Dual Booting With Windows Vista

[RevJack]

I'm not sure this is the right place for my question, but I am considering Vector Linux 5.9 Standard Edition, and was needing to know if the bootloader will detect my Windows Vista partition and set it up for dual booting?

[MikeCindi]

It has worked for me under 5.9 SOHO but I've not specifically tried with 5.9 Std.

[RevJack]

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

[BlueMage]

It can work, but Vista gets in a bit of tizz if its own bootloader isn't used.

Grab yourself a little something called EasyBCD and that will do things automagically for you in setting up both Vista and Linux to be booted from the Vista bootloader.  I'm personally using it to boot into Vista and VL64 and have had precisely zero problems.

[RevJack]

Thanks! I'll check into it!

[exeterdad]

I have VL5.9 Standard and Vista on my wifes work laptop. Didn't notice any problems at all with VL or Vista.  I installed LILO to the MBR as usual, but backed up the MBR (Vista original) first.  Just in case.  Haven't needed to restore it.

[RevJack]

Thanks for letting me know you haven't had any issues!

[no2thesame]

I had no problems with Vista and 5.9 std since December. But I rarely use Vista.
see the thread.
http://supergamer.org/vl/forum/index.php?topic=4996.0
I've just installed SOHO and the kids won't even let me try Vista.  I think it's OK, it appears on the LILO boot menu. (still as "DOS" - which I really like)
no2

[RevJack]

Thanks!

[fightingspirit]

Just a tip, I've heard that Vista goes loldongs if you partition and resize Vista with any other partition manager (i.e. Partition Magic, GParted) than the one included in Win Vista. Vista just sucks like that.

And yes, I've installed a few distros beside the Win Vista I have installed on my Desktop (which I never use... It's a crappy E-Machines) and both Lilo and GRUB have detected Vista (sometimes the bootloaders call it 'Windows Longhorn').

[GrannyGeek]

I resized a Vista partition with something other than Vista itself and haven't had any problems. I think I used whatever comes on the SystemRescue CD, which it stated was Vista compatible. I did this almost a year ago.

Actually, the reason I used another tool was I didn't remember that Vista itself includes a partition resizing tool. What you MUST do is make sure whatever you use is Vista compatible. At the time I did my resizing, Partition Magic, for example, was not Vista compatible. I think the popular third-party partitioning/resizing tools are now Vista compatible, but if you have an older version, you'll have to upgrade or use something else.

I don't use LILO or Grub on this computer. I boot to VL with the VL installation CD. I'd break down my usage to about 85% VL 5.9 Standard and 15% Vista.
--GrannyGeek

[exeterdad]

I don't use LILO or Grub on this computer. I boot to VL with the VL installation CD.

For some reason I thought you were using the Vista bootloader to boot VL. When installing to my wife's laptop, I was searching for your posts about it without luck. I guess I know why I couldn't find them

[tomh38]

Just a tip, I've heard that Vista goes loldongs if you partition and resize Vista with any other partition manager ...

I've never seen the word loldongs before.  I just googled it and got 14, 500 results.  Man, I must really be falling behind.

Oh, and if you google that word, some of the results might not be safe for work, or might not be safe for you if you're squeamish. 

Tom

[no2thesame]

Like GrannyGeek I resized the Vista partitions with SystemRescue CD. It worked well.
Unlike GrannyGeek, I boot from the MBR with Lilo and it also works well, so far. But I rarely use Vista especially as everything we need (to play and hear DVDs for the 13 yo) works out of the box with 5.9 SOHO (worth every cent).
no2

[RevJack]

Thanks for letting me know!