ADN

So long as you aren't doing tasks that make use of 3D acceleration or are heavy on CPU usage, they run fine, i.e. office type applications. Games and 3D apps won't work well/at all.

I use a virtual machine to run Win 2000 because the software for my work's VPN doesn't work too well under XP and to exchange data it requires an old version of internet explorer. This works fine under XP and Vista.

Yeah, well, you'd want to have a good bit of RAM to run VMWare... /:D" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt=":D" />

zap, I've never used that M$ Virtual program is it comparable to VMWare..?

Uber, I've tried both, Virtual PC s'OK, but VMware blows it out of the water..

You can download virtual pc from that software download thing I sent you a while back A.

Question about dual booting.

Can I use software that I installed for XP when I'm running Vista? Or would I have to reinstall it all in vista? and vice versa

Your reviews will be mixed on that Deep...Most of my programs will run just fin on Vista...And then there are a few that run, and don't work...But for the most part, I've had great luck with that aspect...

Really and truly, there's only one way to find out, and that's install Vista, work with it, and then decide even if its worth it to double boot it...I don't think so, if you feel the need to go with XP, I'd just keep it, and then reinstall Vista when you feel some of the programs you want to run are updated and Vista ready...

I decided to stay w/Vista cause I like it much better than XP, and my transition has been pretty easy...

Alrite well Im gonna install vista now. So wish me luck

The reason I stopped using VMWare was it installed a whole heap of drivers that not only slowed down bootup time but had compatibility issues with some of the VPN's I have to use.

M$ Virtual PC thingo has a small footprint and clean install that plays nicely with my stuff.

Regarding installing software on a dual boot system and having that software accessable to both operating systems: you are largely out of luck. Most software makes a whole heap of registry changes and writes stuff to system areas of the OS. Basically you have to install each bit of software you want to work in each OS separately.

Now the software from places like www.portableapps.com can be run from anywhere if they are suitable for your needs. I actually use portable Firefox and Chunderbird.

that Vista install DVD would be more useful as a coaster or rear-view mirror decoration than as installed software.

My experience with VMWARE and VirtualPC is that from a performance perspective, VMWare runs circles around VirtualPC, but as noted, it does seem to embed itself in the host OS quite a bit more.

If you use gparted, you can boot to the cd, resize your main partition, and create a new one, without erasing any data.