
> bootloader? Maybe I can back up the MBR and restore it somehow from a
> boot disk? I have a nice usb boot drive that is 1 gig, so I can load
> all kinds of apps on it if necessary, and access them all from the
> command line if I need to save myself from myself.
>
>
> --
> phatnutz

I have a similar system to yours, with the AMD AM2 5200+, same ram as PC2
6400, Asus Crosshair mb, two WD 150G Raptor's in striped RAID, two WD 250G
SATA, one 250G IDE HD, Asus EN8800 video, etc.

I bought Vista Ultimate for the 64bit functionality, and installed that to
the RAID array while XP Pro remained on the IDE drive. After a few
months of disappointment in incompatibility of applications available I
installed the 32 bit version to one of the 250G SATAs. I ran both versions
for two weeks while waiting for 64bit drivers to be made available by
various manufactures, then unplugged the RAID drives, holding the install
for a SP2 update. Will try 64bit updates then, again, and choose one to
keep. No noted conflict between the three OS drives.

The IDE drive seems to remain the controlling boot partition, but the latest
32 bit install is the default boot partition. All others were an
alternative choice during each bootup sequence. I cannot help regarding
the multiple OSs on multiple partitions on same drive question. I have
read it is not a good choice in groups, and it makes since to me to keep
them separate to protect at least one OS from a HD failure.

I hope someone with true tech knowledge will also reply.

Greybeard


"phatnutz" <phatnutz.2p38t7@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
newshatnutz.2p38t7@no-mx.forums.net...
>
> As the subject implies, I'm considering runing the 64 bit and 32 bit
> versions of vista side by side.
>
> Some of my hardware isn't supported in 64 bit, but I'd like to have the
> OS up and running so that I can eventually switch over to run 64 bit
> only.
>
> Licensing isn't an issue, as I have a 64 bit oem license installed, and
> a friend has a retail 32 bit license that he will trade me for some
> hardware. I don't want to give up around 200 bucks worth of good
> equipment if I'm not going to be able to do this, so guidance or
> opinions are welcomed.
>
> Here's some hardware info:
>
> AMD Athlon64 6400+
> 2 gig corsair ram
> Asus k8u-x
> 2 IDE hdd's
> 2 SATA drives (RAID possible, but just in SATA mode for now - 64
> doesn't even recognize the controller!)
>
> and software related:
> Vista64 installed on primary ISE Master, siingle partition covering the
> entire drive
>
> Can I put the 32 bit OS on the empty IDE drive, in it's own partition?
> Even better, could I halve the primary IDE master partition, and put
> 32bit and 64 in separate partitions on the same drive?
>
> It'd be good If I could leave that primary slave IDE drive available
> for both installs, since the 64 bit doesn't see my SATA controller and
> I'd need that second IDE drive as a shared location that both installs
> could access (mostly for media).
>
> Also, if no one can help me with this, can someone at least let me know
> how I'd go about salvaging the current 64 bit install if I hosed the
> bootloader? Maybe I can back up the MBR and restore it somehow from a
> boot disk? I have a nice usb boot drive that is 1 gig, so I can load
> all kinds of apps on it if necessary, and access them all from the
> command line if I need to save myself from myself.
>
>
> --
> phatnutz

Greybeard - I undrestand it is not "good procedure" to piggyback on
another's post - may get better response by doing your own post.

"Greybeard" <noway@jose.com> wrote in message
news:ZduUh.2830$nU4.2338@trnddc03...
>I have a similar system to yours, with the AMD AM2 5200+, same ram as PC2
>6400, Asus Crosshair mb, two WD 150G Raptor's in striped RAID, two WD 250G
>SATA, one 250G IDE HD, Asus EN8800 video, etc.
>
> I bought Vista Ultimate for the 64bit functionality, and installed that to
> the RAID array while XP Pro remained on the IDE drive. After a few
> months of disappointment in incompatibility of applications available I
> installed the 32 bit version to one of the 250G SATAs. I ran both
> versions for two weeks while waiting for 64bit drivers to be made
> available by various manufactures, then unplugged the RAID drives, holding
> the install for a SP2 update. Will try 64bit updates then, again, and
> choose one to keep. No noted conflict between the three OS drives.
>
> The IDE drive seems to remain the controlling boot partition, but the
> latest 32 bit install is the default boot partition. All others were an
> alternative choice during each bootup sequence. I cannot help
> regarding the multiple OSs on multiple partitions on same drive question.
> I have read it is not a good choice in groups, and it makes since to me to
> keep them separate to protect at least one OS from a HD failure.
>
> I hope someone with true tech knowledge will also reply.
>
> Greybeard
>
>
> "phatnutz" <phatnutz.2p38t7@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
> newshatnutz.2p38t7@no-mx.forums.net...
>>
>> As the subject implies, I'm considering runing the 64 bit and 32 bit
>> versions of vista side by side.
>>
>> Some of my hardware isn't supported in 64 bit, but I'd like to have the
>> OS up and running so that I can eventually switch over to run 64 bit
>> only.
>>
>> Licensing isn't an issue, as I have a 64 bit oem license installed, and
>> a friend has a retail 32 bit license that he will trade me for some
>> hardware. I don't want to give up around 200 bucks worth of good
>> equipment if I'm not going to be able to do this, so guidance or
>> opinions are welcomed.
>>
>> Here's some hardware info:
>>
>> AMD Athlon64 6400+
>> 2 gig corsair ram
>> Asus k8u-x
>> 2 IDE hdd's
>> 2 SATA drives (RAID possible, but just in SATA mode for now - 64
>> doesn't even recognize the controller!)
>>
>> and software related:
>> Vista64 installed on primary ISE Master, siingle partition covering the
>> entire drive
>>
>> Can I put the 32 bit OS on the empty IDE drive, in it's own partition?
>> Even better, could I halve the primary IDE master partition, and put
>> 32bit and 64 in separate partitions on the same drive?
>>
>> It'd be good If I could leave that primary slave IDE drive available
>> for both installs, since the 64 bit doesn't see my SATA controller and
>> I'd need that second IDE drive as a shared location that both installs
>> could access (mostly for media).
>>
>> Also, if no one can help me with this, can someone at least let me know
>> how I'd go about salvaging the current 64 bit install if I hosed the
>> bootloader? Maybe I can back up the MBR and restore it somehow from a
>> boot disk? I have a nice usb boot drive that is 1 gig, so I can load
>> all kinds of apps on it if necessary, and access them all from the
>> command line if I need to save myself from myself.
>>
>>
>> --
>> phatnutz
>
>