How to Make a Dual Boot with Vista and XP using free partitioning Software

For most, your computer hard drive contains only one partition- the "C Drive", and if you are interested in dual booting, say XP and Vista, or even multiple versions of Vista or XP for that matter, you are faced with two options: You can either reinstall Windows and using the Windows tool create your partitions, or buy third party software at cost (for example Symantec's PartitionMagic) to do it within the operating system for you.
Well, there is another way. One that does not require a reformat of your hard drive, or the purchase of third party software.
Note- Vista has ability to manage and shrink partitions->Start->right click 'Computer"->manage->Disk Management->click drive (C)->shrink volume
If you have XP or need to partition a space bigger than Vista will allow, follow this walkthrough with MEPIS

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• CD or DVD
• CD or DVD Burner

1. Walkthrough:Using manage function in Vista to partition hard drive and operating system(s) installation
   http://www.syschat.com/dual-boot-vista-xp-vista-already-1946.html
   OR:
   For partitioning space larger than Vista will allow (download free partitioning software, follow steps)
   download Simply MEPIS 3.3 here:
   http://iso.linuxquestions.org/mepis/

2. Burn it to CD as an ISO image (ISO is a disk image. for free ISO image burning software):
   http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/Vista.htm
   to burn ISO right click downloaded ISO file and option to burn ISO image will be available with the above software. Nero users will find ISO image burning as program feature, and can add the downloaded file for burning.

3. Boot from the CD drive, put Linux CD in drive and boot. It will run Simply MEPIS from the CD, but it will not install

4. Sign in as: root, password: root

5. Click on "Run QTParted"- that will open a box showing your partitions. The main Windows partition is usually /dev/hda1

6. Right click on your Windows partition, and choose RESIZE..

7. In the box labeled FREE SIZE AFTER, type the size (in MB) that you want the new partition to be, or resize with mouse for visual representation. That will create free space.

8. Right click on the free space, click on create

9. Select partition type (NTFS or FAT32), click OK. (you want NTFS for Vista or XP)

10. Click on file(top left), then commit- changes will take effect

11. Click close, then click on the K in the lower left of screen and logout, restart computer

12. remove CD and it will boot to windows, check your partitions.
    Install Vista or other OS and install into 2nd partition.
    
    To install XP on a dual boot Vista system, see page 2 of the following walkthrough:
    http://www.syschat.com/dual-boot-vista-xp-vista-already-1946.html