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I'm looking for a new computer. Can I order it with Vista and then dual boot with XP?

Would like to start learning my way around Vista but would probably use XP most of the time.

Looking at someting like the Dell XPS420.

Another question. I don't see a NIC card as part of the standard package only a wireless card option. Did I miss it?

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/ ... WQJ1&s=dhs

Rule of dual booting is: install from the oldest OS first, to the newest OS, and minimum do it on a different partition, if not a different disk altogether. No dell can be configured this way by default. Either get one with XP as the OS if you can, or get one with no OS, and buy XP/Vista separately.

thewolfe wrote:I'm looking for a new computer. Can I order it with Vista and then dual boot with XP?

Would like to start learning my way around Vista but would probably use XP most of the time.

My PC shipped with XP Pro, later I installed Vista64 on a second disk. Dual-booting worked without any problems.

The other way around might cause problems. XP's bootloader can't boot Vista, so if it overwrites the Vista bootloader during installation you will need to reinstall Vista's bootloader from the Vista DVD.

thewolfe wrote:Looking at someting like the Dell XPS420.

Another question. I don't see a NIC card as part of the standard package only a wireless card option. Did I miss it?

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/ ... WQJ1&s=dhs

Modern motherboards usually have on-board Ethernet connectors. However, I can't find any information about it on the website you provided. You might want to contact Dell.

heftig wrote:Modern motherboards usually have on-board Ethernet connectors. However, I can't find any information about it on the website you provided. You might want to contact Dell.

Hmm... Dell not being clear on some details. What a shocker.

Most motherboards let you choose which hard drive to boot first. Id install one os on one drive, disconnect it, then connect the other HD and install the other OS on that one, then hook them up together. Then anytime you want to boot to one or the other you just go to the BIOS and switch. Yes, you dont get a fancy boot menu, but it saves headaches with having to remove/repair such bootloaders.

I work for dell on the XPS support, I know for a fact that the XPS 420 does not ship for XP, and as with true dell fashion, if it does not come with XP, no XP drivers.

And here is the drivers page for the 420. http://support.dell.com/support/downloa ... WLH&osl=EN

I use my slave for backup with my XP machine and I use a KVM switch with a second computer now so that may be an option.

New computer w/Vista and slave for backup and the machine I'm using now with XP and a slave drive using the KVM switch.

Glad I checked. This forum has come through again.

Thanks for the posts.

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