Multi-booting with a variety of OS's

[PC Tech]

Normally I am a pretty tech knowledge filled guy, but I can't figure this one out. I don't know if it is just me or a bug, or if it is even possible. I wanted to know if it is indeed possible to multiboot Windows XP Pro, Windows Server Standard 2003, and Windows Vista 5219. I have tried several times and every time i for some reason i will have the multiboot OS selection screen. I select the OS, and then it brings up another screen with the same basic contents but a little different format that I have to pisck the OS again. So, (choosing the same OS both times), if I choose Server, it wont boot just turns black, If i choose XP, it will boot inot that fine, and finally if I choose Vista, it starts with the boot loader scrolling by and then it just freezes to a blue screen of death..... god i hate those. Anyways, has anyone accomplished this? Is this a bug in Vista becasue I have done it iwht XP, Server and 2000. (Dont ask why). I always install them in chronoligal order, starting with XP then server and then Vista but it doesnt want to work. Am I doing something wrong, or is this just not possible? The hdd I am using I partitioned into 5 partitions. It is a 250GB which shows like 237GB or so... but I format to 4 50GB partitions and a 30ish to hold backups... I hope to run XP Pro, Server Standard 03, Vista 5219, and then have the 4th partition to play with for future versions of Vista/Longhorn. Any advice is much appreciated.

System Specs for the Machine I am trying to run this on.
AMD Athlon 3000+
1 GB DDR
WD 250BG HDD

I am kinda tired at the moment and can't really think of anything else you might wish to know so if you want to know more info just ask... thanks.

[EzyStvy]

From the Vista readme file:

"If you install the Beta 1 version of this product on a computer that already has an existing operating system, Setup will not remove the previously installed operating system from the boot menu. The previously installed operating system will still appear to be a valid choice on the boot menu, but it might not start. This release of "Longhorn" versions of Windows does not support a multiple boot configuration with versions of operating systems prior to Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4).

[PC Tech]

Oh thank you. That was a stupid error on my part. That never even crossed my mind. Thank you for helping me to realize that.

[hobey19]

Originally Posted by EzyStvy From the Vista readme file: "If you install the Beta 1 version of this product on a computer that already has an existing operating system, Setup will not remove the previously installed operating system from the boot menu. The previously installed operating system will still appear to be a valid choice on the boot menu, but it might not start. This release of "Longhorn" versions of Windows does not support a multiple boot configuration with versions of operating systems prior to Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (SP4).

but in this, it specifically says OS's prior to 2000 sp4. he is running xp, vista and server 2k3. it could still be the problem, but i would guess there is something else that is making it behave like that

craig

[EzyStvy]

I originaly installed Vista as a dual boot to XP and couldn't get XP to fire up. Also attempted to dual boot two versions of Vista and it too wouldn't work.

[hobey19]

Originally Posted by EzyStvy I originaly installed Vista as a dual boot to XP and couldn't get XP to fire up. Also attempted to dual boot two versions of Vista and it too wouldn't work.

that's odd. we have a computer at work we set vista up on after we had already installed xp, and the two dual-boot just fine. i will see if we had to do anything special, because i wasn't the one who did it, but it should work

craig