How to Dual-boot Windows 7 and Windows Vista

Scenario: You want to try out Windows 7, but you want to keep Windows Vista just in case you don't like it or it expires.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Before you begin, download the Windows 7 Release Candidate from the website at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/download.aspx. When this is done, burn it to a DVD and set this DVD to the side.

2. Partition the hard drive. To do this, go to Control Panel>System and Maintainence>Administrative Tools>Computer Management. Under this you should see a tab called Computer management. Click this, then Storage, then Disk Management. Right-click the C:\ drive and select Shrink Partition. The amount you shrink the partition by is the amount of space you will give Windows 7. Remember that 1024 mb is 1 GB. You can skip this step if you already have a second hard drive.

3. Insert the Windows 7 disk and restart the computer. From here, you should be able to install Windows 7 as normal onto the space you just freed up or onto your second hard drive.

4. Pat yourself on the back because you have just dual-booted Windows 7 and Windows Vista! Once you restart, you should see a screen that will allow you to choose which operating system to boot from.

Tips & Warnings

• Any program, update, etc. that you have on Windows Vista will have to be downloaded or installed again on Windows 7 since the 2 partitions do not share data.
• Windows 7 expires on June 1, 2010. On March 1st, 2010, your computer will shut down every 2 hours on its own.