James Bannan19 December 2007, 4:00 PM
UPDATED | Got a Vista PC and want to install XP so you can dual-boot between them? Here's how to do it, in an easy, step-by-step format.
Page 2 - Create Free Space for Windows XP
We assume that before you start this tutorial, you have backed up the drive (partitions and data) that will host the two operating systems.
Your first step will be to modify the Windows Vista system partition to make space for XP using GParted
The GParted Live CD ISO is available here – burn it to CD and boot the system from the disc. The version we used was 0.3.7-7.
When you boot from the GParted LiveCD, depending on your system, you should just need to select the auto-configuration boot option.
Option 1 - Using GPartEd
During boot, press Enter twice when prompted to select the keymap and language settings.
When the main GUI loads, right-click on the main Windows XP NTFS partition (depending on your setup, probably /dev/hda1) and select Resize/Move.
Use the slider to reduce the partition size and free up enough room to install XP (at least 5GB) and click Resize/Move.
The changes haven’t actually been made, they’ve just been scheduled to run. To commit the changes and resize the partition, click Apply. GParted will ask to confirm the changes – hit OK and away you go.
Option 2 - Using DISKPART
Boot the machine from the Vista DVD. Select the appropriate language and then "Install Now".
On the product key page, press SHIFT + F10 to launch a Windows PE 2.0 command window. Then type in DISKPART and press enter to get into the DISKPART utility.
Now type in LIST VOLUME - this gives you a readout of the volumes available on the system. Select the main Windows XP volume by typing in SELECT VOLUME 0 (in most cases it will be Volume 0 - in our lab in was Volume 1).
Now type in SHRINK. Vista will reduce the size the selected Volume by around 50%.
Option 3 - Using Disk Management
Using the Disk Management GUI is really no different to using DISKPART (it's the GUI frontend to the DISKPART utility), but using the GUI does mean that you can make the changes within Vista before rebooting to install XP, without needing to use the Vista DVD.
Right-click on Computer and select Manage. In Computer Management, expand Storage and select Disk Management.
Right-click the primary partition (the one you need to make space on) and select Shrink Volume
The default values which Vista provides represent a fairly aggressive shrink - as long as the values will give you enough space to install XP, accept the defaults and select Shrink.
Vista will churn away for a moment, and then you'll see the newly-created free space on the primary disk. Now you can reboot and install XP.