Two Operating Systems

I am using Windows XP on one hard drive and i have Windows Vista Beta on a second hard drive. In order to use Vista i am taking out the hard drive with XP on and swapping it with the one with Vista on. Is there a way that i can put both hard drives in the computer and then choose which one i want to use when i turn the computer on.

 

there is a way, but not the way you thinking of. well, its more of workaround approach. choose one hard drive that you wish to work with and then you will need Virtualization software like VM Ware (vmware.com), Parallels Workstation (www.parallels.com/), or Microsofts Virtual PC 2004 (free, found somewere on microsofts site). You will need one of these three pieces of software and your Windows Vista Beta install disc. Basically you install one of these and then install your Windows Vista Beta into the program. It will create a virtual pc. So in your case you will be running windows, but will have, lets say, Parallels installed and in Parallels you will have a virtual computer with Windows Vista Beta OS installed.

 

i personaly dont like vista

 

when you install xp on a second drive/partition it will have both os in the boot loader and you will see a choice when you boot your pc, not sure about vista, also theres a utility called bootmagic that will do this also but im sure it costs money.

 

This may be old news by now but I wanted to add the simplest method if motherboard supports it. Some motherboards have a "boot selector" which allows you to pick which device to boot from such as USB , CD/DVD, and of course either or any HDD connected. Check your manual for which hot key or "F" key gets you into this boot menu. Or you can always enter system set up (CMOS) to select boot order.

I use ASUS and their boot order short cut key is "F8" but my Toshiba laptops use "F12"

 

it is very simple

install first hard drive windows xp and second hard drive install to windows vista.

then you start computer go to bios and select you hard drive if you like windows vista then disable to first hard drive in bios setup if like windows xp select first boot first drive.