installing vista on production machine

I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message

I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

Thanks Andre
I thought of something else after I posted.
My desktop (Windows 2000 Pro) is on a LAN with my wife's desktop (Windows XP home), and our laptop (Windows XP Pro). The two desktops are cabled to the router and the laptop is wi-fi. Would they be at risk?
My wife's computer has a relatively big hard drive which is where I put the back-ups from my desktop.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message

Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

Todd wrote:

I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.

Another possibility would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with W2K installed, connect the spare HDD and install Win Vista on the spare HDD, and afterwards connect both HDDs and switch between the W2K disk and the the Win Vista disk in the BIOS boot setting.
(That's what I did/do with WinXP on a 120.0 GB disk and with Win98SE on a 1.1 GB disk - just for fun;-)
Roy

No, it won't affect the other desktops. Is the Windows 2000 Pro machine a Gateway to the Internet for the other machines? If so, make sure you back up any necessary settings before installing, just in case (God forbids) anything goes wrong. As Todd mentioned, you will get a new bootloader on C that will be permanent unless you format and reinstall Windows 2000 or XP on that system, but its not a problem. You can use VistaBootPRO to manage and edit the Windows Vista Boot Manager and make specific entries your default OS on boot up.
http://www.vistabootpro.org/ -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message

Thanks Andre
I thought of something else after I posted.
My desktop (Windows 2000 Pro) is on a LAN with my wife's desktop (Windows XP home), and our laptop (Windows XP Pro). The two desktops are cabled to the router and the laptop is wi-fi. Would they be at risk?
My wife's computer has a relatively big hard drive which is where I put the back-ups from my desktop.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

"Todd" wrote in

I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

Vista will put its own boot loader on the C:\ drive. If you decide you no longer want Vista, you can either just live with having a foreign boot loader or try to restore the XP boot loader (and run the risk of messing something up). Back up!

You can also use another boot loader program. I use BootIt NG and it works fine.
When you install Vista it will rewrite the MBR and load the Vista boot loader. When I am finished installing Vista I re-activate BootIt and have my original boot loader back, listing all 8 operating systems I use.
Norm "darius" wrote in message

"Todd" wrote in
I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

Vista will put its own boot loader on the C:\ drive. If you decide you no longer want Vista, you can either just live with having a foreign boot loader or try to restore the XP boot loader (and run the risk of messing something up). Back up!

Just be aware that no one is going to encourage you to do this. Microsoft does not give online or phone support for recovering from disasters caused by mounting and operating a beta operating system on your computer.
Multibooting with Vista is different from multibooting with earlier editions of Windows.
I suggest that you buy a large capacity external hard drive and back up your production machine on it. That way you have your system backed up to medium completely outside the machine and can recover from a disaster more easily.
Murphy was a beta tester. ;)
"Todd" wrote in message

I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

VistaBootPro is the classic example of why Microsoft should do a GUI version of BCDedit and why those of us who have been screaming about the need for it were 100% right.
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message

No, it won't affect the other desktops. Is the Windows 2000 Pro machine a Gateway to the Internet for the other machines? If so, make sure you back up any necessary settings before installing, just in case (God forbids) anything goes wrong. As Todd mentioned, you will get a new bootloader on C that will be permanent unless you format and reinstall Windows 2000 or XP on that system, but its not a problem. You can use VistaBootPRO to manage and edit the Windows Vista Boot Manager and make specific entries your default OS on boot up.
http://www.vistabootpro.org/ -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message Thanks Andre
I thought of something else after I posted.
My desktop (Windows 2000 Pro) is on a LAN with my wife's desktop (Windows XP home), and our laptop (Windows XP Pro). The two desktops are cabled to the router and the laptop is wi-fi. Would they be at risk?
My wife's computer has a relatively big hard drive which is where I put the back-ups from my desktop.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

I hoping they just license it and include it in the final version. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message

VistaBootPro is the classic example of why Microsoft should do a GUI version of BCDedit and why those of us who have been screaming about the need for it were 100% right.
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message No, it won't affect the other desktops. Is the Windows 2000 Pro machine a Gateway to the Internet for the other machines? If so, make sure you back up any necessary settings before installing, just in case (God forbids) anything goes wrong. As Todd mentioned, you will get a new bootloader on C that will be permanent unless you format and reinstall Windows 2000 or XP on that system, but its not a problem. You can use VistaBootPRO to manage and edit the Windows Vista Boot Manager and make specific entries your default OS on boot up.
http://www.vistabootpro.org/ -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message Thanks Andre
I thought of something else after I posted.
My desktop (Windows 2000 Pro) is on a LAN with my wife's desktop (Windows XP home), and our laptop (Windows XP Pro). The two desktops are cabled to the router and the laptop is wi-fi. Would they be at risk?
My wife's computer has a relatively big hard drive which is where I put the back-ups from my desktop.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

More likely MS will do a PowerToy.
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message

I hoping they just license it and include it in the final version. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message VistaBootPro is the classic example of why Microsoft should do a GUI version of BCDedit and why those of us who have been screaming about the need for it were 100% right.
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message No, it won't affect the other desktops. Is the Windows 2000 Pro machine a Gateway to the Internet for the other machines? If so, make sure you back up any necessary settings before installing, just in case (God forbids) anything goes wrong. As Todd mentioned, you will get a new bootloader on C that will be permanent unless you format and reinstall Windows 2000 or XP on that system, but its not a problem. You can use VistaBootPRO to manage and edit the Windows Vista Boot Manager and make specific entries your default OS on boot up.
http://www.vistabootpro.org/ -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message Thanks Andre
I thought of something else after I posted.
My desktop (Windows 2000 Pro) is on a LAN with my wife's desktop (Windows XP home), and our laptop (Windows XP Pro). The two desktops are cabled to the router and the laptop is wi-fi. Would they be at risk?
My wife's computer has a relatively big hard drive which is where I put the back-ups from my desktop.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

Each of the machines can connect to the router independently of the others.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message

No, it won't affect the other desktops. Is the Windows 2000 Pro machine a Gateway to the Internet for the other machines? If so, make sure you back up any necessary settings before installing, just in case (God forbids) anything goes wrong. As Todd mentioned, you will get a new bootloader on C that will be permanent unless you format and reinstall Windows 2000 or XP on that system, but its not a problem. You can use VistaBootPRO to manage and edit the Windows Vista Boot Manager and make specific entries your default OS on boot up.
http://www.vistabootpro.org/ -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message Thanks Andre
I thought of something else after I posted.
My desktop (Windows 2000 Pro) is on a LAN with my wife's desktop (Windows XP home), and our laptop (Windows XP Pro). The two desktops are cabled to the router and the laptop is wi-fi. Would they be at risk?
My wife's computer has a relatively big hard drive which is where I put the back-ups from my desktop.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

Well, a GUI option will be available for the BCDEDIT, I just don't know when.
-- Zack Whittaker » ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk » MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org » Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk » This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no rights. All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of my employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that up!
--: Original message follows :-- "Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message

I hoping they just license it and include it in the final version. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message VistaBootPro is the classic example of why Microsoft should do a GUI version of BCDedit and why those of us who have been screaming about the need for it were 100% right.
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message No, it won't affect the other desktops. Is the Windows 2000 Pro machine a Gateway to the Internet for the other machines? If so, make sure you back up any necessary settings before installing, just in case (God forbids) anything goes wrong. As Todd mentioned, you will get a new bootloader on C that will be permanent unless you format and reinstall Windows 2000 or XP on that system, but its not a problem. You can use VistaBootPRO to manage and edit the Windows Vista Boot Manager and make specific entries your default OS on boot up.
http://www.vistabootpro.org/ -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message Thanks Andre
I thought of something else after I posted.
My desktop (Windows 2000 Pro) is on a LAN with my wife's desktop (Windows XP home), and our laptop (Windows XP Pro). The two desktops are cabled to the router and the laptop is wi-fi. Would they be at risk?
My wife's computer has a relatively big hard drive which is where I put the back-ups from my desktop.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

Lets hope its not when hell freezes over. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Zack Whittaker" wrote in message

Well, a GUI option will be available for the BCDEDIT, I just don't know when.
-- Zack Whittaker » ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk » MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org » Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk » This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no rights. All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of my employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that up!
--: Original message follows :-- "Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message I hoping they just license it and include it in the final version. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message VistaBootPro is the classic example of why Microsoft should do a GUI version of BCDedit and why those of us who have been screaming about the need for it were 100% right.
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message No, it won't affect the other desktops. Is the Windows 2000 Pro machine a Gateway to the Internet for the other machines? If so, make sure you back up any necessary settings before installing, just in case (God forbids) anything goes wrong. As Todd mentioned, you will get a new bootloader on C that will be permanent unless you format and reinstall Windows 2000 or XP on that system, but its not a problem. You can use VistaBootPRO to manage and edit the Windows Vista Boot Manager and make specific entries your default OS on boot up.
http://www.vistabootpro.org/ -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message Thanks Andre
I thought of something else after I posted.
My desktop (Windows 2000 Pro) is on a LAN with my wife's desktop (Windows XP home), and our laptop (Windows XP Pro). The two desktops are cabled to the router and the laptop is wi-fi. Would they be at risk?
My wife's computer has a relatively big hard drive which is where I put the back-ups from my desktop.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

Ok, I guess you are safe then, good luck, report back how it goes and remember to send in a feedback and report and issues and driver request using the Feedback link on the Vista desktop. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message

Each of the machines can connect to the router independently of the others.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message No, it won't affect the other desktops. Is the Windows 2000 Pro machine a Gateway to the Internet for the other machines? If so, make sure you back up any necessary settings before installing, just in case (God forbids) anything goes wrong. As Todd mentioned, you will get a new bootloader on C that will be permanent unless you format and reinstall Windows 2000 or XP on that system, but its not a problem. You can use VistaBootPRO to manage and edit the Windows Vista Boot Manager and make specific entries your default OS on boot up.
http://www.vistabootpro.org/ -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message Thanks Andre
I thought of something else after I posted.
My desktop (Windows 2000 Pro) is on a LAN with my wife's desktop (Windows XP home), and our laptop (Windows XP Pro). The two desktops are cabled to the router and the laptop is wi-fi. Would they be at risk?
My wife's computer has a relatively big hard drive which is where I put the back-ups from my desktop.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd

Lets certainly hope that isn't within the next 3 weeks!
-- Zack Whittaker » ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk » MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org » Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk » This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no rights. All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of my employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that up!
--: Original message follows :-- "Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message

Lets hope its not when hell freezes over. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Zack Whittaker" wrote in message Well, a GUI option will be available for the BCDEDIT, I just don't know when.
-- Zack Whittaker » ZackNET Enterprises: www.zacknet.co.uk » MSBlog on ResDev: www.msblog.org » Vista Knowledge Base: www.vistabase.co.uk » This mailing is provided "as is" with no warranties, and confers no rights. All opinions expressed are those of myself unless stated so, and not of my employer, best friend, Ghandi, my mother or my cat. Glad we cleared that up!
--: Original message follows :-- "Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message I hoping they just license it and include it in the final version. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Colin Barnhorst" wrote in message VistaBootPro is the classic example of why Microsoft should do a GUI version of BCDedit and why those of us who have been screaming about the need for it were 100% right.
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message No, it won't affect the other desktops. Is the Windows 2000 Pro machine a Gateway to the Internet for the other machines? If so, make sure you back up any necessary settings before installing, just in case (God forbids) anything goes wrong. As Todd mentioned, you will get a new bootloader on C that will be permanent unless you format and reinstall Windows 2000 or XP on that system, but its not a problem. You can use VistaBootPRO to manage and edit the Windows Vista Boot Manager and make specific entries your default OS on boot up.
http://www.vistabootpro.org/ -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message Thanks Andre
I thought of something else after I posted.
My desktop (Windows 2000 Pro) is on a LAN with my wife's desktop (Windows XP home), and our laptop (Windows XP Pro). The two desktops are cabled to the router and the laptop is wi-fi. Would they be at risk?
My wife's computer has a relatively big hard drive which is where I put the back-ups from my desktop.
Todd
"Andre Da Costa [Extended64]" wrote in message Its rough decision, and Vista is still rough around edges. Installing Vista in a dual boot configuration should pose no problems though, recommendation would be to launch setup from within Windows 2000, instead of booting from the disk. Select the N: partition during setup and it should install without any problems.
I still find it risky using Vista on my production machine, thats why I "always backup my data" before doing any installation. Make sure you check that drive for any errors before installing. -- -- Andre Windows Connected | http://www.windowsconnected.com Extended64 | http://www.extended64.com Blog | http://www.extended64.com/blogs/andre http://spaces.msn.com/members/adacosta
"Todd" wrote in message I am not a member of MSDN or Technet, so I am waiting for the public distribution.
I don't have a machine that I can dedicate to VISTA, but I do have a spare hard drive. Just how evil and dangerous is VISTA?
If I install it multi-boot on its own hard drive (N:\), will it reach out and corrupt Windows 2000 on the C:\ drive?
Another alternative would be to disconnect the C:\ drive with Windows 2000 installed, connect the spare hard drive, and install VISTA on the spare hard drive, but swapping hard drives a couple times a day would be a pain.
Todd