Vista / XP dual OS (OS tabbing?)

[asoldier]

I'm looking for a way to run Windows XP SP2 and Vista side by side. I need to be able to "tab" back and forth between the two operating systems. The point is, when I develop visual styles/skins I need to be able to see the visual results on either OS. A little help?

[PegasusX]

Just run one of them in a virtual machine, I recommend using VirtualBox (its free and open source).

[timmmay]

I suggest using the free VMWare Server and run one as the host and the other as a virtual machine :)

[asoldier]

Just run one of them in a virtual machine, I recommend using VirtualBox (its free and open source).

Okay I'm going to need a primer on virtual machines... I have no idea how it works or what it does.

[The Rev]

I'm looking for a way to run Windows XP SP2 and Vista side by side. I need to be able to "tab" back and forth between the two operating systems. The point is, when I develop visual styles/skins I need to be able to see the visual results on either OS. A little help?

Keep dreamin :p.... it would be nice, but the best we can do now is using virtual machines (say running vista and instaling a virtual machine environment, then running xp on a virtual disk, or vice versa. Some day, maybe soon, this will be possible, but we arent quite there yet.

[PegasusX]

Okay I'm going to need a primer on virtual machines... I have no idea how it works or what it does.

Its easy, go to VirtualBox.org, download and install. Should be default values for everything.

Open up the program, click the "New" button

Click Next, give the Virtual Machine a name, like Windows XP, under OS Type select Windows XP or Windows Vista.

Then follow their generic directions in the manual:

http://virtualbox.org/download/1.6.0/UserManual.pdf (around page 28)

Basically you'll need the XP or Vista cd/dvd disc, create a Virtual Disk Image for the VM, mount the CD-ROM drive on the VM settings, and start installation.

It will be faster to run XP in a VM and its less memory intensive, like 512MB allocated to XP will work fine.

[asoldier]

Nice, thank you very much. This should help alot. I have a winxp cd so I should have everything I need but the donwload bit. Thanks again!

Its easy, go to VirtualBox.org, download and install. Should be default values for everything.

Open up the program, click the "New" button

Click Next, give the Virtual Machine a name, like Windows XP, under OS Type select Windows XP or Windows Vista.

Then follow their generic directions in the manual:

http://virtualbox.org/download/1.6.0/UserManual.pdf (around page 28)

Basically you'll need the XP or Vista cd/dvd disc, create a Virtual Disk Image for the VM, mount the CD-ROM drive on the VM settings, and start installation.

It will be faster to run XP in a VM and its less memory intensive, like 512MB allocated to XP will work fine.