Dual Boot Vista & Server ??

Can anyone tell me if its possible to install Vista 64 and then install
Server 2008 and switch between them using Vista boot manager or
something like it ?

I'd like to try out the test version of server but also use the PC for
normal usage in Vista. The PC is not a business PC, just for home use
and trying out different OS's. I realise I could do it with VMWare or
maybe Virtual PC but thats another learning curve I;d rather not go to.

Thanks for any constructive comments

Mike

Colin
Sat Dec 22 15:45:17 PST 2007

Certainly. You can install Server on a second partition or disk and the
Server installer will write the necessary entries in the BCD store on the
Vista volume. When you start the machine you will get a menu listing both
operating systems and you can pick the one you want. I use VistaBoot Pro to
change the boot delay, select the default OS, and modify the names on the
boot screen.

"Mike" <me@mine.com> wrote in message
news:%23O3VGNPRIHA.3940@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Can anyone tell me if its possible to install Vista 64 and then install
> Server 2008 and switch between them using Vista boot manager or something
> like it ?
>
> I'd like to try out the test version of server but also use the PC for
> normal usage in Vista. The PC is not a business PC, just for home use and
> trying out different OS's. I realise I could do it with VMWare or maybe
> Virtual PC but thats another learning curve I;d rather not go to.
>
> Thanks for any constructive comments
>
> Mike

Mike
Sat Dec 22 15:54:54 PST 2007

Mike wrote:
> Can anyone tell me if its possible to install Vista 64 and then install
> Server 2008 and switch between them using Vista boot manager or
> something like it ?
>
> I'd like to try out the test version of server but also use the PC for
> normal usage in Vista. The PC is not a business PC, just for home use
> and trying out different OS's. I realise I could do it with VMWare or
> maybe Virtual PC but thats another learning curve I;d rather not go to.
>
> Thanks for any constructive comments
>
> Mike

Thanks for the advice Colin.

I'll back up the vista partition just in case.
Also on backup, Vista + XP, Vista backs up both by default, and restores
both without giving me a choice. No problems with that, Vista suffices
so XP has now gone.
Will Vista do the same for server ? Back up and restore both?

Colin
Sat Dec 22 17:12:13 PST 2007

I'll leave server backup solutions to those who run them. I'm a
client-oriented user.

"Mike" <me@mine.com> wrote in message
news:ezW4OYPRIHA.4128@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Mike wrote:
>> Can anyone tell me if its possible to install Vista 64 and then install
>> Server 2008 and switch between them using Vista boot manager or something
>> like it ?
>>
>> I'd like to try out the test version of server but also use the PC for
>> normal usage in Vista. The PC is not a business PC, just for home use and
>> trying out different OS's. I realise I could do it with VMWare or maybe
>> Virtual PC but thats another learning curve I;d rather not go to.
>>
>> Thanks for any constructive comments
>>
>> Mike
>
> Thanks for the advice Colin.
>
> I'll back up the vista partition just in case.
> Also on backup, Vista + XP, Vista backs up both by default, and restores
> both without giving me a choice. No problems with that, Vista suffices so
> XP has now gone.
> Will Vista do the same for server ? Back up and restore both?
>

Colin
Sat Dec 22 17:15:38 PST 2007

Additional thought. If you have a concern about keeping your drive
lettering the same in both systems then launch the Server dvd from the Vista
desktop rather than booting with the dvd. Setup will then use the drive
enumeration already in use by Vista. Be sure you have done all drive prep
from Vista first because the drive prep tools are not available when you
start Setup from a desktop.

"Mike" <me@mine.com> wrote in message
news:ezW4OYPRIHA.4128@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Mike wrote:
>> Can anyone tell me if its possible to install Vista 64 and then install
>> Server 2008 and switch between them using Vista boot manager or something
>> like it ?
>>
>> I'd like to try out the test version of server but also use the PC for
>> normal usage in Vista. The PC is not a business PC, just for home use and
>> trying out different OS's. I realise I could do it with VMWare or maybe
>> Virtual PC but thats another learning curve I;d rather not go to.
>>
>> Thanks for any constructive comments
>>
>> Mike
>
> Thanks for the advice Colin.
>
> I'll back up the vista partition just in case.
> Also on backup, Vista + XP, Vista backs up both by default, and restores
> both without giving me a choice. No problems with that, Vista suffices so
> XP has now gone.
> Will Vista do the same for server ? Back up and restore both?
>

Charlie
Sat Dec 22 21:48:43 PST 2007

As you're thinking of the backup, yes, that's how it will get done. Not what
I would prefer.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel


"Mike" <me@mine.com> wrote in message
news:ezW4OYPRIHA.4128@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Mike wrote:
>> Can anyone tell me if its possible to install Vista 64 and then install
>> Server 2008 and switch between them using Vista boot manager or something
>> like it ?
>>
>> I'd like to try out the test version of server but also use the PC for
>> normal usage in Vista. The PC is not a business PC, just for home use and
>> trying out different OS's. I realise I could do it with VMWare or maybe
>> Virtual PC but thats another learning curve I;d rather not go to.
>>
>> Thanks for any constructive comments
>>
>> Mike
>
> Thanks for the advice Colin.
>
> I'll back up the vista partition just in case.
> Also on backup, Vista + XP, Vista backs up both by default, and restores
> both without giving me a choice. No problems with that, Vista suffices so
> XP has now gone.
> Will Vista do the same for server ? Back up and restore both?
>