Dual booting Vista and XP on a laptop

[-Psy-]

I have just successfully installed XP on my laptop which also has Vista (PRE-INSTALLED!!!). \o/

Now, I assumed that a menu would pop-up asking me which OS I would like to boot but I've just learned that you need the Vista DVD in order to repair the MBR.

That's the problem. I don't have a Vista DVD because it was preinstalled on this laptop.

So, does anybody know any other methods of dual-booting XP and Vista?

 

[MRG]

I have just successfully installed XP on my laptop which also has Vista (PRE-INSTALLED!!!). \o/

Now, I assumed that a menu would pop-up asking me which OS I would like to boot but I've just learned that you need the Vista DVD in order to repair the MBR.

That's the problem. I don't have a Vista DVD because it was preinstalled on this laptop.

So, does anybody know any other methods of dual-booting XP and Vista?

Contact the makers of your laptop to send you the DVD. By law they have to provide you a copy of the Vista DVD if you ask for it. Because they use a master copy of the Vista OS, they simply provide you with your own unique Vista Product Key & not the DVD itself. Quite often this is to "Force" the consumer to return the laptop to them for repairs, thus providing a oppertunity for an upsale at a later time. Quite a common practice. However, ask for a copy & you'll be good to go.

-MRG

 

[giant384]

ya i hate it when companiespartition some of your disk space so the os will be easy to reinstall. F*** that lol. i would rather have a disc.

 

[bodhi]

Contact the makers of your laptop to send you the DVD. By law they have to provide you a copy of the Vista DVD if you ask for it. Because they use a master copy of the Vista OS, they simply provide you with your own unique Vista Product Key & not the DVD itself.
-MRG

this is actually bollocks.

the manufacturer of the machine will pre-install the OS onto the machine and provide you with either a set of recovery disks to re-image the machine should there be a total HDD failure for example... OR the machine will come with a recovery partition on the HDD when it is sold - you can then use software on the machine to create your own recovery media from this.

the manufacturer does not "by law" have to provide you with a hard copy of the OS, as part of the deal when you buy a laptop at retail is that you are only buying the license. any data on the machine is not their responsibility so if you lose the recovery partition (by formating your HDD or overwriting it with a XP install for example) then it is your problem and you will have to buy recovery disks off them.

i know this because it is a part of my job.

 

[99.vikram]

the manufacturer does not "by law" have to provide you with a hard copy of the OS, as part of the deal when you buy a laptop at retail is that you are only buying the license.
...
i know this because it is a part of my job.

I have broken Windows XP twice on my laptop and both times the service center gave me the disk to reinstall it. It's the service center's responsibility to help you reinstall the OS anytime you want.

 

[Druckles]

i know this because it is a part of my job.

What, you're a lawyer?

 

[bodhi]

What, you're a lawyer?

for the right price im what ever you want me to be x

 

[giant384]

bodhi like you said your only buying the license; which is the cd key. its like a steam game but the cds are worthless without a key. so the cds should be free imo.

 

[bodhi]

it would be nice if they were free but they are a business and are trying to make money, theyre not going to give out free copies. they only give you the two options i posted earlier though unfortunately.

either way, they are certainly not obliged by law to give you a copy if youve a)lost your factory made disk or b) overwritten your recovery partition. they will charge you for another copy. whether they dress it up as postage and packing fees or just plainly say "yeah sure that will be X amount" will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

i know packard bells cost about ?35 gbp altogether, toshiba beat themselves off in a flurry of profit-based excitement anytime someone asks for another copy as they will charge up to ?80 gbp.

 

[giant384]

technically they arent giving out free copies because usually there is an evaluation for you to try it out. of course that doesn't apply if you have a hack.

 

[bodhi]

technically they arent giving out free copies because usually there is an evaluation for you to try it out. of course that doesn't apply if you have a hack.

perhaps i was a bit ambiguous. when i say "free copies" perhaps i shouldve put "free reprints of the media". which certainly would cost them enough to be worth charging for (especially if said model has gone out of production)

i think its perfectly reasonable for them do so so as well. afterall its not their fault you either lost the supplied disk or couldnt be bothered to make a backup copy when it prompted you.

and by "you" i mean "whoever has bought the machine"