Vostro 200 (dual boot XP and NT)

[Carskick]

Hey all,

Good to see you again, haven't been on poasters much lately!

I come with a question today. One of my customers purchased a Vostro 200 desktop to replace a dying old computer running windows NT. He is using it a lab to interface with equipment, and the software he has isn't compatible with XP. The new version of the software is over $200, so we are trying to avoid the route. He asked me if it was possible to add a second hard drive and install Windows NT (5.0? I think) on it, and have the system dual boot. I told him I would have to do some research first.

I see two issues:

One, finding Vostro 200 NT drivers may be nearly impossible. I believe it has an intel chipset, and is using integrated sound and video, so if Intel is still making NT drivers for their newer chipsets, I could get it from them. I'd have to check exactly what chipset is in that machine.

Two, Microsoft says you should install NT first, then XP ontop of it to make it dual boot. So will I have to wipe the existing hard drive and reinstall, or can I just do a repair? Will the Dell version of Windows XP allow me to do dual boot like this?

Sorry for the long winded question, just want to make sure I cover my bases before I get started on this. Any one have any ideas?

Thanks

[Buffalo2102]

I dont know about the Vostro 200 NT drivers but NT does have a miriad of generic drivers that should get the OS up and running.  I suspect that your customer can probably do without audio and I doubt that he needs gaming graphics for the lab equipment so NT "as-is" may well fulfill his requirements.

As far as dual booting goes, I believe that MS have specified to install NT first so that you can use their boot-manager.  Personally, I would do separate installs on separate hard drives and then use a third-party boot manager (some are free, or at least were, the last time I looked).  This would be easier for you and far more flexible than the MS boot manager as you have more options about hiding each OS/drive from the other etc.

That's my tuppence worth anyway.

Buff.

Welcome back......

[Carskick]

Thanks for the info!

So something like this could work?

http://www.osloader.com/

If I use this, I don't have to install windows versions in any certain order, right?

I just put in a new hard drive, put NT on it, then install the boot manager?

Sounds easy enough.

[Buffalo2102]

Yes, that should do the trick nicely.

A word of advice though.  Install the new drive then disconnect the XP drive before you start installing NT - this will avoid any confusion over drive letters and each OS will be on C: drive when booted.

Good luck!

Buff

[Carskick]

Just as a follow up, the customer decided to put a new hard drive in his old machine and have me setup Windows NT on it.

Anyways, I learned I don't like Windows NT ;)