Triple Boot: Windows XP, Vista x86, Vista x64??

jpaquette

Distinguished Member
Now that, thanks to EasyBCD and the excellent support I received in this forum some weeks ago, I have a perfectly functioning Vista of 32-bit/XP dual-boot working, I see another classic Microsoft “gotcha” looming on the horizon.

It appears from what I have been reading that HD and Blue-Ray PC equipment will only be able to work with Vista 64. Although I have legitimate copies of both Vista 32 and Vista 64, I did my dual-boot configuration with Vista 32. I did so mainly because of the lack of peripheral drivers for Vista 64. This new turn of events, however, seems to argue for needing to be able to boot to Vista 32, Vista 64, and XP on my high-end machine. This potential need brings me to my question of the day.

Is there any light at the end of the tunnel in terms of being able to set up a Vista 32-Vista 64-XP triple-boot configuration and, if so, what would such a configuration entail and look like? Obviously I'm posting here because I would like to continue to use EasyBCD to avoid "clobbering" Vista restore points.
 
Hi jpaquette,

It's possible to do this and retain your restore points, but it's not very elegant of a solution - just adds more clutter.

However, if the only reason is for HD video content, I don't see the need for x64. A lot of people claim x86 doesn't support HD content, but that's not true. I've seen HD-DVD working on x86 versions of Vista, and HD-video content (like WMV- or QuickTime-encoded files) without even drivers or codecs.

Have you tried it yet?

Links to FUD-clarification:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/08/24/will-32-bit-windows-vista-play-hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-maybe/
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/software/windows-vista-32bit-can-play-hd-dvd-bluray-movies-196535.php
 
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Hmmm???

No, I haven't even thought of trying with what's currently out there. My major concern was precisely the claims your links cite about the inability of Vista32 to support eventual BR and HD PC drives.

Just out of curiosity, adding Vista 64 would involve???:

1) making a new primary partition for V64;
2)installing V64 to that partition;
3)rejigging the EasyBCD setup so that both the Vista partitions are hidden before XP is loaded

--or would one have also have to hide each Vista partition from the other before using????
 
You shouldn't have to hide the Vista partitions from one-another..

Basically, where it says "hide ..." you need to add a second hide line with the partition info for the x64 partition.
The same goes for the "unhide" section.

We're working on the Vista partition hider utility, it'll be out "soon."
 
Hi jpaquette,

It's possible to do this and retain your restore points, but it's not very elegant of a solution - just adds more clutter.

However, if the only reason is for HD video content, I don't see the need for x64. A lot of people claim x86 doesn't support HD content, but that's not true. I've seen HD-DVD working on x86 versions of Vista, and HD-video content (like WMV- or QuickTime-encoded files) without even drivers or codecs.

Have you tried it yet?

Links to FUD-clarification:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/08/24/will-32-bit-windows-vista-play-hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-maybe/
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/software/windows-vista-32bit-can-play-hd-dvd-bluray-movies-196535.php

Saying that HD and BD content will only work with Vista 64 is a load of B.S.

I have done some extensive testing with BD and HD equipment, and the only testing I do is with Vista 32 and with XP, and I have not encountered any problems yet...

SO, dont worry about getting vista 64 if you dont have it yet :smile:
 
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