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bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1434
Location: ann arbor
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 Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:19 pm Post subject: Boot XP on USB drive |
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Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but I couldn't find it, so I'll ask in this thread.
I just bought a new Dell m1530 laptop which works excellently. It uses Vista, with which I have no problem, and I don't want to modify the computer in any way.
But, I have a client who reqires me to occasionally run software that won't run on Vista.
I would like to install XP (I have a copy I can move from an extinct computer) onto a USB drive, and on the rare occasions when I need XP I can boot from the USB drive with XP.
I do anticipate some problems:
1. Getting drivers for the new computer to use under XP.
2. I assume the internal hard drive will still be accessible for data.
3. How in blazes do I install XP on a USB drive anyway?
thanks for any input.
bern |
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zlim
Joined: Mar 11, 2005
Posts: 2636
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| Posted: Sun Jun 15, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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goretsky
Joined: Dec 07, 2002
Posts: 9041
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:11 am Post subject: Re: Boot XP on USB drive [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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Hello,
Have you considered installing a virtual machine with Microsoft Windows XP, or using the compatibility settings in Windows Vista to set the program's environment up as an older version of Microsoft Windows?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
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bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1434
Location: ann arbor
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:28 am Post subject: Re: Boot XP on USB drive [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| goretsky wrote: |
Hello,
Have you considered installing a virtual machine with Microsoft Windows XP, or using the compatibility settings in Windows Vista to set the program's environment up as an older version of Microsoft Windows?
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky |
Didn't know you could do that. Thanks. I'll give it a look. |
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 1546
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 10:50 am Post subject: Re: Boot XP on USB drive [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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My problem was just the opposite....
My favorite OS is Windows XP/Pro/SP3 which is on my main HD.
But, I also wanted to run Vista Ultimate, so I could learn how to set it up and tweak it out for better performance.
Well, my solution was to install Vista on a second HD, in the same PC.
I use the boot menu from my Bios, to select the Vista drive instead of the default XP drive. No fuss, NO muss and the two OS's don't interfere with each other.
Just a thought.
The Doctor  |
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bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1434
Location: ann arbor
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:15 pm Post subject: Re: Boot XP on USB drive [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| drwho07 wrote: |
Well, my solution was to install Vista on a second HD, in the same PC.
I use the boot menu from my Bios, to select the Vista drive instead of the default XP drive. No fuss, NO muss and the two OS's don't interfere with each other.
Just a thought.
The Doctor |
The computer in question is a laptop. But, swapping out the hard drive is easy, so I suppose I could just temporarily swap hard drives, install XP, then do a swap when customer need arose. But, this Dell is made for Vista, so I wonder if all the drivers are avaiable for XP. I suppose Dell support might have an answer. I could also go to NVidia for the graphics driver, but the motherboard drivers might still be a problem. |
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 1546
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:43 am Post subject: Re: Boot XP on USB drive [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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I apologize for the brainfahrt!  
For a moment I forgot that you said, "laptop".
That DOES make a difference, don't it?
That's the main reason that I try to discourage casual users from ever buying a laptop as their main PC. They are just SO limited, as to what you can do with them. A desktop PC is just SO much more versatile.
Oh well, back to the drawing board...... 
Both XP and Vista have a "compatibility" mode.....maybe you could use that to run your programs. Just a thought..... 
Doc |
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bern
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 1434
Location: ann arbor
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:03 am Post subject: Re: Boot XP on USB drive [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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| drwho07 wrote: |
| That's the main reason that I try to discourage casual users from ever buying a laptop as their main PC. They are just SO limited, as to what you can do with them. A desktop PC is just SO much more versatile. |
I quite agree. That's why I have 2 laptops and 2 desktops: One desktop in the office, one in the lab. One very small laptop for travel, and one multimedia laptop for presentations (this is the one running Vista; it replaces an older one running XP). I generally use the big laptop when visiting clients, and I suppose I could horse one of the XP running desktops into the car. But at 70 years of age, that gets old too...  |
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drwho07
Joined: Nov 29, 2007
Posts: 1546
Location: Central FL, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 8:31 pm Post subject: Re: Boot XP on USB drive [Login to view extended thread Info.] |
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I hesitate to advise a 'user' to remove their hard drive, from a Laptop, for any reason, but I've done it myself when I wanted to UN-Screw one that got hosed up somehow.
I've got all sorts of adapters to allow me to connect any kind of drive to my main PC, for running Chkdsk on it or for other DE-Bugging.
Doing that has always allowed me to restore a lappy drive to full functionality.
Anyway, I just stopped by to say "HI".
The Doctor |
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